Congress approves $1.5 trillion appropriations bill
The U.S. Senate joined the House of Representatives in passing a $1.5 trillion bipartisan appropriations bill that funds the federal government through the remainder of fiscal year (FY) 2022.
The spending package, approved last night, also contains a supplemental funding bill providing $13.6 billion to support Ukraine. The bill now heads to the president’s desk for signature.
The legislation contains several funding priorities of the lumber and building material industry, including investments in workforce development initiatives, infrastructure, housing, forest management, and small business programs.
Below is an outline of key provisions for the LBM industry in the bill put together by the National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association (NLBMDA). A full summary can be found here.
Workforce Development:
- $2.1 billion for Career, Technical and Adult Education, an increase of $61 million above the FY 2021 enacted level.
- $235 million for Registered Apprenticeships, an increase of $50 million above the FY 2021 enacted level.
- $50 million, an increase of $5 million over the FY 2021 enacted level, to continue and expand Strengthening Community College Training Grants to help meet local and regional labor market demand for a skilled workforce by providing training to workers in in-demand industries at community colleges and four-year partners.
- $2 million for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) Apprenticeships to help align the skills of workers and the needs of employers.
Infrastructure & Housing
- $103 billion in budgetary resources for the Department of Transportation to invest in airports, highways, transit, passenger rail, and port systems.
- $11 billion to construct new and repair old affordable housing and improve critical health, safety, and maintenance of public and low-income housing.
- $360 million to construct over 4,000 new affordable housing units for seniors and persons with disabilities.
- $3.2 billion to address critical routine maintenance and repairs in nearly 1 million public housing units in order to improve the living conditions and preserve housing for nearly 2 million low-income residents.
Forest Management
- $5.7 billion for the U.S. Forest Service, $316 million more than fiscal year 2021. These increases are provided to improve forest restoration and fire risk reduction efforts and to increase year-round staffing to carry out this work.
- $7 million for the Healthy Forests Reserve Program to help landowners restore, enhance and protect forestland resources on private lands through easements and financial assistance.
- Increases hazardous fuels reduction projects to $187 million to allow the Forest Service to treat more of the highest-risk acres.
- Additional increases are provided for grants to states for fire protection and forest stewardship, and for research on fire behavior, invasive pests, and disease.
Small Business Administration
- $1 billion in investments for programs to help small businesses and entrepreneurs access capital and contracting opportunities through the Small Business Administration (SBA).
- $178 million for SBA disaster loans, which provide assistance to business owners, homeowners, and nonprofits that are rebuilding local communities in the wake of devastating natural disasters.
- $290 million for Entrepreneurial Development grants, which is $18 million above the fiscal year 2021 enacted level.
- $138 million for Small Business Development Centers.