Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.) announced billions more in federal investments as part of the second tranche of appropriations bills for fiscal year 2024.
“These appropriations wins deliver on so many of the promises families count on their federal government to uphold,” said Senator Butler. “It is because of these investments that parents can find child care, migrants can find safe asylum, people can receive quality mental health care, and our government can continue providing the services that keep our economy running as it should. Keeping the government open is a hard-won victory for local communities, and I’m glad we could work together to get this done.
“I am especially proud of the fact that this package drives forward so many of the important priorities Senator Feinstein fought to secure for the state of California.”
Notable wins secured by Senator Butler in the minibus include:
- $2.8 billion for mental health programs.
- $12.3 billion for Head Start, which provides comprehensive support to children from infancy to five years old, focusing on early education, developmental milestones, healthcare, and family welfare.
- $650 million for the Shelter and Services Program, which provide migrants with access to essential services, including food and shelter.
- $286 million for the Title X Family Planning Program, which serves as the sole federal initiative in the United States exclusively devoted to family planning and preventive healthcare services.
Senator Butler championed Senator Feinstein’s longstanding priorities that address needs across California, including:
- $156 million in construction funding for the International Boundary and Water Commission – an increase of $103 million. This will help address the pollution flowing from Mexico across the Tijuana River into San Diego.
- $20 million to upgrade aerial firefighting tankers that fight wildfires in California.
- $324 million for the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program and $324 million for the Assistance to Firefighter (AFG) grant program. These grants provide critical funding to state and local agencies to assist with firefighting equipment, training, and personnel costs.
- $8.75 billion – a 9% increase – for the Child Care and Development Block Grant, and $75 million for the Child Care Access Means Parents in School program. These programs will increase family access to high-quality, affordable child care.
- $520 million for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline to ensure Americans who are experience a crisis have access to immediate help, prevention, and compassionate care.
- $1.5 billion for Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (APRA-H), which is President Biden’s initiative to rapidly research and confront health challenges, including cancer treatments, women’s health, and other diseases.
- $2 billion for Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services Block Grant and $1.6 billion for State Opioid Response grants. These grant programs help states plan and implement programs targeting substance use, and provides funding for medications to treat opioid use disorder – in FY 2021 California received over 566,000 Naloxone kits.
- Fully funds the 5.2% pay raise for servicemembers and DOD civilian employees.
- $5 million for the Air Force to research atmospheric rivers, which is essential for California to effectively manager water resources.
- $80 million for a new facility to prepare satellites for launch at Vandenberg Space Force Base on the California coast.
Text of the six-bill package is available HERE.
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