Senator Stabenow Secures Important Wins for Michigan

Bipartisan Funding Bill Passes Senate with Investments for our Communities, Great Lakes, Nutrition Services, Mental Health, and Workforce

Friday, March 08, 2024

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Senate today passed a funding bill with significant wins for Michigan. Senator Stabenow led efforts to include investments in the Great Lakes, health care, nutrition programs, and key priorities for our local communities. This bill includes funding for several federal agencies including the Departments of Agriculture, Transportation, Veterans Affairs, Energy, Interior, Housing and Urban Development, as well as the Environmental Protection Agency and the Food and Drug Administration. Another funding bill for remaining agencies is expected to pass the Senate soon.

“I am pleased that I was able to secure important funding that will continue to fuel Michigan’s economy and help communities in every region of our state. From protecting our Great Lakes, to supporting our behavioral health care workforce, expanding mental health and substance-use disorder services, and ensuring that millions of moms and babies continue to have access to critical food assistance, this bill makes significant investments in our families and their futures,” said Senator Stabenow.

Highlights of the bill include:

Health care: The bill includes Senator Stabenow’s provision to add a permanent definition for Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics in the Medicaid program, ensuring these clinics can continue to transform the way we provide behavioral health care in our communities. Senator Stabenow also led the effort to include critical funding for Community Health Centers which are so important to families across Michigan.

Nutrition: As Chairwoman of the Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee, Senator Stabenow secured full funding for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). WIC serves nearly 7 million women and kids nationwide, including about half of all infants born in the U.S. This funding will protect essential benefits for moms and babies, and make sure no one will be put on a waitlist, have their benefits cut, or be denied assistance. Senator Stabenow also secured an increase in the WIC Cash Value Benefit, which enables families to buy more fruits and vegetables.

Great Lakes: Senator Stabenow secured $368 million in funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. Senator Stabenow authored the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative in 2010, and since then, this landmark program has funded more than 7,500 projects cleaning up and protecting our Great Lakes and waterways. The bill also includes over $257 million to modernize the Soo Locks.

Economic Development: The bill includes $5 million in funding for Senator Stabenow’s Great Lakes Authority, a federal-state partnership to encourage economic growth, job training opportunities, and community development in the Great Lakes region.

Urban Agriculture: The bill includes $7 million for the Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production, which assists urban, small-scale, and innovative farmers with technical and financial assistance, increasing greenspace in communities and improving access to fresh, local foods. Senator Stabenow established the office in the 2018 Farm Bill.

Priorities in Local Communities: The bill includes funding for local projects submitted to Senator Stabenow by local governments and community organizations across the state. These projects reflect the priorities of local communities and will support investments in infrastructure, water resources, health care, public safety, workforce development, jobs, education, broadband, and other community priorities.

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