HYDE-SMITH VOTES WITH SENATE TO ADVANDCE FOUR FUNDING BILLS, CALLS ON DEMS TO COOPERATE ON REMAINING MEASURES
Miss. Senator Used Appropriations Committee Position to Support Mississippi Priorities
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today voted for passage of four FY2020 funding bills that will support agricultural, NASA, environmental, and transportation projects in Mississippi.
The Senate today approved a FY2020 appropriations package to fund national priorities such as rural development, highway infrastructure, federal law enforcement, basic science, and fighting wildfires. The legislation passed, 84-9.
“Each of these bills support work done in Mississippi that is important to the entire state,” Hyde-Smith said. “I’m glad to see progress in the Senate fiscal year 2020 appropriations. However, we really need Senate Democrats to stop obstructing and cooperate with us. There’s more work to be done to avoid a government shutdown.”
The federal government is currently operating under a temporary spending agreement that ends Nov. 21, 2019. The 2020 fiscal year began on Oct. 1.
The passage of these appropriations bills will allow Senate and House appropriators to begin negotiations on final bills to send the President. Eight more bills require Senate passage, including the FY2020 Defense Appropriations Bill. Senate Democrats in September and again on Thursday filibustered the defense bill, which would strengthen America’s military and support service members with the largest pay raise in a decade.
The following funding measures are in the package approved by the Senate:
- FY2020 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill: This measure funds USDA agriculture, rural development, conservation programs, and food and drug safety. For Mississippi, Hyde-Smith secured support for more research on chronic wasting disease, cogongrass control, aquaculture, forest products, and water resources in the Mississippi Delta. She also protected catfish inspection responsibilities for the USDA Food Safety Inspection Service. Additional details.
- FY2020 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill: This bill funds the U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Forest Service, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and other agencies. For Mississippi, Hyde-Smith secured support on language directing the EPA and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to work toward a solution to Yazoo Backwater Area flooding, additional EPA funding to address hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico, and water/wastewater infrastructure funding to benefit rural communities. Additional details.
- FY2020 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill: This bill funds federal law enforcement, economic development, scientific research, space exploration, and other national priorities. For Mississippi, Hyde-Smith supported funding increases for Department of Justice programs and anti-opioid initiatives that benefit Mississippi law enforcement and courts, oyster and marine aquaculture research, and the NASA Space Launch System program that involves engine testing at the Stennis Space Center. Additional details.
- FY2020 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill: This bill funds transportation infrastructure development, housing assistance, and community development. For Mississippi, Hyde-Smith worked to secure funding for Highway Trust Fund to continue addressing deficient bridges in rural states, unmanned aerial systems research conducted by FAA UAS Center of Excellence led by Mississippi State University, and railway infrastructure improvement grants. Additional details.
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