Kelly Secures Funding for Arizona Veterans, Rural Communities, Criminal Justice, Water Infrastructure, and More in First Government Funding Package

Largest increase in Community Health Center funds in a decade

Boosts law enforcement grants to keep communities safe

Today, Arizona Senator Mark Kelly announced that he successfully secured key funding priorities for Arizona in the six-bill government funding package that passed the Senate tonight.

The Kelly-shaped package will support Arizona law enforcement, address western drought and water infrastructure, improve veterans’ mental health care, increase resources for community health centers, and boost workforce development for the jobs of the future. The final bill also included key provisions of Kelly’s bipartisan Counting Veterans’ Cancer Act.

The six measures included in the “minibus” package to fund the government for the rest of the 2024 fiscal year are the Military Construction-VA, Agriculture, Commerce-Justice-Science, Energy-Water, Interior-Environment, and Transportation-HUD appropriations bills. 

“The impact of the priorities we passed tonight will be felt in every corner of Arizona. Community health centers will have greater resources to keep families and children healthy. Police departments will get funds and equipment to keep communities safe. Rural communities will get access to high-speed internet, and towns will enjoy better roads and improved water infrastructure. And we’re improving veterans’ mental health care and upgrading facilities in Arizona,” said Kelly. “I look forward to passing the final government funding bills and preventing the risk of a shutdown once and for all. Arizonans deserve these wins.” 

The package now heads to President Biden’s desk where it will be signed into law. For a breakdown of Arizona projects across the state funded through Kelly’s Congressionally Directed Spending Requests, click here. 

See a breakdown of key funding Kelly secured in the minibus package below: 

SUPPORTING LAW ENFORCEMENT 

More Funding for Police Departments 

As the son of two police officers, Kelly knows firsthand the importance of supporting law enforcement to make communities safer. That’s why he secured funding for the Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program and the Community Oriented Policing Services.  

• $924 million for the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program, the leading source of federal justice funding to state and local jurisdictions. 
• $256 million for the COPS Office awards grants to hire community policing professionals, develop and test innovative policing strategies, and provide training and technical assistance to community members, local government leaders, and all levels of law enforcement. 

ADDRESSING WESTERN DROUGHT AND WATER INFRASTRUCTURE 

As Arizona continues to grapple with the consequences of a historic drought, Kelly remains committed to expanding water access and working with states in the Colorado River Basin to protect this critical resource. 

Rural Water/Wastewater Technical Assistance   

Kelly championed $37.5 million for the Rural Water and Wastewater Technical Assistance Program that funds community navigators who provide technical assistance to communities eligible for USDA water–sewer financing and those with existing USDA-financed systems.  

Drought Contingency Plan 

Kelly supported $50 million for the Drought Contingency Plan developed by seven states in the Colorado River Basin. 

The Central Arizona and Salt River Projects 

• $8.9 million for the Central Arizona Project, a water development project that delivers Colorado River water to communities in central and southern Arizona. It serves 80% of Arizona’s population including cities and tribes. 
• $1 million for the Salt River Project, a Bureau of Reclamation constructed system delivering water and power to customers in central Arizona. 

WaterSMART Grant Program 

Through WaterSMART Water and Energy Efficiency Grants (formerly Challenge Grants), the Bureau of Reclamation provides 50/50 cost share funding to irrigation and water districts, tribes, states, and other entities with water or power delivery authority. Kelly secured $54 million in extra funding for this program. 

EPA Technical Assistance for Treatment Works     

Rural communities stand to win big from the over $25 million in new funding to the Technical Assistance for Treatment Works. Under the EPA rural water technical assistance funding, this program provides training and technical assistance to small wastewater and decentralized systems to improve water quality. 

STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS 

Kelly successfully pushed to reauthorize the Community Health Center Fund and secured the largest increase in funding in a decade, for a total of $4.4 billion for community health centers that provide affordable, accessible care in Arizona cities, towns, and rural communities.  

INVESTING IN RURAL AND LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES 

ReConnect Broadband Program  

Through a $90 million investment, the ReConnect Loan and Grant Program will reach more rural areas to provide affordable, high-speed internet access. 

Housing 

Kelly advocated for more than $3 billion in extra funding for the Community Development Block Grant Program that supports homeownership, housing rehabilitation, infrastructure improvements and economic development, while also providing public service for seniors, youth, and people with disabilities. Additionally, Kelly championed more than $4 billion in Homeless Assistance Grants and $913 million for the Section 202 Housing for the Elderly program. 

PROTECTING VETERANS 

Mental Health 

Kelly championed this package to ensure veterans get greater access to counselors by recommending a minimum standard ratio for the number of state-funded Veteran Benefit Counselors using a National Standard Ratio based upon the state’s veteran population. 

Veterans’ Health Navigator Program  

At Kelly’s request, it encourages the VA to replicate the Veterans’ Health Navigator pilot program and aims to similarly close gaps in care by improving care coordination and access for rural veteran populations.   

Rural Veterans 

• $342.5 million in funding for the Office of Rural Health that supports national programs, special projects, and research initiatives aimed at better serving rural veterans. 
• $15 million for transportation programs. At Kelly’s request, this funding will provide several transportation options to improve veteran access to services, often in partnership with veteran service organizations and local entities. 

IMPROVING ROADS 

I-10 Widening and I-11 Construction 

At Kelly’s request, it directs the Department of Transportation to prioritize the I-10 and I-11 projects. Earlier this year, Kelly announced, along with Senator Sinema, the highly anticipated expansion of I-10 to three lanes between Phoenix and Tucson thanks to a $95 million investment from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. 

PROTECTING WOMEN, CHILDREN, AND SENIORS 

WIC 

In March 2023, Kelly joined Senate colleagues in requesting full funding for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC Program), which is fully funded in this bill to keep food on the table for children and working families. 

Office of Violence Against Women 

Kelly joined colleagues in successfully requesting an increase in funding to the Office on Violence Against Women. The funding for this office is $14 million above last year, supporting programs for victims of domestic violence. 

Commodity Supplemental Food Program

• $389 million for the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) to improve the health of low-income persons at least 60 years of age by supplementing their diets with nutritious USDA Foods. This funding allows CSFP to provide more than 760,000 food packages each month in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, 8 Indian Tribal Organizations, and Puerto Rico.    

BOOSTING HEALTH OUTCOMES 

Kelly secured a provision directing the FDA to provide industry guidance to help researchers working to develop a Valley fever vaccine. 

Kelly has been a leader in Congress in the fight against Valley fever. Last year, he introduced the Finding Orphan-disease Remedies with Antifungal Research and Development (FORWARD) Act, bipartisan legislation that supports research initiatives to combat this disease.