WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) voted to pass a comprehensive government funding bill that provides critical aid to Ukraine and support for important community projects across the Third District.
“The comprehensive government funding package we just passed is an investment in a brighter future,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “From providing critical assistance to the Ukrainian people to helping lower costs for working families, creating American jobs, and supporting the most vulnerable in our communities, this legislation is an essential step forward in our mission to build a better America and a safer world. I’m especially proud to secure nearly $8 million in funding for vital community projects that will make the Third District an even better place to call home, and I look forward to continuing our work with local stakeholders to bring these projects to fruition.”
The legislation passed today provides $13.6 billion in emergency funding to support the Ukrainian people and defend global democracy in the wake of Putin’s unprovoked attack. Specifically, the legislation will:
- Provide humanitarian assistance with $2.65 billion through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)’s International Disaster Assistance program to provide emergency food assistance, health care, and other urgent support; and $1.4 billion for Migration and Refugee Assistance to support refugees fleeing Ukraine.
- Provide defense assistance with over $3 billion for European Command operations mission support, the deployment of personnel to the region, and intelligence support; $650 million in funding towards the Foreign Military Financing Program (FMF) to build capacity to deter Russian aggression in Ukraine and its neighbors, including NATO Eastern Flank countries; and increases the President’s authority to transfer defense equipment to Ukraine and other allies to $3 billion.
- Provide economic assistance with nearly $1.8 billion to flexibly respond to macroeconomic needs in Ukraine and its neighbors, including energy and cybersecurity efforts; $25 million to the U.S. Agency for Global Media to combat disinformation; and $120 million for USAID Transition Initiatives to support local actors, such as activists and independent media, through flexible short-term assistance in Ukraine and promote accountability for Russian human rights violations.
- Enforce sanctions with funding for the Departments of Commerce, Justice and the Treasury to develop and enforce sanctions and prepare for and respond to cyber threats.
The government funding package will also deliver $8,278,838 in Community Project Funding that Trahan advocated for to support critical initiatives across the Third District, including:
- $2,000,000 for the Greater Lawrence Family Health Center’s efforts to expand its primary health care services at 700 Essex Street in Lawrence by creating an additional 4,000 square feet of new space and renovating existing space and equipment.
- $1,650,000 to support the establishment of the Middlesex County Restoration Center which would provide several components of needed crisis and urgent care for individuals with behavioral health conditions that could serve as an alternative and more appropriate treatment destination than being arrested and jailed/hospitalized.
- $1,650,000 to support the establishment of the Middlesex County Restoration Center which would provide several components of needed crisis and urgent care for individuals with behavioral health conditions that could serve as an alternative and more appropriate treatment destination than being arrested and jailed/hospitalized.
- $1,000,000 for Entrepreneurship for All’s “inclusive entrepreneurship" approach, supporting individuals from underserved and underrepresented communities statewide.
- $750,000 for Making Opportunity Count, Inc.’s construction of a new, state-of-the-art early education center in Fitchburg to help fill an urgent need for affordable child care.
- $750,000 for the Town of Stow to continue efforts to extend the Assabet River Trail from its current terminus in Maynard through portions of Stow.
- $750,000 for the City of Lowell to invest in LeLacheur Baseball Park, a community staple in the Merrimack Valley for the past half-century.
- $500,000 for the University of Massachusetts, Lowell’s River Hawk Scholars Academy, which provides critically important resources to its first-generation, first-year students.
- $500,000 for UTEC Haverhill to partner with local community organizations and law enforcement on gun violence prevention programs, especially for at-risk young adults aged 17-24.
- $352,000 for the Merrimack River Watershed Council to support projects focused on providing clean water in four highly urbanized and contaminated segments of the Merrimack River.
- $26,838 for the United Way of Tri County to purchase and install generators, which will ensure that their critical food pantries are able to keep their food supplies preserved in the event of power outages.
The twelve-bill government funding package will help working families in the Third District and beyond by creating American jobs, supporting our most vulnerable, and working to help small businesses and restaurants keep their doors open and their employees on payroll. Together, the funding for the Third District and the funding increases for critical government programs included in this package will reverse decades of federal divestment in our communities and strengthen the Commonwealth.
This legislation now moves to the Senate for consideration.
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