Congresswoman Ashley Hinson (IA-01) worked across the aisle to ensure that a provision directing the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to reverse its proposed change of the definition of a Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) was included in the FY 2022 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations bill. The OMB's current plan to raise the population threshold to be classified as an MSA from 50,000 to 100,000 people would cause Dubuque to lose its status as a metropolitan area and end the city's access to critical benefits and federal funds.
"I have been fighting against this harmful proposal that would downgrade Dubuque's designation as a metropolitan area since taking office. Dubuque's metropolitan status is critical to attracting new business and obtaining federal resources, and I'm proud to have secured a provision to prevent OMB's proposed change from going forward."
Hinson worked with both Democrats and Republicans on the House Appropriations Committee to secure this provision in the FY 2022 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations bill. The provision was passed by the Committee during today's markup, meaning it will be included in the bill moving forward.