July 08, 2020

Congresswoman Barbara Lee Releases Statement on Fiscal Year 2021 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Funding Bill

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13), a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, issued a statement in response to the introduction of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS) funding bill.

The LHHS bill designates $196.5 billion in funds to some of the nation’s most critical programs, including Early Head Start Education and Social Security. The bill funds programs to support millions of families and improve access to education, jobs, and affordable health care.

“This legislation makes substantial investments in our workforce, early childhood and higher education, and health care system at a time when relief is needed most,” said Congresswoman Lee. “COVID-19 has laid bare the severe health disparities faced by communities of color. Black and brown people are suffering from this public health crisis at disproportionate rates, and it’s no coincidence.

“This bill would also provide much-needed funding for racial disparities in healthcare, including investments in community health centers, behavioral health education and training, and treatment for HIV/AIDS and chronic disease prevention to give our constituents the opportunity to live longer, healthier lives.

“It also begins to address the needs of our future with large-scale investments in Social Security, early childhood programs, and higher education, especially for minority-serving institutions. Renewed investment in these programs will give hope to families in a time of great uncertainty. Now more than ever, as we face public health and economic crises, we must prioritize empowering families and communities through health care, education, and workforce needs.”

Some of Congresswoman Lee’s top priorities included in the bill can be found below:

  • HEALTH SERVICES –
    • $47 billion for National Institutes of Health (NIH), an increase of $5.5 billion above the FY 2020 enacted level.
    • $1.65 billion for Health Centers Program to support school-based health centers, an increase of $25 million.
    • $981 million, an increase of $37 million above the FY 2020 enacted level, for programs to improve maternal and child health, including an additional $25 million for the Maternal and Child Health Block Grant.
    • Prohibits the Department from penalizing institutions of higher education that conduct scientific research on marijuana
    • Allows for federal funds to be used for syringe exchange programs as part of a public health campaign to provide services to individuals involved in injection drug use.
  • FAMILY PLANNING –
    • $101 million for Teen Pregnancy Prevention, equal to the FY 2020 enacted level.
    • New language to ensure that Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program (TPPP) grantees offer medically accurate, complete, and age-appropriate programs, as required by statute.
    • Provides NO funding for abstinence-only education
  • HIV/AIDS RESEARCH AND PREVENTION –
    • $57 million for the Minority HIV/AIDS Initiative, an increase of $3 million above the FY 2020 enacted level.
    • $95 million for Ryan White HIV/AIDS program for the Domestic HIV/AIDS Initiative.
  • JOBS –
    • $101 million for YouthBuild to improve youth skills and learning, an increase of $6 million above the FY 2020 enacted level and $16 million above the President’s budget request.
    • $103 million for the Reintegration of Ex-offenders, an increase of $5 million above the FY 2020 enacted level and $10 million above the President’s budget request.
    • $1.76 billion for Job Corps an increase of $12 million above the FY 2020 enacted level and $740 million above the President’s budget request.
    • $278 million for the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). Within this amount, the bill includes $1 million and new bill language for the NLRB to establish and administer a process for electronic voting.
  • EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS –
    • $275 million increase for early childhood programs.
    • $5.9 billion for the Child Care and Development Block Grant, an increase of $100 million above the FY 2020 enacted level.
    • $10.8 billion for Head Start, an increase of $150 million above the FY 2020 enacted level.
    • $300 million for Preschool Development Grants, an increase of $25 million above the FY 2020 enacted level.
    • $750 million for the Community Services Block Grant, an increase of $10 million above the FY 2020 enacted level.
  • EDUCATION -
    • Includes new language allowing incarcerated individuals to be eligible for Pell Grants.
    • $16.6 billion for Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies, an increase of $254 million above the FY 2020 enacted level.
    • $6,495 for the maximum Pell Grant.
    • $1.1 billion for Federal TRIO programs, an increase of $10 million above the FY 2020 enacted level and $150 million above the President’s budget request.
    • $370 million for GEAR UP, an increase of $5 million above the FY 2020 enacted level.
    • $344 million for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), an increase of $19 million above the FY 2020 enacted level and the President’s budget request.
    • $155 million for Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs), an increase of $12 million above the FY 2020 enacted level.
  • OTHER –
    • The bill includes a new provision to block the Administration’s new regulation that would allow discrimination in health and health education programs against individuals based on LGBTQ status.
    • $515 million for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), in 2023 advance funding, an increase of $50 million above the FY 2022 enacted level.
    • $257 million for the Institute of Museum and Library Services, an increase of $5 million above the FY 2020 enacted level.

The full text of the bill is here.

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Congresswoman Lee is the Co-Chair of the Steering & Policy Committee, a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, former Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, Chair Emeritus of the Progressive Caucus, and Co-Chair of the Pro-Choice Caucus. She also serves as Chair of the Majority Leader’s Task Force on Poverty and Opportunity