Omnibus Provides Much Needed Support for Students, Police, and Businesses
Washington, DC,
December 18, 2015
The FY 2016 Omnibus Appropriations bill is not perfect, but this bipartisan compromise will keep the government functioning and is a tremendous improvement over the disastrous budget proposed by Republicans earlier this year.
Washington, D.C. – In response to the passage of the FY 2016 Omnibus Appropriations bill in the House of Representatives, Congresswoman Gwen Moore (WI-04) released the following statement: “Today, I voted with my colleagues in the House to adopt the Omnibus Appropriations bill, which funds the government for FY 2016. While this is not the bill I would have written, I am proud to report that several of my legislative priorities were included in this bill. “As co-chair of the Congressional TRIO Caucus, I was encouraged to see that federal TRIO programs received an additional $60 million in funding. This additional funding will support outreach and student support services that help low-income students, first-generation students, and students with disabilities succeed in education. Ensuring that all students, regardless of background, are able to access higher education is critical to our nation’s long-term economic success. “In addition, my financial services legislation, H.R. 1317, was also included in the Omnibus funding package. My bipartisan bill provides clarification of certain provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act, helping companies mitigate commercial risk and keeping prices for consumers predictable and low. This legislation helps businesses, promotes stability, and enhances opportunity for America’s job creators. “Finally, I am pleased to announce that the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act (MIOTCRA) received an increase of funding in the Omnibus bill. My community in Milwaukee is still reeling over the death of Dontre Hamilton, an unarmed man suffering from mental illness who was shot 14 times during a tragic encounter with a Milwaukee police officer. MIOTCRA funding can be used to help train police officers to appropriately and safely deal with individuals in the midst of a mental health crisis. “The FY 2016 Omnibus Appropriations bill is not perfect, but this bipartisan compromise will keep the government functioning and is a tremendous improvement over the disastrous budget proposed by Republicans earlier this year. As the year draws to a close, I look forward to working with colleagues in 2016 to pursue an agenda that invests in hard-working American families.” ### |
