WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07) announced today the House passage of the Fiscal Year 2020 Labor, Health and Human Services and Education funding bill. The legislation, which now heads to the Senate for approval, includes several wins for Alabama that Sewell secured for programs critical to health care, education and defense.

“The funding bill the House passed today is a win for Alabamians living in the 7^th District,” Sewell said. “The overall bill passed today includes $190 billion for the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor and Education to help expand Alabamians’ access to a competitive education, a good job and quality, affordable health care. I am proud that I was able to secure funding for several provisions critical to Alabamians, including increased capital for programs that strengthen health care delivery and access, and prepare Americans to be competitive in the workforce.”

In addition to the numerous provisions Sewell secured, the funding bill provides a total of $41.1 billion for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), including $3.2 billion for HIV/AIDS research; $1.9 billion for Job Corps; and $11.9 billion for Head Start, an increase of $1.5 billion.

Following is a list of the provisions Sewell requested that were included in the bill the House approved today:

Health Care

• Federally Qualified Health Centers – Secured more than $1.6 billion for the Health Center program to provide primary care services in underserved areas. Federally Qualified Health Centers may be Community Health Centers, Migrant Health Centers, Health Care for the Homeless and Health Centers for Residents of Public Housing.
• NIH National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities – Secured $341 million to advance the mission of NIH’s National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD). NIMHD leads scientific research to improve minority health and reduce health status and health care delivery, including racial groups, rural populations, low-income populations and others.
• Interdisciplinary Rural African American Aging Research at NIH – Secured language urging NIMHD to work with external partners to develop the infrastructure needed to conduct studies on the patterns and determinants of health and disease conditions in aging populations, with an emphasis on those living in rural America.
• Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) Program – Secured $71.95 million for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to reduce racial and ethnic health disparities.
• Sickle Cell Service Demonstration Program – Secured $7 million to increase the number of providers treating those with sickle cell disease or sickle cell related issues and increase the number of patients receiving regular care from providers with experience treating sickle cell disease.
• Maternal and Child Health (MCH) SPRANS Sickle Cell Program – Secured $3 million for the research and training of health care providers for mothers and children with sickle cell disease. According to the Children’s Hospital of Alabama, the UAB Division of Pediatric Hematology Oncology team at Children’s of Alabama cares for about 1,000 children with sickle cell disease in Alabama.

• Rural Health Care Access – Secured language supporting the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in order to address regional disparities in health care access and quality, taking into account factors that could negatively impact the ability of hospitals to provide care for rural communities.

Education

• Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) – Secured $395 million for the GEAR UP program to increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education. The program provides states with six-year grants and partnerships which in turn provide services at high-poverty middle and high schools and offers college scholarships to participating students.
• Health Careers Opportunity Program (HCOP) – Secured $20 million for the HCOP, which provides grants to projects designed to increase and support opportunities for individuals from low-income backgrounds to enter health professions.
• Minority Centers of Excellence – Secured $25 million for the Health Resources and Services Administration to improve the recruitment and training of minority students preparing for health profession careers.  

Defense

• F-35A Aircraft Procurement – Secured over $5.1 billion for the procurement of 12 F-35 aircraft to be stationed at the Alabama Air National Guard’s 187^th Fighter Wing in Montgomery.