Rep. Calvert Secures Local Priorities in Appropriations Agreement

Today, Congressman Ken Calvert (CA-42) announced today that he secured a number of local priorities in the Fiscal Year 2020 appropriations agreement that will fund the federal government for the remainder of the fiscal year. Rep. Calvert serves as the top Republican on the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee.

"A number of projects, programs and priorities essential to the Inland Empire were included in the final funding agreement," said Rep. Calvert. "As the top Republican on the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, I'm proud of the work our Subcommittee accomplished and confident it will give our men and women in uniform the resources they need to carry out their missions. Southern California employers in the defense industry will be busy putting their ingenuity to work building the tools and technologies that give our military a competitive edge."

"I have continued to work with our local leaders throughout Riverside County to ensure their federal needs are addressed by Congress. The bill addresses the importance of completing the Murrieta Creek flood control project. It also provides significant funding for water infrastructure projects that will help secure local water supplies. I also advocated for additional funding for EPA clean air programs that are so vital as our region confronts ongoing air quality challenges."

"This summer's Ridgecrest earthquake was a reminder of the serious threat earthquakes pose to our region and state. I am pleased that $627 million was provided repair the significant damage the quake caused at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake. As a leading proponent of the ShakeAlert earthquake early warning system, I fought for the inclusion of $25 million for the development and infrastructure necessary to build out the system. This life saving technology is now becoming available via phone apps and additional applications will be deploying around the state soon."

Below is a summary of priorities supported by Rep. Calvert that were included in the final FY2020 Appropriations conference reports:

Defense

• Our Troops and Their Families - Provides a 3.1 percent pay raise, the largest in a decade; and addresses child care and other quality of life issues critical to supporting our brave war-fighting men and women and their families.
• Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake - Includes $627 million to address emergency disaster recovery needs at the military installation to repair damage from the Ridgecrest earthquake this summer.
• Border Security - Removes harmful Democrat restrictions on the President's ability to use funds to address border security needs.
• Health of Our Troops - Provides $34 billion for Defense Health programs for our servicemembers and to research traumatic brain injury, suicide prevention, and continue research to defeat the many forms of cancer affecting our men and women in uniform.
• Strong Support of Israel - Fully funds the U.S.-Israel Memorandum of Understanding by providing $500 million for Israeli Cooperative programs, including Iron Dome.
• F-35s - Funds a total of 98 F-35s that are essential for the United States to maintain air dominance and superiority over China and Russia.
• Shipbuilding - Provides $24 billion for Navy shipbuilding, including funding for Virginia Class Submarines, three Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers, and $1.8 billion for the Columbia-class nuclear submarine program.

Energy and Water

• Language in the bill directs the Army Corps of Engineers to take a number of actions facilitating the completion of the Murrieta Creek flood control project.

Murrieta Creek. - The non-federal sponsor intends to pursue a section 221 In-Kind Credit Contribution agreement with the Corps to do the design work to optimize the multi-purpose basin, find the most cost-effective design, and initiate excavation of the basin. The Corps is encouraged to move forward with timely approval of the agreement. The non-federal sponsor also is moving forward to address the outdated information in the Corps' economic side-by-side analysis for the project in order to identify the most cost-effective project. The Corps is directed to coordinate with the non-federal sponsor, as requested, in the economic update in order to have a strong basis for proceeding with the completion of the Limited Reevaluation Report.

• $63.6 million for Bureau of Reclamation Title XVI water recycling program, of which $20 million is for projects identified in the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act (WIIN Act).
• $134 million for WIIN Act water storage projects.
• $12 million for Bureau of Reclamation WIIN Act desalination projects.

Interior and Environment

• $87 million for EPA Diesel Emission Reduction Act (DERA) grants that improve our air quality by removing older diesel engines from our roads.
• $56.3 million for EPA Targeted Airshed grants that fund air quality projects in non-attainment areas, like Southern California.
• $19 million for the continued development of the ShakeAlert West Coast earthquake early warning system. $6.7 million is also provided for infrastructure funding for capital costs associated with the buildout of ShakeAlert.
• $60 million for EPA Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program, which finances major water infrastructure projects.

Homeland Security

• Border Wall - Provides $1.375 billion in new funding for the border wall.
• President's Ability to Fund Immigration and Border Enforcement Activities - Removes harmful Democrat restrictions on the President's ability to use funds for immigration and border enforcement activities.
• ICE Beds - Blocks the Democrats' attempt to reduce the number of Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention beds.
• Provides $121.6 million for E-Verify employment status verification activities.

Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies

• $107 million for the Department of Education Magnet Schools Assistance program.
• $35 million for the Department of Health and Human Services Child Abuse Discretionary Activities program.
• $20 million for the Department of Education Special Olympics education program.

Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies

• $631 million for Military Construction projects in California, including Camp Pendleton.
• $174 million for Military Construction, Unfunded Requirement projects in California.
• $9.7 million for Military Construction, Energy Resilience and Conservation Investment Program Unfunded Requirement project in California.

Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies

• $69.5 million is provided to address the citrus greening disease threat to the American citrus industry, including $61 million for the Citrus Health Response Plan.
• Opioid Abuse and Advancing Drug Manufacturing - Increases funding by $91 million for the FDA to fight opioid abuse, advance drug and biological product manufacturing, approve rare disease medications, ensure food safety, and modernize generic drug development.
• Language is included in the report related to primate research at the Food and Drug Administration. In 2018, after concerns raised from Rep. Calvert and other members of Congress, FDA cancelled its nicotine testing on primates and moved the animals to a sanctuary. The language builds on that effort by urging the agency to continue this progress and end more of its primate testing.

Non-Human Primates—The Committee commends the FDA for its work to reduce research on non-human primates and relocate non-human primates no longer needed in research to sanctuary. The Committee directs the FDA to deliver a report within 12 months of enactment of this Act that outlines a strategy, including a detailed timeline, for the reduction and replacement of nonhuman primates in FDA intramural testing and research with suitable alternative models. The report should also detail plans for the relocation of non-human primates no longer needed in FDA research to appropriate sanctuaries.

Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies

• $244 million for the Department of Justice State Criminal Alien Assistance Program to reimburse local law enforcement for the incarceration of illegal immigrants.
• $40 million for the Department of Justice for Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Forces.
• $20 million for the Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women Grants to Reduce Violent Crimes Against Women on Campus.
• Untested Rape Kits - Increases funding to address the backlog of untested rape kits so more offenders can be taken off our streets, and survivors can get the justice they deserve.
• Criminals with Guns - Reduces violent and gun crimes by:
  • Fully funding the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS);
  • Increasing funding for U.S. Attorneys; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and U.S. Marshals Service to address violent crime; and
  • Providing $78 million in grants to states to improve records used in background checks, and $22 million for police active shooter training.