Rep. Sara Jacobs Votes to Fund the Government, Bring Home San Diego Priorities
Rep. Sara Jacobs (CA-51) voted to pass the second and final package of six FY2024 appropriations bills, which include several San Diego priorities like lowering the costs of child care, addressing the Tijuana River Valley crisis, providing additional funds to care for migrants and asylum seekers, increasing pay for service members, and more.
Rep. Sara Jacobs said: “House Republicans are unserious about governing even when our economy, national security, and Americans’ livelihoods hang in the balance. They brought us – yet again! – to the brink of a government shutdown, causing unnecessary stress and anxiety to the entire country. I’m glad that Democrats are consistently the adults in the room, negotiating to address the cost of living, protect reproductive rights, and keep our communities safe while also putting up the necessary votes to pass this package.
“This package includes several priorities for San Diego that I have long championed. A $1 billion increase in child care and Head Start means millions of kids will get the essential care and early learning they need to thrive. As the largest military community in the country, San Diego will also benefit from the biggest increase in troop pay in 40 years, which will help our service members and their families live with dignity. I’m also proud that our San Diego congressional delegation secured over $156 million to repair and expand the capacity of the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant – which is key to finally solving the Tijuana River Valley crisis. As the Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, I’m also grateful for the one-year extension of PEPFAR, which has been a shining example of positive U.S. global leadership by saving 25 million lives all over the world in the last 20 years – and I continue to urge Congress to reauthorize PEPFAR for another 5 years.
“San Diego has also proven that – with sufficient resources and strong partnerships on the ground – we can welcome and care for migrants and asylum seekers in a safe, orderly, and dignified way. That’s why I’m proud to have secured $650 million for FEMA’s SSP program and hope that our local entities will take advantage of these federal funds. At the same time, I’m disappointed that this package prioritizes detention and militarization of the border, instead of addressing the root causes of migration. We haven’t passed immigration reform in 40 years – and it shows. It’s long overdue to expand legal pathways for people to stay and work in our country, relieve the strain on our asylum system, and address the root causes so that we can keep our country safe and treat others with the dignity they deserve. While I am glad to see an increase in global humanitarian assistance, I am outraged that this bill excludes funding for UNRWA, which is delivering irreplaceable, life-saving aid to address the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza. Palestinian children are starving and need relief, and cutting off U.S. support for UNRWA will worsen their suffering.”
Wins for San Diego:
- $156 million to repair the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant (SBIWTP) and address the Tijuana River Valley wastewater and sewage crisis – funds that Rep. Sara Jacobs and the San Diego congressional delegation fought to secure.
- $1 billion in additional funding to lower child care costs for families and strengthen Head Start – in line with Rep. Sara Jacobs’ efforts to increase funding in child care.
- Authorizing an additional 12,000 Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) for Afghans who assisted the U.S. government during the war in Afghanistan.
- $650 million for FEMA’s Shelter and Services Program (SSP) to help care for migrants and asylum seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border – funds that Rep. Sara Jacobs and the San Diego congressional delegation fought to secure. Last year, San Diego received about $70 million in federal funding from SSP.
- 5.2% pay increase for service members, 5.4% increase in the Basic Allowance for Housing, and 1.7% increase in the Basic Allowance for Subsistence – in line with Rep. Sara Jacobs’ leadership in championing legislation to improve the quality of life of service members and military families. This marks the highest troop pay increase in 40 years.
- $4 billion for programs to improve maternal and child health and fight infectious diseases, which Rep. Sara Jacobs fought to secure.
- $50 million for Impact Aid, a federal program that provides financial support to school districts with concentrations of military-connected students, and $20 million for Impact Aid for those with disabilities.
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