WASHINGTON – Today, the Senate passed the federal government’s annual spending bill for Fiscal Year 2016, which includes funding for several key programs secured by U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), who is the first Delaware Senator in more than four decades to serve on the critical Appropriations Committee, which authors the annual spending bills to fund federal programs.  The annual spending package, known as the ‘omnibus’ because it combines all twelve separate annual spending bills, was also passed by the House of Representatives today.  It now heads to the White House, where President Obama is expected to sign it into law.

“When I was first elected to represent Delaware in the Senate, I made it a priority to gain a seat on the important Appropriations Committee for days like today, when I can make sure Delaware’s needs and priorities are addressed in our federal spending bills,” said Senator Coons.  “From supporting law enforcement with federal funds and bullet-proof vests to funding research and development that Delaware manufacturers need to compete, this bill contains dozens of important ‘wins’ for our state.  I’m proud to fight for Delaware every day in the Senate, but this bill represents one of the best opportunities I have to deliver for our state, and I’m very pleased with what we’ve achieved.” 

A list of Senator Coons’ priorities that were included in the annual spending bill are below:

Support for Amtrak:
Senator Coons fought for $1.4 billion to support Amtrak, including $19 million in grants specifically set aside to address infrastructure needs on the Northeast Corridor. While this funding, which is level with FY 2015, doesn’t go far enough to truly address Amtrak's crippling infrastructure needs, it is a victory that negotiators were able to reject the House of Representative’s dangerous proposed funding of $1.1 billion. Many of the Northeast Corridor’s bridges and tunnels are now over a century old, and the average age of Amtrak’s equipment fleet is the oldest in the company’s history. As a frequent passenger on Amtrak between Wilmington and Washington, Senator Coons has been a leading voice in the Senate for ensuring Amtrak and passenger rail service have the federal resources and policies they need to operate safely and efficiently. 

Support for law enforcement:
Senator Coons fought for $22.5 million for the federal bulletproof vest program, which provides critical funding to local and state governments for the purchase of vests that protect and save the lives of our heroic law enforcement officers. While this figure represents an increase of $250,000 from FY 2015, it fails to go far enough in supporting this crucial program. As a member of both the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, and the Judiciary Committee, Senator Coons will continue to fight to ensure that law enforcement have the funds they need to purchase resources that protect and save lives.

Senator Coons also fought for $476 million for the Byrne Justice Assistance Program, which provides communities across the United States with grants to enhance all facets of their law enforcement needs, ranging from anti-drug initiatives to efforts to combat domestic violence. 

Support for Delaware manufacturers:
Senator Coons fought for $130 million for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership, the only public-private partnership dedicated to providing technical support and services to small and medium-sized manufacturers. According to data from the National Institute of Standards and Technology, every dollar invested in MEP facilitates $19 in new sales growth and $21 in new client investment. Delaware’s MEP operates through Delaware Technical Community College in partnership with the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Delaware Office of Economic Development, and the Delaware State and local Chambers of Commerce. 

Senator Coons leads the Manufacturing Jobs for America campaign in the Senate to rally bipartisan support for legislation that would help manufacturers grow and create jobs. The MJA campaign began last Congress, when Senator Coons led a coalition of 27 Senators to introduce 36 manufacturing bills, nearly half of which were strongly bipartisan.  Provisions from eight of those 36 bills were enacted into law, a startling success rate given Congress’ gridlock and bitter partisanship.

Support for Delaware agriculture, poultry farmers:
Senator Coons fought for $55.34 million for avian health programs, which support partnerships with state departments of agriculture, universities, and the poultry industry to monitor poultry flocks and prevent and control the spread of diseases, including avian influenza (AI), which devastated the poultry industry in the west and midwest earlier this year. This funding level represents an increase of $3 million over FY 2015 that will enable the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and its partners to continue important biosecurity and preparedness work to prevent another AI outbreak from occurring, and control and eradicate the disease if it does reappear.

Support for victims of child abuse:
Senator Coons fought for $20 million to implement the Victims of Child Abuse Act authorizing Child Advocacy Centers, which serve child abuse victims and help law enforcement hold perpetrators accountable. Senator Coons led the bipartisan effort to reauthorize this crucial program on numerous occasions over the past five years.

Support for housing:
Senator Coons advocated for $950 million for the Home Investment Partnerships (HOME) program, which serves as the only federal block grant program for state and local governments designed exclusively to produce affordable housing for low-income families.  Since 1992, the HOME program has created more than one million affordable homes.  In Delaware alone, over 2,000 homes have been built or preserved and over $70 million in HOME funds have been invested in Delaware affordable housing projects.  Senator Coons was a leading advocate for HOME during the appropriations process.  The Senate Appropriations Committee passed legislation funding HOME at a shockingly low $66 million.  Senator Coons worked with his colleagues in the Appropriations Committee to ensure that the final bill funded the HOME program at $950 million, which is a $50 million increase from 2015.

Senator Coons also fought for $900 million for the Rural Housing Insurance Fund/Section 502 direct loans, a USDA program that helps low-income applicants obtain affordable housing in rural areas by providing payment assistance to increase applicants’ repayment ability.

Support for conservation programs:
Senator Coons fought for a three-year reauthorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), which expired on October 1st due to partisan gridlock. This foundational conservation program protects critical federal public lands and state parks and recreation facilities in Delaware and across the nation. The omnibus also includes Senator Coons’ bill, S.722, which directs additional funding to the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) program with no added cost to taxpayers. This provision also expired on October 1st, and its renewal will ensure that up to $23 million per year in additional funding will support NAWCA, which leverages non-federal funding to protect, restore, and manage wetlands and habitats for migratory birds and other wildlife in Delaware and across the nation.