Representative Mike Garcia (CA-25), a member of the House Appropriations Committee, released the following statement after he secured billions in economic impact for California’s 25th District, including $9.98 million in Community Project Funding for local priorities within the FY2022 Appropriations package. The funding will help prevent wildfires, support law enforcement, fund the defense sector, enhance school security, improve local education, advance local health care technologies, boost access to local health care facilities, provide technological advancements in space exploration, increase safety, reduce traffic and much more within California’s 25th District. The funding is included in the FY2022 Appropriations package which Garcia voted for and passed the House.
 
“I am pleased to have secured funding for these crucial innovative advancements needed within our community. This funding will help provide the resources our local law enforcement need, improve access to health care, enhance local education, support our military and defense sector, increase safety, reduce traffic, and much more within our district. After serving on the House Appropriations Committee for one year, I’m glad I was able to make critical progress on behalf of our community. I look forward to continuing to advocate for the safety and success of our district as well as continuing to ensure that taxpayer dollars are appropriately spent,” said Garcia.

Garcia secured Community Project Funding for the following local priorities:

• $3,000,000 for Metrolink Antelope Valley Line Track Rehabilitation 
  • The funding would improve safety and operation along the Antelope Valley Line by replacing rail, replacing existing wood ties with concrete ties, surfacing, and destressing of the track between Acton Station and Via Princessa Station
• $1,500,000 for Santa Clarita Circulation and Safety Improvement
  • Funding will add capacity to the City’s roadway network where known chokepoints exist that create significant traffic congestion, improve bus frequency and accessibility, and enhance economic development
• $1,200,000 for the City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center
  • Funding will be used to purchase a state-of-the-art mobile cancer screening unit to provide cancer screening services to the Antelope Valley
• $1,120,000 for Henry Mayo Hospital Ingress and Egress Access Improvement
  • Funding will address heavy traffic congestion on McBean Parkway and will result in reduced response time for emergencies as emergency personnel will be afforded additional lanes and improved roadway operations when entering and exiting the facility grounds
• $1,000,000 for the College of the Canyons Advanced Technology Center Equipment
  • Funding will be used to purchase equipment for a first-of-its-kind CNC production lab that includes both simulation machining centers and full production type machining centers to prepare students for stackable industry-recognized credentials to demonstrate the necessary skills for workforce readiness as they work toward degree attainment
• $1,000,000 for Simi Valley Police Department Radio Replacement
• $550,000 for the Children’s Hospital of LA Transplantation & Cellular Therapy Lab Equipment
  • Funding will allow the hospital to extend the capacity of the lab at CHLA - increased efficiencies in the lab will allow more fragile childhood cancer and blood disease patients to be treated more quickly and effectively
• $610,000 for the Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital Center for Breast Health Equipment Initiative
  • Funding will be used to purchase a state-of-the-art Mammography Machine

Garcia secured funding for the following programs impacting CA-25:

• $126,800,000 to support U-2 Dragon research and development and airborne reconnaissance systems
• $483,151,000 for two additional MQ-4 Triton aircraft  
• $108,027,000 to Fully fund the B-21 Raider 
• $29,944,000 to fully fund the B-2 bomber 
• $977,161,000 to fund the procurement of 12 additional Super Hornets 
• $286,118,000 to fund the procurement of additional CH-47F Block II helicopters 
• $469,136,000 to fund the procurement of 28 Apache helicopters 
• Funding for the procurement of 85 F-35s
• $135,000,000 for the STOP School Violence Act grant program
  • Funding will improve school security by providing students and teachers with the tools they need to recognize, respond quickly to, and help prevent acts of violence.
• $95,000,000 for the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS)
• $85,200,000 to fund the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA)
• Reauthorizes the Violence Against Women Act

Garcia secured language to support the following initiatives impacting CA-25:

• Language to encourage the Dept. of the Interior and the U.S. Forest Service to make use of active forest management and prescribed burns, and requires a report on the barriers to prescribed burns and how much fire damage could have been avoided had the agencies implemented a more robust prescribed burn regime.
• Language to encourage FEMA to reimburse the cost of a generator for individuals affected by PSPS events.
• Language to direct APHIS to work with federal, state, and local water managers in areas infested with the Arundo invasive species to establish a managements and control regime to prevent further water shortages in drought-stricken areas.
• Language to encourage NOAA to utilize funding to produce, as quickly as possible, useful Fire Weather products to protect life and property.

The FY2022 Appropriations Package passed the House and is now headed to the Senate.