More funding for the Marianas

This week’s FY20 appropriation contains funding for many programs the people of the Marianas rely on. H.R. 1865 includes:

·     $2.77 billion for Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds, equal to the 2019 level – $7.3 million for the Northern Marianas

·     $75 million for the Air Force divert field project in Tinian

·     $25 million – airfield development phase 1

·     $25 million – fuel tanks with pipeline and hydrant system

·     $25 million – parking apron

·     $100 million increase in both the Community Development Block Grant funding and the HOME Investment Partnerships Program, providing an additional $63,517 for the Marianas

·     $1.5 million for Territorial Highway projects administered by the Federal Highway Administration

·     $2.5 billion for Community Health Centers through May 22, 2020

·     $200 million for the National Health Service Corps and $81 million for Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education through May 22, 2020, two programs that train clinicians to serve in medically-underserved areas.

·     $12.1 million for the Marianas Nutrition Assistance Program

·     $450 million increase in Title I-A Grant funding for schools, providing an additional $333K for the Marianas. 

·     $400 million increase for IDEA Special Education Grants, providing an additional $161K for the Marianas.

·     $150 increase in the maximum Pell Grant award, to a record level of $6,345 per student. 

·     $550 million increase for Head Start, which provides early learning, health, nutrition, and family support services to children nationwide including Saipan, Tinian and Rota.

Legislation I cosponsored providing a seven-year extension of funding for Brand USA which promotes the United States including the Marianas to visitor markets around the world. Earlier this month, I worked with Brand USA to update its Japanese, Korean, Chinese and other foreign language websites, to include information on the Marianas Visa Waiver Program.