WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, secured funding in the Fiscal Year 2021 federal spending bills for key economic, workforce development, housing, and transportation infrastructure priorities. The bill includes an historic increase in IRS funding, as well as funding for Amtrak, the HOME Investment Partnerships Program, small businesses, advanced manufacturing, and more. The bill passed Congress Monday evening.

“I’ve been working hard on the Appropriations Committee and the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship to ensure the final federal spending bill continues to make critical investments in Delaware’s communities,” said Senator Coons. “In this bill, we have made significant progress in reversing the decades-long trend of underfunding the IRS, which unfortunately has limited the quality of service taxpayers receive. This bill also supports programs that boost economic and workforce development, like the Manufacturing USA program and the Small Business Administration, and provides funding for key housing and transportation priorities, like Amtrak and the HOME Investment Partnerships Program. After such a challenging year for businesses and families up and down our state, I’m pleased that Republicans and Democrats worked together to deliver the funding and resources that Delawareans deserve.”

The federal spending bill includes provisions that will directly benefit taxpayers, manufacturers, rail passengers, renters, small businesses, and workers:

  • The bill provides $11.9 billion for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), which is $409 million more than the Fiscal Year 2020 enacted level and the highest level of funding provided for the agency in a decade. This increase will allow the IRS to process returns and fulfill other customer services more quickly and effectively. As important, additional resources will allow the IRS to make progress of reducing the tax gap, the difference between taxes owed and taxes actually collected, which is estimated at almost $500 billion annually.
  • The bill provides $2 billion in funding for Amtrak, of which $700 million is for the Northeast Corridor that runs through Wilmington, Delaware.
  • The bill includes $1.35 billion for the HOME Investment Partnerships Program and $3.45 billion for the Community Development Block Grant (CDGB) Program.
  • The bill provides $16.5 million for the Manufacturing USA program, which is $500,000 above Fiscal Year 2020. Of the $16.5 million, $10 million is specifically directed towards the National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals (NIIMBL), one of the nation’s 14 Manufacturing USA Institutes, which is based in Newark, Delaware. 
  • The bill includes $150 million for the NIST Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Program, so it can continue to carry out its important mission and further support small manufacturers with new cybersecurity and digitalization challenges.
  • The bill provides $270 million for the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund to promote economic and community development in low-income communities, an increase of $8 million more than the Fiscal Year 2020 enacted level. Of this, $2 million is to continue funding the Economic Mobility Corps, an initiative championed by Senator Coons to place AmeriCorps national service members at certified CDFIs.
  • The bill provides $922 million for the Small Business Administration. Within this funding, $15 million is included to fully support the 7(a) loan guarantee subsidy to ensure the program will continue to support small businesses and lenders. The bill also provides $272 million for Entrepreneurial Development grants.
  • The bill includes $185 million for the Department of Labor’s Registered Apprenticeship Program, which is $10 million more than what was included in the Fiscal Year 2020 enacted level. 

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