July 20, 2022

Rep. Watson Coleman Votes to Invest in American Families, Economy with Government Funding Package

Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) voted to pass HR 8294, the Appropriations minibus. This legislation will support New Jersey families, create good-paying jobs and protect New Jerseyans’ health and well-being. 

“I’ve said since I was a state Assemblywoman, ‘show me your budget and I’ll show you your values,’” said Watson Coleman. “The package we passed today is a statement of the values of this Congress and through my work with the members of the New Jersey Delegation, this package of government funding bills advances the priorities that my constituents value most: creating good-paying jobs, improving our infrastructure, bolstering economic security and more.  This legislation will also address some of the most urgent challenges facing our nation, whether combating the climate crisis, strengthening America’s food supply or caring for our heroic veterans.” 

As New Jersey’s sole member of the Appropriations Committee, Congresswoman Watson Coleman worked to include many of the priorities of New Jerseyans. The minibus covers six appropriations subcommittees: Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA; Energy and Water Development; Interior, Environment; Transportation, Housing and Urban Development; Military Construction and Veterans Affairs; Financial Services and General Government. 

 

The minibus bill includes:  

  • Over $117 billion in nutrition funding for struggling families through SNAP and WIC. 

  • $715,000 for the Delaware River Basin Commission 

  • $10 million for the Princeton Plasma Innovation Center, $4 million for the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, and $104 million for the NSTX-U laboratory research into fusion energy. 

  • $1.3 billion for the Hazardous Substance Superfund program 

  • $2 million towards the Assunpink Greenway Active Recreation Corridor along Assunpink Creek in Trenton.  

  • $2.4 million for the restoration of the Van Veghten House 

  • $350,000 to honor Manville Veterans with Veteran’s Freedom Plaza to honor veterans and 911/first responders. 

  • $750,000 to fund improvements the East Brunswick Public Library 

  • $750,000 for improvements to Witherspoon Street in Princeton 

  • $2.6 million for improvements to the busy intersection at Route 1 and Ridge Road in South Brunswick.  

  • $750,000 for restoration, repairs and improvements to the historic Wireworks building which has served as a home for Art All Night, Trenton Circus, Punk Rock Flea Market and Freedom indoor skate park.  

  • $750,000 for the Coalport Neighborhood Revitalization planning development which will engage the residents and several community partners of the distressed Coalport neighborhood in the City of Trenton, in Mercer County, to develop a revitalization plan. The project will provide new economic and employment opportunities for 1,600 residents, new and better options for housing and increased access to improved public spaces, and connections to adjacent communities to further the access to opportunities. 

  • $65 million for competitive grants to reduce residential health hazards, including lead-based paint, carbon monoxide, mold, radon and other hazards.  

  • $882 million for Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor Line – a $7.5Million increase over last year 

  • $498 million for the Veterans Affairs Suicide Prevention Outreach Program 

  • $500 million for Election Security Grants 

  • $145 million for SBA Small Business Development Centers and $30 million for Women’s Business Centers 

  • $1.4 billion for Public and Community Defender organizations 

 

In addition to this funding. The bill also includes language directing relevant federal agencies to:  

  • consider underserved communities as a top priority when considering programs to alleviate pollution, the urban heat island effect, and other environmental factors.   

  • asses the need for an Office of Climate Resilience within the Executive Branch. 

  • encourage early action and novel methods for clean energy deployment, prioritizing investments that meet energy needs at the local level and are inclusive in elevating impoverished, disenfranchised, marginalized, or overburdened communities. 

  • support microelectronics research and microelectronics science research centers to build a reliable domestic supply chain and global leadership in the semiconductor industry.  

  • modernize postal financial services to reflect modern needs.  

  • waive remaining federal debts incurred by residents recovering from Superstorm Sandy. 

  • Increase research into the gender-specific effect of exposure to certain toxins on women veterans.  

  

"These projects are investments in our future. They represent our priorities as a nation,” said Watson Coleman. “While Republicans obsess over their extreme agenda of criminalizing and controlling our personal decisions, Democrats are continuing our fight to create jobs, grow paychecks and bring down kitchen table costs.”