Blumenthal Statement on Passage of Spending Bill to Fully Fund the Government & Continue to Support American Families, Health, and Security

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) released the following statement after the Senate voted to approve a spending bill to fully fund the government and make important investments in the safety and wellbeing of Americans.

“This funding bill is the product of hard work, compromise and cooperation. I am proud of the significant new federal investments we are making in lowering child care costs for American families, combatting the mental health and fentanyl crises, and strengthening our small businesses and economy. It took us much longer than it should have to reach this agreement, but we were able to reach consensus and put the needs of the country ahead of partisan divide.”

The measure approved last night funds programs overseen by six appropriations bills: Defense; Financial Services and General Government; Homeland Security; Labor, Health, and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies; Legislative Branch; State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs.

Among other things, the $1.2 trillion funding package:

1. Lowers the costs of child care, removing unnecessary stress and strain on families;
2. Supports medical research for multiple conditions and health issues to improve the safety and wellbeing of Americans;
3. Bolsters small businesses and promotes economic recovery;
4. Strengthens natural disaster response and recovery efforts to improve emergency preparedness;
5. Holds the Coast Guard accountable for its mishandling of sexual assault and sexual harassment by providing $1.5 million for an independent review of Coast Guard policies and practices;
6. Combats the mental health crisis by making critical investments in mental health care and research;
7. Upholds America’s role as a global leader and strengthens our commitments to our allies and partners through the protection of our national security interests;
8. Provides critical investments to support our servicemembers and military families, including rejecting restrictions to abortion access for servicemembers;
9. Takes action against the fentanyl crisis, including $1.575 billion for State Opioid Response grants;
10. Promotes educational opportunities and provides essential resources for students, public K-12 Schools, Pell Grants, and more;
11. Increases funding for humanitarian aid to further the United States’ work to support populations caught in conflict and crises around the world.

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