Washington, D.C. - The House Republican Conference was united in opposing partisan Fiscal Year 2022 appropriations bills, like Speaker Pelosi brought to the House floor last summer. The House Republican Conference made it clear that irresponsible spending levels, championed by the House Democrats, would not be supported. Republican’s goal was to win funds that would better the lives of Americans while removing legislation that would cause further divide and harm to the country. As a conference, this positioning along with Senator Ben Ray Luján’s health conflicts, allowed significant leverage during final conference negotiations. Republicans successfully pushed back on the Democrats’ demands and produced a bill that included numerous Republican priorities. 

The final appropriations package increases defense spending across all bills by roughly $42 billion above last year and cuts wasteful domestic spending by nearly 9% below the Biden Administration’s budget request. All legacy riders are retained in the bill, including pro-life protections such as the Hyde Amendment. The bill strengthens the United States national security, modernizes nuclear weapons stockpile, and addresses the ongoing crisis at the border.

Congressman Pete Sessions (TX-17), released the following statement upon passage of the House of Representative funding bills for Fiscal Year 2022:

“Actions speak louder than words. Republicans, despite being in the minority, have delivered for the American people. I am proud of the work that our Republican Leader of the Appropriations Committee, Kay Granger (TX-12), did to win funding that I am now able to bring back home to the district. By no means is this a perfect bill, but it is a good reflection of the effects bipartisan cooperation can have in Congress.

“From funding the Flat Creek Water reuse project in McLennan County to expanding Rural Broadband and widening roads in Hearne, this legislation is a huge victory that will provide improvements to the lives of Central Texans and enhance our communities. It provides language that will protect life and increases monetary support to our military—that I can get behind. I am hopeful that the Senate will move forward and pass the bill with these projects intact.”
 

PROVISIONS SESSIONS SECURED IN THE BILL:

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

1. The bill includes funding for a Community Project Funding request under the ReConnect Rural Broadband Program in USDA’s Rural Utility Service.
2. $20.8 million is provided for the Circuit Rider Program within USDA’s Rural Utilities Program.

Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies

1. $48 million in National Science Foundation for the International Ocean Discovery Program.
2. Up to $7 million for National Aeronautics and Space Administration
   (NASA) university?led aeronautics materials research for structural applications.
3. $54.5 million for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
   (NASA) Space Grant program including $860,000 for each State consortium.
4. Report language directing the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to continue assessing the Commercial Crew manifest for opportunities to conduct additional research and report on these findings.
5. $1.195 billion for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
   (NASA) Human Landing System.
6. $14 million for the Department of Justice Court Appointed Special Advocates program.

Defense

1. $1.67 million increase for Space Force core manipulator joint (CPF).
2. $10 million increase for Space Force multi mission distributed antenna technology.
3. Fully funds the Columbia Class Submarine program.
4. $166 million provided for procurement of the Department of Defense Armed Overwatch / Targeting program.
5. $11.4 million increase above the Army budget request for land surveying systems.
6. $139 million increase above the Army budget request for the Stryker Upgrade program.
7. $62 million provided for the procurement of Department of Defense Israeli Programs Arrow 3 Upper Tier Systems.
8. $108 million provided for procurement of the Department of Defense /Israeli Iron Dome program.

Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies

1. Report language regarding Corps of Engineers Operation and Maintenance repair and restoration of embankments.
2. $728 million for Department of Energy Office of Science Nuclear Physics program.
3. $6 million for Department of Energy Nuclear Energy Integrated University Program.
4. Additional funding for Corps of Engineers Construction for which navigation projects can compete.

Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies

1. $1.7 million for the City of Waco for the Flat Creek water reuse project.
2. $20 million for Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Technical Assistance for Treatment Works grants.

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

1. $1 million for Baylor University, Waco, TX for cybersecurity initiative and the purchase of information technology in Higher Education.
2. $81.6 million for international education and foreign language studies in the Department of Education.
3. Report language related to water operator training assistance in the Department of Labor.
4. $1.74 billion for Community Health Centers in the Health Resources and Services Administration.

Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies

1. $3 million for the US 190 4 Lane Divided Highway with Grassy Median Between Hearne, Texas, and Bryan, Texas.
2. $3 million for the FM 2154 (Wellborn Road) / FM 2347 (George Bush Drive) Interchange.
3. $3 million for the FM 1179 East Widening from FM 158 to Steep Hollow Road.

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