Rockland Reporter

Representative Mike Lawler has expressed his satisfaction with the passage of the second bipartisan appropriations package for Fiscal Year 2024. The package, which was approved by the House with a majority vote, includes various crucial funding allocations.

Lawler emphasized his support for the budget, stating, "Today, the House completed its work on the 2024 appropriations process. I was proud to vote in favor of this budget, which included an increase in funding for Head Start - something I have fought for since the start of this Congress." He also highlighted the budget's provisions for national defense, cancer research, military pay, and border security, all while adhering to deficit reductions negotiated in the Fiscal Responsibility Act.

Regarding the specific allocations for New York's 17th Congressional District, Lawler noted, "Our funding package also included record funding for NY-17 priorities, including $2.1 million to mitigate flooding for Jeffrey Court in Clarkstown." He further emphasized the significant increase in community project funding secured for the district compared to the previous Congress, stating, "The nearly $36 million secured overall in community project funding for our district between the two appropriations packages is four times larger than what had been secured for our district in the last Congress."

Key provisions of the Second FY2024 "Minibus" Package include funding for the Jeffrey Court flood mitigation project, the Office of the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism, and reaffirming support for Israel by fully funding the annual security commitment. The package also allocates resources for Border Patrol agents, U.S. military initiatives, cancer research, Alzheimer's research, Head Start, and Title I funding.

The appropriations package also includes measures to reclaim funds from the Administration, such as redirecting funds from the hiring of IRS agents and recovering unnecessary COVID-19 funding. Additionally, it maintains the spending reductions outlined in the Fiscal Responsibility Act, marking it as the largest deficit reduction in American history.

The 17th Congressional District of New York, which comprises parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties, stands to benefit significantly from the allocations secured in this appropriations package.