Blunt Touts Ag, Infrastructure, and Other Missouri Priorities in Senate-Passed Funding Bills

U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (MO.), a member of the Appropriations Committee, announced that several Missouri priorities he advocated for were included in the package of Fiscal Year 2020 funding bills, which passed the Senate today. The following appropriations bills were included in the package: Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies; Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies; Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies; and Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies.

“These appropriations bills focus resources on issues and programs that benefit large and small communities all across our state,” said Blunt. “Agriculture is a top economic driver in Missouri, and the legislation prioritizes resources for ag research and programs that serve farm families. Location is our greatest competitive advantage, and I’m glad we’re making investments in programs that help communities modernize their infrastructure. The legislation also increases funding for rural development and broadband expansion to help smaller towns compete and succeed.”

· Agricultural Research: The bill provides $3.17 billion to support agricultural research conducted by the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). This investment will support research, education, and extension activities at the University of Missouri, Missouri State University, Northwest Missouri State University, Lincoln University, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s ARS facility in Columbia, Mo.

· Agriculture and Food Research Initiative: The bill includes $425 million for the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative, a $10 million increase over FY2019.

· Policy Research Centers: The legislation provides $8 million for policy research cooperative agreements, an increase of $3 million over FY2019. This investment will assist with the analysis of national and international projections of agricultural markets and the rural economy.

· Building and Facilities: The measure includes $25 million for the construction of a new plant bioscience lab at the University of Missouri.

· NIFA and Economic Research Service (ERS): The legislation provides $25 million to fully fund the relocation efforts of NIFA and ERS to the Kansas City region. Blunt praised the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s announcement that downtown Kansas City, Mo., has been selected as the site for NIFA and ERS. In a Kansas City Star op-ed, Blunt outlined his support for the move.

· Farm Service Agency (FSA): The bill includes nearly $1.13 billion for various farm, conservation, and emergency loan programs that Missouri farmers and ranchers rely upon. The bill also prohibits the closure of FSA county offices.

· Natural Resources Conservation Service: The legislation provides $835 million for conservation operations and technical assistance, an increase of $15 million over FY2019, to help farmers, ranchers, and private forest landowners conserve and protect their land.

· Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations Program: The measure includes $175 million for the Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations Program, a $25 million increase from FY2019. Additionally, the bill includes $11 million for the East Locust Creek Reservoir Project, which will provide water to rural communities.

· Rural Development: The legislation provides over $3 billion for Rural Development programs and activities, including infrastructure, community development, rural housing, and water programs.

· Rural Broadband: The bill includes $6.94 billion for rural electric and telephone infrastructure loans and $64 million for Distance Learning/Telemedicine and Broadband grants that will help expand access to modern, high-speed internet services in rural areas.

· Food & Drug Administration: The bill includes $5 million for Animal Feed Ingredient Reviews at the Center for Veterinary Medicine.

· Air Travel and Airport Improvements: The bill provides $162 million to support Essential Air Service communities. Missouri communities that receive Essential Air Service funding include Cape Girardeau, Joplin, and Kirksville. The bill also funds the Airport Improvement Program, which awarded grants to rehabilitate the runway at Columbia Regional Airport and to reconstruct a taxiway at Joplin Regional Airport.

· Contract Towers: The bill fully funds the contract tower program at $170 million. There are five airports in the state that depend on the contract tower program, including Joplin, Columbia, Branson, Jefferson City, and St. Joseph.

· BUILD Grants: The measure includes $1 billion for Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) Grants, previously known as TIGER Grants. This program has funded critical infrastructure projects in Missouri, including the Rocheport Bridge, the Buck O’Neil Bridge in Kansas City, the port loop track terminal at the SEMO Port, the South Main Corridor Improvement Project in Maryville, the new rail industrial park in Sedalia, and the Bella Vista Bypass in McDonaldCounty. This program has also funded the replacement of the Champ Clark Bridge over the Mississippi River in Louisiana, Mo., and the replacement of the Route 47 Bridge over the Missouri River in Washington, Mo.

· Federal Highway Administration: The legislation includes $1 billion for roads, tunnels, and bridges through the Infrastructure for Rebuilding America grants.

· Marine Highways: The legislation includes $7 million for the Marine Highway Grant Program, which helps states like Missouri maximize the efficiency of waterborne transportation.

· Victims of Child Abuse Program: The legislation provides $27 million for the Victims of Child Abuse program, a $4.5 million increase over last year’s funding level. Blunt’s bill, the Victims of Child Abuse Act, was signed into law in December 2018 and provides funding under this program for Children’s Advocacy Centers that serve child abuse victims and help law enforcement hold perpetrators accountable.

· Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA): The legislation provides $12 million for the CASA program, which provides competent, court-appointed community volunteers to advocate on behalf of abused and neglected children.

· Regional Information Sharing Systems Program (RISS): The RISS program, which includes the Mid-States Organized Crime Information Center in operation in nine states and based in Springfield, Mo., is funded at $38 million, a $1 million increase over last year’s funding level. RISS allows law enforcement agencies across the country to successfully resolve criminal investigations, apprehend and prosecute offenders, and ensure officer and public safety.

· Legal Services Corporation (LSC): The measure provides $425.5 million for LSC, a $10.5 million increase over last year’s funding level. LSC improves access to competent counsel for low-income citizens who could not otherwise afford representation for their civil legal matters.

· Drug Courts Discretionary Grant Program: The legislation provides $80 million for the drug courts discretionary grant program, a $3 million increase over last year’s funding level. Drug courts have been on the front lines of the opioid epidemic and have become important resources for law enforcement and other community stakeholders affected by opioid addiction.

· Regional Innovation: The measure includes $31 million, a $7.5 million increase, for the Regional Innovation program, which provides operational support for local innovators and entrepreneurs to commercialize new ideas and technologies. These grants, administered by the Economic Development Administration, help translate innovative ideas into local job growth.

· Manufacturing Extension Partnership: The bill provides $145.5 million, a $5.5 million increase, for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP). MEP is a public-private partnership operated by the National Institute of Standards and Technology in collaboration with centers in all 50 states. MEP serves as a bridge to other organizations and federal research labs focused on enhancing the manufacturing community. Missouri Enterprise in Rolla is part of the MEP program.

· National Park Service (NPS): The measure provides $2.45 million in dedicated funding to existing and newly authorized park units in the NPS, including the Ste. Genevieve National Historic Park. In March 2018, Blunt’s legislation to establish the Ste. Genevieve National Historic Park and designate it as a unit of the NPS was signed into law.

· Water Infrastructure: The bill provides $2.76 billion for the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Loan funds, which help states and localities improve water infrastructure.

· U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS): The legislation includes $1.63 billion for the FWS, which is $52.7 million above the FY2019 enacted level. It also includes important program increases, including $44 million for the North American Wetlands Conservation Act, and $25 million for combatting invasive species like Asian Carp.

· 400 Years of African-American History Commission: The bill includes a Blunt-backed amendment ensuring that the 400 Years of African-American History Commission can utilize the $500,000 in federal funding provided in the bill.