The fiscal year 2021 omnibus funding bill was recently passed and has provisions that will benefit Alabama's seventh district, said Rep. Terri Sewell in an announcement.

Additionally she voted in favor of H.R. 133, which is the emergency stimulus package that provides $900 billion for COVID-19 relief. The bill gives $600 to those making less than $75,000 per year as well as other provisions. 

“This bill is far from perfect, but Alabamians cannot wait any longer for relief," she said. "Once President-Elect Joe Biden is sworn in, Congress must consider a further relief package that includes more support for families, as well as essential resources for state and local governments struggling to support frontline employees, including our firefighters and police, and provide vital community resources.”

The omnibus bill includes funding for a number of issues such as health care, taxes, agriculture, worker/family support, commerce/justice/science, defense, energy/water, financial services, homeland security, interior, labor/education, Veterans Affairs and transportation/housing/urban development. 

“I am also glad that the House passed the bipartisan FY2021 Omnibus Spending bill to fund the government for next year. In these uncertain times, it is more important than ever to keep the government funded and open,” she said. 

“This legislation includes additional funding for issues important to the 7th Congressional District, including health care, wastewater infrastructure, civil rights historic preservation, and our HBCUs.”

In regard to health care, the bill ends surprise billing, extends Medicare programs, extends the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration by five years, along with other provisions. 

For labor and education, the following were included: 

• $185 million for Registered Apprenticeships and $2.8 billion for Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act grants.

• $42.9 billion for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), including $80 million for research centers in minority institutions.
• $12.5 million for research on firearm violence prevention.
• $7.5 billion for the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), including $2.4 billion for the Ryan White HIV/AIDS program.
• $5.9 billion for the Child Care and Development Block Grant, and $10.7 billion for the Head Start Program.
• $3.8 billion for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
• $62 million for the Office of Minority Health, and $35 million for the Office of Women’s Health.
• $5 million for public-private partnerships to accelerate and improve the diagnosis and treatment of kidney disease.
• $40.6 billion for K-12 education programs.
• An increase in the maximum Pell Grant to $6,495.
• $338 million for Historically Black Colleges and Universities, including $2 million for the Center of Education Excellence.
• $1.1 billion for the TRIO Program.
 
For information on other details of the bill, read the announcement here. 

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