Dear Friend,
The most basic responsibility Congress has is to fund the operation of the federal government. I understand this has taken entirely too long, but we’re finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. We cannot keep governing by deadline and punting our problems down the road, which is why I voted in favor of the six appropriations bills the House considered last week: Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration; Commerce, Justice, and Science; Energy and Water Development; Interior and Environment; Military Construction and Veterans Affairs; and Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development.
Each of the six bills signed into law last week contain major wins for Nevada. The reality is we’re working with a divided government, no matter how much we wish that wasn’t the case, so the effort to achieve all our conservative policy priorities must continue. But make no mistake, these bills contain major victories that we can be proud of.
KEEPING OUR PROMISES
Domestic spending has skyrocketed under the Biden Administration, adding trillions to our national debt. When we took over the House majority, Republicans made a promise to change the trajectory of federal spending and put an end to fiscal waste without compromising our commitment to veterans or skimping on national security priorities. The Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) appropriations bills deliver on that promise and represent the first overall cut to non-defense and non-VA spending in almost a decade. Taxpayers will save more than $200 billion over the next decade, thanks to a reduction in off-the-books resources and budgetary gimmicks. Huge topline wins include:
In addition to the spending reductions Republicans were able to secure, we rejected partisan policies proposed by President Biden and the Democrat-controlled Senate.
FIGHTING FOR NEVADA
In addition to the reforms, priorities, and spending reductions included in these FY24 appropriations bills, Nevadans can claim several victories, including thirteen Community Project Funding requests. As a member of the House Committee on Appropriations, I was proud to advocate for and advance funding for critical projects in Nevada’s Second Congressional District, including:
The combined total of $33,124,000 secured for Northern Nevada will go towards wastewater treatment, law enforcement efficiency, public accessibility, intersection safety, and economic revitalization.
SUPPORTING OUR FARMERS
The FY24 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act supports our farmers and ranchers, protects our nation’s food and drug supply, and bolsters rural communities. This legislation:
Communist China currently owns more than 380,000 acres of American farmland. America cannot give China more control of our food supply, which is why I was especially proud to support the provision to protect our nation’s farmland and resources from foreign adversaries.
BOLSTERING NATIONAL SECURITY
The FY24 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act aims to address violent crime, counter the fentanyl crisis, and maintain U.S. superiority over China. This legislation:
In addition to providing critical investments in law enforcement, economic development, and scientific research, this bill reins in the Washington bureaucracy and holds the Biden Administration accountable.
PRIORITIZING ENERGY SECURITY
The FY24 Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Act makes historic investments to secure our energy independence and modernize water infrastructure projects nationwide. This legislation:
As I’ve said before, our nation is blessed with an abundance of natural resources that can help meet our energy needs, bolster our national security, and ensure our economic competitiveness.
FOSTERING AMERICA'S NATRAL RESOURCES
The FY24 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act reigns in bureaucratic overreach, unleashes energy and mineral production, and combats devastating wildfires. This legislation:
I was proud to support this legislation, which invests in our nation’s natural resources in an economically and environmentally responsible way.
HONORING OUR NATION'S HEROES
The FY24 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act prioritizes our nation’s heroes and honors their sacrifice. This legislation:
This bill provides support for critical housing, infrastructure, and facilities for U.S. servicemembers and their families, as well as increased funding for veterans’ health care and benefits. As an Army veteran, and father of a Navy veteran, I am proud to ensure that our veterans get the medical treatment and benefits they deserve.
IMPROVING AMERICA'S INFRASTRUCTURE
The FY24 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Act provides support to improve America’s infrastructure and address housing affordability challenges, as well as prioritizes funding for highway, railway, and aviation safety programs. This legislation:
This bill prioritizes important programs and projects and provides critical funding for our nation’s transportation infrastructure to help Americans move as safely and efficiently as possible. In addition, this bill ensures we appropriately meet our nation’s housing needs and make the most responsible use of every taxpayer dollar.
LEADING BY EXAMPLE
I’m familiar with the argument that we should fund our own border and not Ukraine’s, but the reality is we are sending more money to our southern border than ever before. Unfortunately, the Biden Administration has turned the Department of Homeland Security into a catch and release clearinghouse. Rather than using funding for enforcement measures, President Biden is diverting millions of dollars toward covering the costs of plane tickets, housing, and attorneys for migrants. President Biden has taken several executive actions to exacerbate the border crisis, including protecting as many as one million illegal immigrants from deportation, lifting barriers to entry and access to benefits for migrants, and raising the refugee resettlement ceiling. These ill-conceived executive orders don’t require congressional approval, so House Republicans are doing everything possible to counter the actions of the Administration. That’s why the House passed the Secure the Border Act (H.R. 2), which is the strongest border security package in American history.
What is happening at our southern border is dangerous, inhumane, untenable, and a direct effect of the Biden Administration’s disastrous policies. Apply that same logic to the foreign policy disasters of this Administration: caving to Iranian extortion, the Afghanistan withdrawal, and the handling of Hamas’ terrorist attack on Israel. If the United States were to flat out ignore Russian aggression in Europe, it would be yet another credibility strike and open the door wider to hostility.
LOOKING AHEAD
We still have an additional six FY24 appropriations bills that must be finalized, passed, and signed into law, but I am proud of the wins we’ve been able to secure so far and feel optimistic as we finalize the FY24 appropriations process.
THE BOTTOM LINE
As always, thank you for subscribing to the Amodei Report. I look forward to continuing to keep you up to date on the issues you care about most. For additional information, please visit my website at Amodei.house.gov or call my Washington office: (202) 225-6155, Reno office: (775) 686-5760, or Elko phone: (775) 777-7705. To receive updates on what I am doing in Washington and in Nevada’s 2nd District follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
Sincerely,
Mark E. Amodei
Member of Congress
The most basic responsibility Congress has is to fund the operation of the federal government. I understand this has taken entirely too long, but we’re finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. We cannot keep governing by deadline and punting our problems down the road, which is why I voted in favor of the six appropriations bills the House considered last week: Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration; Commerce, Justice, and Science; Energy and Water Development; Interior and Environment; Military Construction and Veterans Affairs; and Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development.
Each of the six bills signed into law last week contain major wins for Nevada. The reality is we’re working with a divided government, no matter how much we wish that wasn’t the case, so the effort to achieve all our conservative policy priorities must continue. But make no mistake, these bills contain major victories that we can be proud of.
KEEPING OUR PROMISES
Domestic spending has skyrocketed under the Biden Administration, adding trillions to our national debt. When we took over the House majority, Republicans made a promise to change the trajectory of federal spending and put an end to fiscal waste without compromising our commitment to veterans or skimping on national security priorities. The Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) appropriations bills deliver on that promise and represent the first overall cut to non-defense and non-VA spending in almost a decade. Taxpayers will save more than $200 billion over the next decade, thanks to a reduction in off-the-books resources and budgetary gimmicks. Huge topline wins include:
- Fully funded veterans medical care, honoring our commitment to our brave servicemembers.
- Preservation of funding for America’s farmers, ranchers, and rural communities.
- Reductions in programmatic non-defense spending levels in four of the FY24 appropriations bills.
- Targeted spending cuts to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (6%), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (7%), and the Environmental Protection Agency (9.6%).
In addition to the spending reductions Republicans were able to secure, we rejected partisan policies proposed by President Biden and the Democrat-controlled Senate.
FIGHTING FOR NEVADA
In addition to the reforms, priorities, and spending reductions included in these FY24 appropriations bills, Nevadans can claim several victories, including thirteen Community Project Funding requests. As a member of the House Committee on Appropriations, I was proud to advocate for and advance funding for critical projects in Nevada’s Second Congressional District, including:
- $2.5 million to Storey County for a Sewer Collection System Replacement project in Virginia City.
- $1.93 million to Washoe County for a Stormwater Management Project in Reno.
- $2.75 million to Humboldt County for a Wastewater Treatment Facility Design and Engineering project in Winnemucca.
- $2.58 million to Lyon County for a Water Main Replacement project in Dayton.
- $996,000 to the Washoe County Sheriff's Office for the purchase of Rapid DNA instruments.
- $5 million to the State of Nevada (NDOT) for the State Route 227 Roundabout.
- $893,000 to the City of Ely for the Campton Street Improvement Project.
- $1.26 million to the Town of Gardnerville for the reconstruction of Industrial Way.
- $4.9 million to the City of Fallon for the reconstruction of Kaiser Road.
- $1.372 million to the City of Sparks for the Sparks Street Pedestrian Rehabilitation Project.
- $1 million to the City of Reno for a solar school zone flashing beacon system installation.
- $2.6 million to Carson City for a Road Widening and Enhancement Project along Curry Street.
- $2.843 million to Lander County for the installation of ADA-compliant pedestrian access facilities.
The combined total of $33,124,000 secured for Northern Nevada will go towards wastewater treatment, law enforcement efficiency, public accessibility, intersection safety, and economic revitalization.
SUPPORTING OUR FARMERS
The FY24 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act supports our farmers and ranchers, protects our nation’s food and drug supply, and bolsters rural communities. This legislation:
- Continues critical investments in agriculture research, rural broadband, rural water infrastructure, and animal and plant health programs.
- Ensures children, families, and seniors have access to nutrition programs and assistance.
- Improves the tracking system of foreign-owned land and requires the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) to be notified of agricultural land transactions of national security concern, including purchases made by China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran.
Communist China currently owns more than 380,000 acres of American farmland. America cannot give China more control of our food supply, which is why I was especially proud to support the provision to protect our nation’s farmland and resources from foreign adversaries.
BOLSTERING NATIONAL SECURITY
The FY24 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act aims to address violent crime, counter the fentanyl crisis, and maintain U.S. superiority over China. This legislation:
- Provides state and local law enforcement agencies with the critical resources they need to keep our communities safe and combat the rise in violent crime.
- Supports the Drug Enforcement Agencies efforts to develop Counter Threat Teams to target transnational criminal organizations and the surge in fentanyl, which kills more than 100,000 Americans annually.
- Prioritizes key NASA investments to ensure the U.S. remains the leader in space exploration ahead of China. Why? Because China sees space as the last opportunity for weaponization.
In addition to providing critical investments in law enforcement, economic development, and scientific research, this bill reins in the Washington bureaucracy and holds the Biden Administration accountable.
PRIORITIZING ENERGY SECURITY
The FY24 Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Act makes historic investments to secure our energy independence and modernize water infrastructure projects nationwide. This legislation:
- Provides resources to improve and maintain water infrastructure projects and ensure the viability of national and regional navigation ports and waterways.
- Upholds our nation’s nuclear deterrence posture and includes a 12% increase to modernize our nuclear arsenal and maintain the security of our current weapons stockpile.
- Maintains strong support for domestic critical minerals productions to reduce our reliance on foreign sources.
As I’ve said before, our nation is blessed with an abundance of natural resources that can help meet our energy needs, bolster our national security, and ensure our economic competitiveness.
FOSTERING AMERICA'S NATRAL RESOURCES
The FY24 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act reigns in bureaucratic overreach, unleashes energy and mineral production, and combats devastating wildfires. This legislation:
- Reduces funding for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by nearly 10%.
- Prioritizes funding for Wildland Fire Management.
- Expands access to and encourages domestic production of critical and rare earth minerals.
- Protects public access for hunting, fishing, and recreational shooting on federal lands.
I was proud to support this legislation, which invests in our nation’s natural resources in an economically and environmentally responsible way.
HONORING OUR NATION'S HEROES
The FY24 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act prioritizes our nation’s heroes and honors their sacrifice. This legislation:
- Fully funds veterans’ health care programs.
- Fully funds veterans’ benefits and VA programs.
- Protects veteran’s Second Amendment rights.
- Improves and maintains housing for servicemembers and their families.
- Secures an additional $2 billion above the President’s request for defense spending.
This bill provides support for critical housing, infrastructure, and facilities for U.S. servicemembers and their families, as well as increased funding for veterans’ health care and benefits. As an Army veteran, and father of a Navy veteran, I am proud to ensure that our veterans get the medical treatment and benefits they deserve.
IMPROVING AMERICA'S INFRASTRUCTURE
The FY24 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Act provides support to improve America’s infrastructure and address housing affordability challenges, as well as prioritizes funding for highway, railway, and aviation safety programs. This legislation:
- Invests in our highways, airports, ports, and other critical infrastructure.
- Maintains housing assistance for vulnerable Americans, including the elderly, disabled, and veterans.
- Provides for an additional 1,800 new air traffic controllers and continues to support modernizing the legacy systems in our National Airspace.
- Reduces excessive transportation infrastructure spending post-Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
This bill prioritizes important programs and projects and provides critical funding for our nation’s transportation infrastructure to help Americans move as safely and efficiently as possible. In addition, this bill ensures we appropriately meet our nation’s housing needs and make the most responsible use of every taxpayer dollar.
LEADING BY EXAMPLE
I’m familiar with the argument that we should fund our own border and not Ukraine’s, but the reality is we are sending more money to our southern border than ever before. Unfortunately, the Biden Administration has turned the Department of Homeland Security into a catch and release clearinghouse. Rather than using funding for enforcement measures, President Biden is diverting millions of dollars toward covering the costs of plane tickets, housing, and attorneys for migrants. President Biden has taken several executive actions to exacerbate the border crisis, including protecting as many as one million illegal immigrants from deportation, lifting barriers to entry and access to benefits for migrants, and raising the refugee resettlement ceiling. These ill-conceived executive orders don’t require congressional approval, so House Republicans are doing everything possible to counter the actions of the Administration. That’s why the House passed the Secure the Border Act (H.R. 2), which is the strongest border security package in American history.
What is happening at our southern border is dangerous, inhumane, untenable, and a direct effect of the Biden Administration’s disastrous policies. Apply that same logic to the foreign policy disasters of this Administration: caving to Iranian extortion, the Afghanistan withdrawal, and the handling of Hamas’ terrorist attack on Israel. If the United States were to flat out ignore Russian aggression in Europe, it would be yet another credibility strike and open the door wider to hostility.
LOOKING AHEAD
We still have an additional six FY24 appropriations bills that must be finalized, passed, and signed into law, but I am proud of the wins we’ve been able to secure so far and feel optimistic as we finalize the FY24 appropriations process.
THE BOTTOM LINE
As always, thank you for subscribing to the Amodei Report. I look forward to continuing to keep you up to date on the issues you care about most. For additional information, please visit my website at Amodei.house.gov or call my Washington office: (202) 225-6155, Reno office: (775) 686-5760, or Elko phone: (775) 777-7705. To receive updates on what I am doing in Washington and in Nevada’s 2nd District follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
Sincerely,
Mark E. Amodei
Member of Congress
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