Press Releases

WASHINGTON, DC - Yesterday, Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester voted in favor of the Defense, Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and State and Foreign Operations, Energy and Water Appropriations bill (H.R. 2750), which included provisions introduced by Blunt Rochester and adopted on a broadly bipartisan basis that would improve the Space Available Flights program for veterans rated as 100% disabled, increase transparency over the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for projects which they are obligated to fund, and direct the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to create strategies to improve primary care physician recruitment and retention at community health centers. 

“The funding we approved yesterday will improve the health and stability of our communities, help our brave men and women who have kept our country safe, and ensure we support our allies and alleviate poverty worldwide.” said Congresswoman Blunt Rochester.

Blunt Rochester included a provision in the bill that would help improve the Defense Department’s Space Available (Space-A) Flights program for veterans rated 100% disabled by allowing their spouses and caregivers to accompany them on the flights. Space-A was expanded to include veterans rated as 100% disabled in the Fiscal Year 2019 National Defense Authorization Act. Unfortunately, the program was not extended to spouses and caregivers of those veterans utilizing the Space-A program. The Department of Defense notified the Appropriations Committee of their intention to modify the program to include those spouses and caregivers.

“I applaud my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for overwhelmingly supporting my amendment. These veterans have sacrificed so much to protect our nation.. By extending this program to spouses and caregivers, we can ensure these veterans are able to use the benefits they have earned. It is encouraging that the Department of Defense has indicated that they intend to resolve this issue and I remain committed to supporting this important change to their policy.”

Additionally, Blunt Rochester included provisions that would help rural communities address their primary care physician shortage and resolve issues with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers failing to follow-through on their obligation to continue funding key coastal projects, such as the Indian River Inlet project.

“This bill provides a substantial and continued investment in many of the priorities Delawareans have requested of their government, including improving our health care system and coastal projects. My amendments will help ensure that those funds are used effectively, efficiently, and ultimately for the betterment of the residents of the First State. I thank my colleagues for supporting my provisions and I urge the Senate to act on passing these important funding bills.” 

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