On Friday, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 7617, the second annual appropriations package to provide robust funding for infrastructure, public health, education, job training and our national defense. This legislation includes multiple provisions secured by Kuster.

“I was proud to support today’s appropriations legislation that will provide millions of dollars in much-needed funding to the Granite State,” said Kuster. “I worked closely with my House colleagues to ensure increased funding for community health centers and food banks, address the opioid crisis, and protect survivors of sexual and domestic violence. From preventing the Department of Justice from spending taxpayer dollars on efforts to repeal the ACA, to expanding Pell Grants and increasing funding for Head Start, today’s bill will help to support communities during this pandemic, keep Americans safe, and invest in the future of our economy.”

In the appropriations package the House passed today, Kuster secured:

$750 million for the Community Services Block Grant, a $10 million dollar increase from the previous year. These funds allow communities to expand community health facilities, child care centers, food banks and senior services.

$412 million for grant programs to comprehensively address Substance Use Disorder, authorized under the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, which is a $34 million increase from the last fiscal year.

Funding for Violence Against Women’s Act programs combatting elder abuse. Abuse of older Americans can be sexual, physical, emotional, or financial – often it is a combination thereof. The scale of this abuse is likely to only become more prevalent as 10,000 baby boomers turn 65 every day in America, and can be especially severe now as many seniors are trapped at home or in assisted care facilities with abusers during the pandemic.

Up to $75 million in housing assistance funds for survivors of domestic violence. As co-chair of the Bipartisan Task Force to End Sexual Violence, Rep. Kuster led the effort to include this funding in the spending bill. Ensuring survivors have a safe place to call home helps protect them from any further abuse and gives them a space to start rebuilding their lives and finances.

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