Rep. Jenkins Helps Pass Make America Secure Appropriations Act

Press Release

U.S. Representative Evan Jenkins (R-W.Va.) has helped fund the construction of the border wall, provide healthcare for our veterans, give our troops a pay raise, and save the Appalachian Regional Commission.

All of these important priorities were included in H.R. 3219, the Make America Secure Appropriations Act, which the U.S. House of Representatives passed 235-192 on Thursday.

As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, Rep. Jenkins helped write the four appropriations bills in the package and fought successfully for West Virginia's priorities.

"As an appropriator, I have the unique opportunity to help fight for West Virginia's priorities in each of the funding bills our committee writes. I've helped protect programs that work for West Virginia, including the Appalachian Regional Commission, the National Guard Counter-Drug Program and the National Energy Technology Laboratory. I've secured funding for critical healthcare programs for our veterans and flood prevention programs through the Army Corps of Engineers.

"Most importantly, this legislation provides for our national defense by giving our troops the resources they need to fulfill their missions, as well as full funding for the border wall. I am proud to support this legislation and hope the Senate will take it up soon," Rep. Jenkins said.

The Make America Secure Appropriations Act includes:

$1.6 billion for the border wall -- the full amount requested by President Trump.
Funding and support necessary to strengthen our military, complete their missions, and keep our nation safe.
A 2.4 percent pay raise for the military.
$201 million for the National Guard Counter-Drug Program.
Additional funds so the military can rebuild to face threats from ISIS and radical Islamic terrorists.
$69 billion for VA medical care for approximately seven million patients.
$8.4 billion in veterans' mental healthcare services.
$250 million for veterans' rural health initiatives.
$50 million for veterans' opioid abuse prevention.
$130 million for the Appalachian Regional Commission, which the administration's budget had eliminated.
$668 million for Fossil Energy Research and Development to advance our energy security by using coal, natural gas, oil and other fossil energy technologies.
$15 million to expand research activities into extraction of rare earth elements and minerals from U.S. coal and coal byproducts.
A prohibition on the consolidation or closure of any National Energy Technology Laboratory, such as the Morgantown NETL.
Authorization for language authorizing the Environmental Protection Agency administrator and the secretary of the Army to withdraw the Waters of the United States rule.
$6.16 billion for the Army Corps of Engineers, including $1.8 billion for flooding and storm damage reduction programs.
The Make America Security Appropriations Act contains the following Fiscal Year 2018 funding bills: Defense, Energy and Water, Legislative Branch, and Military Construction/Veterans Affairs.

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