Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (IL-17), a member of the powerful House Appropriations Committee, helped pass an Appropriations legislative package for Fiscal Year 2023. Congresswoman Bustos secured local wins in each of the six bills: Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA; Energy and Water Development; Financial Services, General Government; Interior-Environment; Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Transportation-HUD.

The package included eleven of Congresswoman Bustos’ Community Project Funding requests. This package now heads to the Senate.

“During my final year serving Northwest and Central Illinois in Congress, I’m focused on continuing to bring home resources to our cities and towns,” said Congresswoman Bustos. “Today, I was proud to vote for an appropriations package that includes funding for eleven projects in our community. From bolstering vital infrastructure and investing in child care to improving community gathering spaces, these funds will make a huge difference for local residents.”

Cheri Bustos of Moline is in her 4th term as Congresswoman for Illinois’ 17th District.

Bustos secured the following funds for local community projects: 

• $49.3 Million to Update and Rebuild Locks & Dams: An additional $49.3 million in funding for the Upper Mississippi River Navigation and Ecosystem Sustainability Program (NESP) to continue to support a program critical to our farmers and producers. This funding was secured by Congresswoman Bustos through the Community Project Funding process. The package continues to build on funding provided through last year’s Appropriations package, as well as support provided in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
• $4 Million to Build a Renewable Natural Gas Facility in Savanna: This funding will help facilitate the construction of a new facility for Savanna, Illinois’ anaerobic digester project. The project works to break down food waste and produce renewable natural gas. This funding was secured by Congresswoman Bustos through the Community Project Funding process.

• $4 million for Skip-A-Long’s Rock Island Campus: Congresswoman Bustos secured $4 million in Community Project Funding to expand early childhood education in one of the most under-developed areas of Rock Island, IL. The funding would be used to build a new, unique, state-of-the-art intergenerational Skip-a-Long campus to serve more students and provide them with the highest-quality early learning experience.

• $2 million for Peoria sidewalk upgrades: Congresswoman Bustos secured $2 million in Community Project Funding to add sidewalks along residential and commercial streets in Peoria’s 61605 ZIP code, one of the most distressed communities in America.

• $1.1 million for Martin Park upgrades in East Galesburg: Congresswoman Bustos secured $1.1 million in Community Project Funding to upgrade East Galesburg’s Martin Park. Upgrades would include adding a splash pad for youth, a patio for families, a building for fundraisers, adding benches for additional seating and fences and sidewalks to improve safety.
• $1 million for the Excel Center in Rockford: Congresswoman Bustos secured $1 million in Community Project Funding to open The Excel Center, an innovative school that provides adults with a rigorous high school experience, the opportunity to access postsecondary credentials and skill-building experiences, and support services. In the Rockford region, approximately 32,000 adults do not have a high school diploma or GED, and this school will be the first of its kind in Illinois.
• $600,000 for the Lewistown Municipal Water Supply: $600,000 for the Lewistown Municipal Water Supply to address water system concerns, including ground tank water storage and plumbing. Lewistown has an aging water system, with water mains and sewer line pipes nearing 150 years old – well exceeding the average service life of 50 years. Addressing the needs of this water system will reduce contamination and prevent disease.
• $500,000 for downtown building demolitions in Astoria: Congresswoman Bustos secured $500,000 in Community Project Funding to acquire and demolish adjoining buildings that are rapidly deteriorating in the center of Astoria’s downtown business district.
• $438,000 for Mt. Carroll STEAM Hub: Congresswoman Bustos secured $438,000 in Community Project Funding for a partnership with West Carroll School District and the University of Illinois Extension to develop a STEA²M (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Agriculture and Math) hub in Mt. Carroll, Illinois.
• $350,000 for community center improvements in East Bluff: Congresswoman Bustos secured $350,000 in Community Project Funding for roof replacement, parking lot resurfacing and window replacement at the East Bluff Community Center.

• $325,000 for Mercer County Better Together’s Business Retention and Expansion Program: This bill includes $325,000 in Community Project Funding to build and sustain local economic resilience by establishing and stabilizing Mercer County’s first intensive business retention and expansion program.

Congresswoman Bustos secured the following priorities in the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies bill:

• $30 Million to Support Alternative Fuels Research for Locomotives: An investment of $30 million to further the research, development and testing of low- or no-emission alternative fuels for locomotives, including ethanol and biodiesel.

• $650 Million to support Carbon Capture, Utilization, Storage and Removal: $880 million for the Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) and Power Systems, including funding to support carbon dioxide removal.

• Support for High Voltage Direct Current Transmission Projects: upport for high voltage direct transmission projects that connect regional power grids in order to help build renewable energy infrastructure.

• $10 Million for Low-Carbon Fuels and Low-Carbon Engine Technologies: $10 million to support the research and development of new engines that integrate low-carbon fuels like ethanol and biodiesel.

Congresswoman Bustos secured the following priorities in the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development bill:

• $25 million for neighborhood revitalization grants: Congresswoman Bustos secured $25 million in funding for the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation to create a new grant program specifically aimed at neighborhood revitalization and rehabilitation activities in areas with high concentrations of abandoned or distressed properties, such as Peoria’s 61605 ZIP code.

Congresswoman Bustos secured the following priorities in the Interior, Environment and Related Agencies bill:

• $26 Million for the Abatement of Invasive Asian Carp: A total of $26 million for the control, management, and prevention of Asian carp, an invasive species commonly found in the Mississippi River, with $900,000 to support the Mississippi River Basin Fishery Commission to help galvanize the states to work together and share resources on interjurisdictional fisheries issues.
• $27 Million to Improve Water Quality in Rural Communities: The package includes $27 million in funds for a competitive grant program aimed at improving water quality in rural areas. The grant program is open to qualified non-profit organizations, and will provide technical assistance for improved water quality, safe drinking water, adequate wastewater to small systems or individual private well owners.
• Support for Low-Carbon Fuels and E15: The package includes support for the Environmental Protection Agency to explore a long-term or permanent solution to allow the sale of E15 year-round.

Congresswoman Bustos secured the following priorities in the Financial Services and General Government bill:

• Small business succession planning support: This bill includes language encouraging the Small Business Administration to develop succession planning materials and share them with small businesses.

• A report on the use of forced arbitration by federal contractors: This bill includes language directing the Government Accountability Office to issue a report on the use of forced arbitration by federal contractors. Bustos’ Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act was recently signed into law by President Biden.
• Language ensuring that American flags are made in America: This bill includes language in line with Congresswoman Bustos’ All-American Flag Act urging federal agencies to purchase American flags that are made in the United States.

Congresswoman Bustos secured the following priorities in the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies bill:

• Support for VA telehealth service: Support for the Department of Veterans Affairs to evaluate current telehealth services, in order to improve and inform a sustainable Telehealth Service model for the future. This would be aimed at permanently easing the burdens of rural veterans with limited travel options.

• Support to improve transportation for rural veterans: This bill included language strongly encouraging the Veterans Healthcare Administration and Veterans Transportation Program to incentivize Veteran Transportation Services locations to adopt on-demand shared ride microtransit service to increase access, coverage and efficiency.

Congresswoman Bustos secured the following priorities in the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies bill:

• $8.5 million for Rural Water Infrastructure: $8.5 million in funding from the Rural Utilities Service at the U.S. Department of Agriculture for competitive grants to improve water and wastewater systems in small communities.

• Expansion of Rural Cellular Service: This bill includes language directing the USDA’s Rural Utilities Service to examine ways to expand cellular service to unserved rural areas.

• Re-Establishment of the Driftless Area Landscape Conservation Initiative (DALCI): Re-establishes the Driftless Area Landscape Conservation Initiative through the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to protect a unique landscape in Northwest Illinois.

• Extension of the Swine Health Improvement Program: Lays the groundwork for the USDA to make the Swine Health Improvement Program permanent within the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). A pilot of this program was funded in 2021 and has been overwhelmingly endorsed by a majority of swine producers. The outbreak of African Swine Fever on Hispaniola has added new urgency to extend the program.

• A survey of Breastfeeding Support in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC): This bill includes language directing the USDA to conduct a survey of state WIC agencies to assess the accessibility of free and low-cost breastfeeding supplies.

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Sean Leary Director of Digital Media

Sean Leary is an author, director, artist, musician, producer and entrepreneur who has been writing professionally since debuting at age 11 in the pages of the Comics Buyers Guide. An honors graduate of the University of Southern California masters program, he has written over 50 books including the best-sellers The Arimathean, Every Number is Lucky to Someone and We Are All Characters.