WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV), announced the submission of several amendments to the Substitute Amendment to H.R. 3055, the Commerce, Justice, Science, Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, Interior, Environment, Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act of 2020.
“The amendments I’ve filed will help to ensure that Nevadans have improved access to housing, health, and education programs and will invest in conservation and restoration efforts for Nevada’s public lands and Lake Tahoe,” said Senator Rosen. “These are all issues that are very much worth additional federal investment and will help our communities to continue to grow and thrive. I’ll continue working to urge appropriators to support programs that improve access to health care and housing, invest in our education so that future generations are prepared to take on a 21st century economy, and protect our public lands and environment.”
BACKGROUND: Senator Rosen filed the below amendments:
Rosen #1069 (Neighborworks): An amendment to increase funding for affordable housing program Neighborworks (the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation) by $2 million. Rosen led the effort in the House last year to increase investment in this critically important program, which has provided funding to Nevada HAND.
Rosen #1007 (Tribal HUD-VASH): An amendment to increase funding for Tribal HUD-VASH, which provides rental housing vouchers for Native American veterans, by $1 million. Earlier this year, Senator Rosen led a bipartisan group of 22 Senators in sending a letter to Senate appropriators, requesting robust funding for the HUD-VASH program, which combines HUD’s Housing Choice Voucher rental assistance program for low-income renters with case management and clinical services for veterans provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
Rosen #967 (SNPLMA): An amendment to prevent Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act (SNPLMA) funding from being diverted for unauthorized purposes. SNPLMA funds help support conservation efforts in Nevada. This amendment is also co-sponsored by Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV).
Rosen #1008 (NSF STEM Education): An amendment that sets aside $95 million for the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Discovery Research PreK-12 program, a $7 million increase over FY 2019. In March, Rosen introduced the Building Blocks of STEM Act, bipartisan legislation that creates and expands upon STEM education initiatives at NSF for young children through the Discovery Research PreK-12 program, and also authorizes new research grants to increase the participation of girls in computer science.
Rosen #1009 (NSF Computer Science Research): An amendment that increases funding for research supported by the National Science Foundation’s Computer and Information Science and Engineering Directorate by $1 million.
Rosen #1161 (Distance Learning & Telemedicine): A bipartisan amendment with Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE) that increases funding for grants for telemedicine and distance learning in rural areas by $1 million. Last Congress, then-Congresswoman Rosen co-sponsored several bills that would have improved access to telehealth services. This includes ensuring that telehealth services for stroke victims are eligible under Medicare, expanding telehealth coverage for home dialysis and remote patient monitoring, and expanding telehealth programs for rural and Native American populations.
Rosen #1160 (Lake Tahoe Restoration): An amendment also backed by Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Diane Feinstein (D-CA), and Kamala Harris (D-CA) that sets aside over $4 million for Lake Tahoe invasive species mitigation through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Resource Management account.
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