As Chairman of Ag Approps, Hoeven Secured Provisions in Disaster Supplemental to Provide Drought Relief for North Dakota

WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement after the Senate approved a two year budget agreement that prioritizes strong support for national defense, while supporting priorities including caring for our veterans, investing in the nation's infrastructure and combatting the opioid abuse epidemic. As part of the budget agreement, the Senate also passed a supplemental disaster funding bill, which includes provisions to assist drought-stricken areas in North Dakota that Hoeven secured as chair of the Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee.

"This budget deal provides funding levels for the next two years so we can end the cycle of short-term continuing resolutions and put in place long-term funding bills for Fiscal Years 2018 and 2019. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I'll continue working to find savings to reduce the debt and deficit. The budget will allow us to make critical investments in our military to ensure that our men and women in uniform have the tools they need to keep us safe and meet security challenges around the globe, including modernization of our nuclear deterrent. At the same time, it funds priorities from rebuilding our infrastructure to helping communities combat the opioid abuse epidemic.

"As chairman of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee, I worked to secure important provisions in the disaster supplemental included in the agreement to help producers impacted by natural disasters, including drought. Our producers were hit hard by the drought last year, and this legislation makes additional funding available under the ELAP and LIP programs to help them recover."

The agreement approved today includes the following provisions:

* Sets military funding for Fiscal Year 2018 at the level approved in this year's National Defense Authorization Act.

* Provides almost $90 billion in emergency supplemental appropriations for disaster relief efforts for communities, including drought relief provisions for North Dakota secured by Hoeven.

* Helps America's veterans by addressing the maintenance backlog at Veterans Administration hospitals.

* Provides $6 billion over two years to bolster the ongoing fight against opioid addiction and substance abuse by funding new grants, prevention programs and law enforcement efforts.

* Allocates $20 billion for new investments in America's infrastructure.

* Extends funding for Community Health Centers.

* Establishes two new joint-committees to address multi-employer pension and budget/appropriations reform.

* Reauthorizes the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for an additional four years on top of the six-year reauthorization recently approved by Congress.

* Repeals the Independent Payment Advisory Board, which Obamacare tasked with finding cuts to Medicare.

* Extends the Special Diabetes Program for Indians.

* Includes several extensions of health care programs important to rural areas.

Read this original document at: https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-senate-approves-bipartisan-budget-agreement-providing-strong-support-for-national-defense-infrastructure