Press Releases

Rep. Balint Votes to Pass Bipartisan Government Domestic Funding Legislation

Washington, D.C – Today, Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL), member of the House Budget Committee, voted ‘YES’ on the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024, a package of six domestic funding bills focused on helping families and communities across the United States. The investments in the bill will create and sustain good-paying jobs and support working families through essential government services.

“After months of chaos and extremism, the House has fulfilled its basic responsibility, funding critical government programs,” said Rep. Balint. “By fully funding programs that keep families fed, our veterans protected, and that boost housing assistance, we are able to invest directly in the communities that need it most. Working families depend on government assistance to make ends meet and this bill makes good on our promises. I’m proud to stand alongside my colleagues to defeat Republican extremism and finally get this funding bill across the finish line.” 

Rep. Balint secured over $10.9 million in funding for the following community-based projects in Vermont: 

Bennington County Coalition for the Homeless – $500,000  

To enable the Bennington County Coalition for the Homeless to purchase a new building to serve as a family emergency shelter.

Canaan Naturally Connected – Canaan Gathering Place - $125,000 (Joint project with Senator Sanders) 

To create a community center by bringing the historic Episcopal Church building in Canaan into ADA compliance, enhancing the bathroom facilities as well as upgrading the wiring, plumbing, kitchen, lighting, parking, and security areas. This facility will serve the community by providing learning opportunities, financial literacy training, and a space for the community to come together. 

Carlos G. Otis Health Care Center, Inc. dba Grace Cottage Family Health & Hospital – Primary Care Medical Office Building - $1,500,000

To improve patient care for the residents of 25 towns in Windham County, VT, and beyond who rely on Grace Cottage Family Health & Hospital for primary and mental health care.

Champlain Housing Trust – Bay Ridge Neighborhood Development - $1,000,000

To redevelop the site of Harbor Place in Shelburne, VT from a transitional housing motel with 59 short-term rooms to a new mixed-income and mixed-tenancy neighborhood. This new neighborhood will include 68 new rental apartments and 26 new shared equity condominiums for sale in a total of 10 buildings, adding significantly to Shelburne’s housing stock. 

City of Burlington – Burlington High School - Burlington Technical Center Campus Stormwater Treatment - $1,200,000 (Joint project with Senators Sanders and Welch)

To treat stormwater at the site of the new Burlington High School/Burlington Technical Center campus. The stormwater treatment and control system will ensure that all stormwater generated from the site will be managed to minimize the adverse impacts of runoff to surface waters.

City of South Burlington – Bartlett Bay Wastewater Facility Energy Efficiency Improvements - $700,000 

To reduce the overall carbon footprint as part of the current upgrade of the Bartlett Bay Wastewater Treatment Facility (WWTF) in South Burlington. An energy efficient heating system will help keep wastewater rates low for rate payers, reduce the plant's carbon footprint, and support a clean energy future.

East Berkshire Fire District #1 – Water Source - $600,000 (Joint project with Senator Sanders) 

To discover and connect a new clean drinking water source to provide sufficient capacity for the individuals served by the East Berkshire Fire District #1 village water system. Securing a safe, reliable water source will save the community the expense of bringing in bulk water and could support new housing development. 

North East Kingdom Community Action Inc. – Family Wellness and Economic Empowerment Campus - $1,116,279 

To acquire and renovate property in St. Johnsbury to serve the needs of Northeast Kingdom residents, creating efficiencies within the NEKCA organization and improving service delivery and privacy for clients.

Norwich University Applied Research Institutes – Operational Technology Advanced Cyber Architecture - $250,000 (Joint project with Senator Welch)

To conduct research, and spur design, and innovation through a partnership between the Norwich University Applied Research Institutes and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), 

Royalton Fire District #1 —  South Royalton Rescue Squad Crew Quarters and Ambulance Garage - $648,887 (Joint project with Senator Sanders)

To support rural first responders by building a two-bay garage for rescue squad vehicles and crew quarters. SRRS provides essential, life-saving services to South Royalton, Sharon and Tunbridge. 

Rutland Housing Authority – Templewood Court Housing Preservation Project - $650,000 

To provide mandated electrical upgrades to 10 buildings, preserving affordable housing serving over 60 low-income elderly and disabled individuals.

Town of Bennington – Bennington High School Redevelopment - $1,000,000 

To support the redevelopment of Bennington High School, which has been vacant since 2004. In addition to restoring a historic building, the project will create much needed housing as well as new space for essential community services, such as the Town’s Senior Center, Meals on Wheels, a Town recreation center, and an early childcare center.

Town of North Hero – New Elevated Water Storage Tank - $500,000 

To improve reliable, safe water access by constructing an elevated water storage tank that will provide a backup water source to areas south of the village and eliminate any disruption of service during future breaks and necessary repairs.

Turning Point Center of Central Vermont – Recovery Center Renovation - $400,000

To support the development of a model substance use disorder recovery center serving all central Vermont. In doing so, it will also restore and revitalize a historic building in downtown Barre. This project is supported by a broad coalition of stakeholders in central Vermont.

Vermont Agency of Transportation – State Bridge #237 Culvert Replacement - $800,000

To support the replacement of an outdated culvert that poses a risk of failure and resulting disruption to the surrounding communities. A culvert failure could result in an emergency closure, creating a detour distance of up to 27.4 miles for area residents, visitors, truck freight, and public transportation, and also place pressure on local roadways.  

“I’m thrilled to have secured over $10.9 million to invest directly in our communities across Vermont. These investments will spur 15 different projects, generating jobs and strengthening our community resources. These projects address some of Vermont’s most pressing issues: rural health care, housing, climate resiliency and education. I look forward to seeing these federal dollars put to work for Vermont families,” said Rep. Balint.    

Democrats rejected extreme Republican cuts and policies. This first government package invests in America’s future and delivers for the American people by:

• Helping with the high cost of living, creating and sustaining tens of thousands of good paying jobs, fighting inflation, and providing full funding for key lifelines such as food assistance and more affordable housing and homeownership. 
  
  
• Protecting women’s rights by blocking attempts to limit women’s access to reproductive health care, including abortion, and by increasing funding for gender-based violence prevention and prosecution programs.

• Confronting the climate crisis, fighting climate change, and ensuring America’s energy independence with robust, transformative investments in deploying clean energy technologies in communities across the country, and providing funding for cutting-edge scientific and climate-related research.

• Honoring our commitments to our veterans by ensuring they receive the care and benefits that they have earned and investing in veterans’ health care, including targeted investments that advance women's health, mental health, and homelessness assistance.

This package includes the following funding bills: Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies; Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies; Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies; Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies; Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies; and Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies.

A detailed summary of the legislation is available here.

The remaining six appropriations bills for fiscal year 2024 are expected to be released in the coming days and be voted on ahead of their expiration on March 22.

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