December 23, 2022
Casten-Led Legislation Heads to President Biden’s Desk, Included in Omnibus Appropriations Funding Package
***For Immediate Release***
Contact: Jacob.Vurpillat@mail.house.gov
Casten-Led Legislation Heads to President Biden’s Desk, Included in Omnibus Appropriations Funding Package
Washington, D.C. (December 23rd, 2022) — Today, several key priorities championed by U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) passed the House as part of the FY 2023 government funding package. The omnibus bill’s transformative investments will help working families with the cost of living, create American jobs, and support underserved communities.
“The investments in this package address some of our nation's biggest challenges while providing much-needed support to Illinois,” said Rep. Casten. “After many months spent advocating tirelessly for the priorities of my constituents, I am proud that the legislation President Biden will sign into law next will include my legislative initiatives to supercharge clean energy development in the Midwest and deliver nearly $16 million in Community Project Funding for Illinois' 6th District to make our community healthier, safer, stronger, and even more resilient. This is democracy in action.”
This government funding legislation includes the following provisions Rep. Casten sought to secure:
- $685 million for industrial decarbonization technology R&D, including implementation of the Clean Industrial Technologies Act (CITA),Casten's bill to establish a crosscutting industrial emissions reduction technology development RDDC&A program, create a competitive grant program to help fund promising demonstration projects of decarbonization technologies, and launch a technical assistance program to help states, local governments, and other eligible entities to apply emissions reduction technologies
- $540 Million for battery storage technology R&D, including implementation of the Battery Energy Storage Technology (BEST) Act, Casten's bill to provide the Department of Energy (DOE) with the energy storage technologies necessary to decarbonize the electricity sector while providing access to affordable, reliable to energy for all Americans
- Rep. Casten’s EV Grid Act was included in the omnibus package, which directs the Department of Energy to conduct a study and develop a plan related to the ability of the electric system to meet the electricity demand of new electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
- $45 Million for renewable grid integration.
- $40 million for Urban and Community Forestry
- $50 million to modernize the National Tracing Center. This will permit more expeditious firearms tracing as well as increased staffing to support the increased volume of work.
- Report language to develop a High Voltage Direct Current converter station moonshot initiative to reduce the costs of HVDC technology and long-distance transmission, including for nascent superconducting technology. These cost reductions would allow for more “pick-up” and “drop-off'” stations, which would enable more local connections to the grid and expand benefits to communities along transmission
In addition, the legislation will also:
- Protect Health Coverage for Illinois Children enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP.
- Enact the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, cracking down on workplace discrimination, safeguarding Americans' economic security and upholding dignity on the job.
- Bolster Mental Health Services by expanding access to treatment and investing in Illinois’ mental health workforce.
- Enact the PREVENT Pandemics Act, using lessons learned from COVID-19 to improve Illinois’ preparedness for future public health emergencies.
- Strengthen Veterans' Health Care through $21 billion in new funding.
- Provide Illinois Kids with Healthy, Nutritious Food throughout the summer with a nationwide, permanent Summer EBT Program.
- Help Illinoisans Exercise Their Right to Organize on the Job through new funding for the National Labor Relations Board.
- Deliver Emergency Disaster Support to help hurricane and wildfire victims, address the water crisis in Jackson, Mississippi, and strengthen Puerto Rico’s electrical grid.
- Advance Justice for Americans Impacted by Terrorism with the Fairness for 9/11 Families Act.
Rep. Casten also secured nearly $16 Million in funding for projects that will directly benefit Illinois' 6th district:
- $2,000,000 for the B.R. Ryall YMCA of Northwestern DuPage County
- This funding would be used to repurpose, modernize, and expand program spaces. Specifically, the funds will be used to increase affordable infant/toddler care; ADA accessibility; and teen-focused areas for STEAM learning, health and social programs.
- This funding would be used to repurpose, modernize, and expand program spaces. Specifically, the funds will be used to increase affordable infant/toddler care; ADA accessibility; and teen-focused areas for STEAM learning, health and social programs.
- $1,000,000 for the Battery-electric Paratransit Pace Bus Fleet
- This funding would be used to buy five new battery-electric paratransit buses.
- This funding would be used to buy five new battery-electric paratransit buses.
- $750,000 for the City of Wheaton Public Library Rehabilitation
- This funding would be used for the rehabilitation of the City of Wheaton's public library. The funding would rehabilitate the entrance of the library and expand it; allowing a greater number of outdoor events that provide additional opportunities for residents engage with and use services provided by the Wheaton Library.
- This funding would be used for the rehabilitation of the City of Wheaton's public library. The funding would rehabilitate the entrance of the library and expand it; allowing a greater number of outdoor events that provide additional opportunities for residents engage with and use services provided by the Wheaton Library.
- $1,000,000 for the DuPage County Health Department
- This funding will be used for the construction of a Central Receiving Center (CRC). The CRC will be an easily accessible location and single point of entry for law enforcement, emergency personnel or families to bring an individual experiencing a mental health crisis. Once at a CRC, individuals are assessed to identify the most appropriate level of treatment for their needs within 24 hours.
- This funding will be used for the construction of a Central Receiving Center (CRC). The CRC will be an easily accessible location and single point of entry for law enforcement, emergency personnel or families to bring an individual experiencing a mental health crisis. Once at a CRC, individuals are assessed to identify the most appropriate level of treatment for their needs within 24 hours.
- $1,500,000 for the DuPage River Trail
- This request would fund preliminary engineering for a 4-mile section of the East Branch DuPage River Trail that will connect trail users (pedestrians, bicyclists, runners, etc.) from various communities and existing Illinois Prairie Path and Great Western Trails to local and regional attractions including downtowns, DuPage County Forest Preserves, parks, Morton Arboretum and ultimately to destinations in neighboring counties.
- $250,000 for the Glen Ellyn School District 41
- This funding would be used to start up on-site after school mental health support access programs for students and families.
- This funding would be used to start up on-site after school mental health support access programs for students and families.
- $2,000,000 for the Kerr-McGee Superfund Remediation
- This funding will be used for remediation of the Kerr-McGee Superfund. The Kerr-McGee site is one of four Superfund National Priorities List sites in the West Chicago area that had been contaminated with radioactive thorium wastes.
- $54,000 for the Wayne Police Department Law Enforcement Equipment Upgrades
- This funding will be used to purchase new patrol radios and updated computers for department squad cars. This will help the department equip new patrol officers and aid in communication and delivery of police services.
- $750,000 for the Prairie Food Co-Op
- This funding will be used to create DuPage County’s first community owned grocery store, creating good-paying jobs and steady revenue streams for over 300 local urban, suburban and rural Illinois farmers and producers.
- $1,500,000 for the Village of Hawthorn Woods
- This funding will be used to fund a utilities extension to serve an underserved population currently on well and septic systems.
- $2,655,400 for the Wheaton Sanitary District for Secondary Clarifier Upgrades
- This funding will be used for Secondary Clarifier Upgrades that will include the installation of new mixed liquor piping (to alleviate hydraulic bottlenecking & flat watering), a new splitter structure, replacement of all clarifier mechanisms and components, and modifications to the sludge conveyance system to allow for increased return flows.
- This funding will be used for Secondary Clarifier Upgrades that will include the installation of new mixed liquor piping (to alleviate hydraulic bottlenecking & flat watering), a new splitter structure, replacement of all clarifier mechanisms and components, and modifications to the sludge conveyance system to allow for increased return flows.
- $2,000,000 for the Willowbrook Wildlife Center Efficiency Improvements
- This funding will be used to help construct and increase the energy efficiency of a new, net-zero 27,000-square-foot wildlife rehabilitation clinic and visitor center that replaces the current 42-year-old Glen Ellyn building.
- This funding will be used to help construct and increase the energy efficiency of a new, net-zero 27,000-square-foot wildlife rehabilitation clinic and visitor center that replaces the current 42-year-old Glen Ellyn building.
- $200,000 for the WINGS Program, Inc., Rolling Meadows, IL, for facilities and equipment
- The funding would be used for Capital Rehabilitation of WINGS Safe Houses. For 37 years, WINGS has been helping women, men and children to escape domestic violence. WINGS provides safe emergency shelter, housing, counseling, mentoring and other supportive services to ensure that the cycle of violence ends for each family.
- $144,800 for the Worry Free Community, Glendale Heights, IL for facilities and equipment
- This funding would be used to make capital improvements to support a larger spectrum of healthcare needs by hosting a community health worker call center and running programs to support data collection and community needs assessment for underserved, uninsured and new immigrant communities in IL District-06 and surrounding areas.
A detailed summary of the legislation is available here.
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