Schneider Priorities Included in Bipartisan Funding Bill Including Local Projects, Improvements to Retirement Security, Health Insurance, Support for Innovative Medical Devices

WASHINGTON, Dec. 21 -- Rep. Bradley Schneider, D-Illinois, issued the following news release:

Congress released the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Omnibus Funding Bill. The bill includes funding for 10th District projects, funding to protect children enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP, and language to reform the Electoral Count Act. All 15 of Congressman Brad Schneider's Community Project Funding (CPF) submissions were included in the legislation, as were bills Schneider introduced to improve retirement security and a provision supporting telemedicine. The Omnibus also includes Rep. Schneider's bill, the Innovative Technologies Impacted by COVID-19 Act, bipartisan legislation he introduced with Rep. LaHood that provides support for innovative medical devices that treat critical diseases, such as cancer.

"Today's bill clearly demonstrates the values and priorities of this 117th Congress: lowering costs for American families, ensuring healthcare coverage for our children, strengthening our communities and defending our democracy," said Brad Schneider. "Essential projects across Illinois will be started, generating economic growth, improving access to mental health services, reducing flooding, and enhancing public safety. I am hopeful that we will quickly see this funding bill signed into law and we can get to work."

The below CPF projects in Illinois's Tenth District will be funded per Congressman Schneider's request. These projects - listed in alphabetical order by recipient - represent solutions to the district's largest problems and were carefully chosen from a large field of applicants:

* Waukegan Water Works Improvement Project

* Wheeling School District Federally Qualified Health Center

* Community Partners for Affordable Housing's (CPAH) Lake County Affordable Housing Development in Libertyville

* Josselyn Center Mental Health Expansion

* North Chicago Economic Redevelopment at Sheridan Crossing

* Cedar Lake Road Realignment and Downtown Round Lake Improvement Project

* Lake County Gun Violence Prevention Initiative

* Lake Bluff Downtown Flood Mitigation Project

* Nicasa Round Lake Behavioral Health and Telehealth Center

* Lake County Early Learning Center in North Chicago

* Zero Emissions Pace Bus Fleet

* PADS Lake County Homeless Shelter

* Beach Park Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Project

* Chain O'Lakes Economic Development in Fox Lake

* Waukegan to College Onsite School Expansion

Additionally, the bill secures a $21 billion increase for veterans' health care - including supporting the VA as it implements the landmark PACT Act. Among its provisions, the bill provides for a variety of initiatives championed by Schneider, including:

* Two provisions of SECURE 2.0 on autoportability and the special needs trust. Schneider led both provisions.

* A section to avoid the telehealth cliff. The section extends through Calendar Year 2024 the flexibility to exempt telehealth services from the deductible in high-deductible health plans (HDHPs) that can be paired with a Health Savings Account (HSA). Schneider led the effort to extend this flexibility.

* The Innovative Technologies Impacted by COVID-19 Act (H.R. 9559), introduced by Schneider, which extends the transitional pass-through payment status on certain medical devices set to expire December 31, 2022, for a year starting on January 1, 2023.

* Language to rename the Grayslake Post Office for Fallen Afghanistan Army Specialist Joey Dimock. In November, the House passed Schneider's standalone bill.

* Funding for Nuclear Closure Communities to help areas like Zion that shoulder the legacy of stranded nuclear waste.

* Significant funding to protect the Great Lakes, support the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, and enhance federal protections against invasive species like Asian Carp.

* Federal research funding on Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) through the Departments of Defense, Transportation, and Energy to help scale up the SAF industry and incorporate SAF into federal flight operations.

* Legislation contains funding for the U.S. Capitol Complex to create a dedicated interfaith worship space for use by staff and the public for prayer and meditation. Rep. Schneider led a letter requesting this space be established; currently there is an interfaith space for use by Members of Congress and Senators, but there is no such space for use by the public within the U.S. Capitol Complex.

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Original text here: https://schneider.house.gov/media/press-releases/schneider-priorities-included-bipartisan-funding-bill-including-local-projects