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Charlotte NC

Adams Statement on 2018 Omnibus

March 22, 2018

Washington, D.C.—Today, Congresswoman Alma Adams (NC-12) released the following statement about the FY2018 Omnibus Appropriations Act which funds the government through September 30, 2018:

"I supported this bipartisan measure because it includes robust investments that I helped secure for Mecklenburg County priorities in transportation, infrastructure, housing, education and HBCUs," said Congresswoman Adams. "I also fought to ensure that this legislation included an expansion to the capital financing program to provide security to hundreds of North Carolina students by ensuring nearly a dozen HBCUs, including Johnson C. Smith University and Bennett College, have the resources they need to invest in critical infrastructure and student programming.

"While there are many good things in this bill, I'm disappointed that it does not include a solution for DREAMers or vital bipartisan measures to stabilize our health care system. These crucial policies remain a priority for my Democratic colleagues and me. While not perfect, I voted for this bill to avert a third disastrous GOP-led government shutdown and to ensure critical programs in North Carolina's 12th District and across the nation have the funding they need to continue."

The omnibus provides:

Transportation:

  • TIGER Grants will be funded at $1.5 billion, a $1 billion increase over FY17;
  • Transit Formula Grants will be funded at $9.7 billion;
  • $2.6 billion for Capital Investment Grants, $300 million more than requested by the City of Charlotte for FY19;
  • $1.5 billion for "New Starts", which provides funds for construction of new and existing fixed guideway systems or extensions;
  • Also increases the limit for federal matching for "New Starts" projects to 80 percent, a 29 percent increase;
  • $400 million for "Small Starts", which provides funds for construction of new and existing fixed guideway systems or extensions, as well as corridor-based rapid transit projects.

Infrastructure:

  • Provides an additional $1 billion in airport discretionary grants for airports with the greatest need for infrastructure improvements.

Housing:

  • Community Development Block Grants will be funded at $3.3 billion, $300 million increase over FY17;
  • HOME Investment Partnerships Program will be funded at $1.4 billion, $412 million above FY17;
  • Low Income Housing Tax Credit is increased by 12.5 percent for four years and makes income averaging permanent, which allows credits to reach families below 60 percent of area median income.

Early Education:

  • Head Start will be funded at $9.9 billion, $610 million increase over FY17;
  • Child Care and Development Block Grant will be funded at $5.2 billion, $2.4 billion increase over FY17, which is the primary source of federal funding for child care subsidies for low-income working families and funds to improve child care quality.

Gun Violence:

  • The Centers for Disease Control will be allowed to research gun violence by repealing the Dickey amendment.

HBCUs:

  • The maximum award for Pell Grants is raised by $175 however; this does not include an index to inflation, a shift to mandatory funding, or a restoration of Pell Grant eligibility.
  • Increases TRIO and GEAR Up funding by $60 million and $10 million, respectively;
  • National Park Service's (NPS) HBCU Historic Preservation Program is funded at $5 million, in line with the Clyburn-Adams amendment to the House Interior Appropriations bill;
  • Increases funding for the HBCU Capital Financing Program by $10 million to allow schools experiencing financial difficulty due to their loans a deferment on payment for 3 to 6 years.