Budget Bill Passes Senate with Investments for our Communities, Great Lakes, Children, and Mental Health Workforce
WASHINGTON—The U.S. Senate Thursday passed the federal budget bill with significant wins for Michigan. Senator Stabenow led the efforts to include investments in the Great Lakes, health care, child nutrition, and key priorities for our local communities. The budget bill now is considered by the U.S. House of Representatives before being signed into law.
“This budget will continue to fuel Michigan’s economy and help communities in every region of our state. From protecting our Great Lakes to increasing the number of professionals available to provide mental health and addiction services, to creating a permanent summer meals program for children, this bill makes significant investments in our future,” said Senator Stabenow.
Highlights of the bill include:
Health care: As Chairwoman of the Finance Committee Subcommittee on Health Care, Senator Stabenow secured critical investments in health care, mental health, and addiction services across the country. The bill includes important investments in her Certified Community Behavioral Health Centers and includes her bill with Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), which secures Medicare coverage of mental health counselors and therapists. The bill also includes Senator Stabenow’s bill with Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) to train hundreds of new physicians, including psychiatrists and child psychiatrists, to grow the healthcare workforce, an important need in hospitals and healthcare clinics across the country. The bill also includes policy based on Senator Stabenow’s bill with Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) to increase funding for school-based health centers to provide comprehensive care to kids in their schools.
Summer Meals for Children: As Chairwoman for the Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee, Senator Stabenow secured permanent funding for a comprehensive approach to summer meals for children. The bill establishes a nationwide summer EBT program and more flexible meal delivery options for rural areas.
Great Lakes: Senator Stabenow secured $368 million in funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. This is in addition to the $1 billion in funding in the recently passed infrastructure law. Senator Stabenow authored the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative in 2010, and since then, this landmark program has funded more than 6,000 projects cleaning up and protecting our Great Lakes and waterways.
Economic Development: The bill includes Senator Stabenow’s legislation with Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) and Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09) to establish the Great Lakes Authority, a federal-state partnership to encourage economic growth, job training opportunities, and community development in the Great Lakes region. The Great Lakes Authority would serve Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota, New York, and Pennsylvania, and parts of Illinois.
Priorities in Local Communities: 62 local projects submitted to Senator Stabenow by local governments and community organizations across the state were funded. These projects reflect the priorities of local communities and address investments in infrastructure, water resources, health care, public safety, workforce development, jobs, education, broadband, and other community priorities.
Democracy Protections: The bill includes updates to the Vice President’s role in certifying the Electoral College count, which will make challenging a state’s result more difficult. It also clarifies how a winning candidate can set up their administration before they take office. This update to the Electoral Count Act will prevent another insurrection and secure a peaceful transition of power between Presidential Administrations.
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