Omnibus Spending Bill: Good News for the Eastern Shore

Tom Timberman • May 2, 2018

The US Congress recently passed its annual spending or appropriations bill. This $1.3 trillion 2018 bill rejected many of the substantial cuts contained in the Trump administration’s budget request. Rural counties, including those on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, are major beneficiaries of Congress’ rejection of the proposed cuts.

Overall, the appropriations bill:

Revitalizes America’s infrastructure
Increases support for public health
Adds funding to fight the opioid epidemic
Enlarges justice and mental health grants
Strengthens counties’ ability to respond to natural disasters, and
Provides additional funding to tighten election security.

Below are some of the funded programs most relevant to the Eastern Shore.

EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) – Reauthorized $200 million annually through fiscal year (FY) 2023 for the Brownfield Program that assists counties to clean up and redevelop areas contaminated by industrial waste.

FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) – Authorizes the National Flood Insurance Program through July 31, 2018 while a longer-term provision is negotiated in Congress.

Interior Department/US Forest Service – Funds fire suppression activities at full cost.

USDA (Department of Agriculture) – received an additional $2.1 billion, for a total of $23.3 billion to:

Expand rural poverty programs particularly Food & Nutrition, job creation and to establish a more robust path to self-sufficiency
Fund $600 million for a new rural broadband program to “close the digital gap for rural America”
Increase by $500 million grants and loans for rural counties with the greatest infrastructure needs
Provide $40 million in water & waste water technical grants, including $20 million to help rural counties make critically-needed investments in water infrastructure
Authorize additional funding ($1.2 billion, total of $4 billion) for loans to rural businesses and for additional affordable housing.
Support distance learning and telemedicine (via broadband) to improve rural health
Fund rural facilities (hospitals, health clinics and schools) with $2.8 billion for direct loans and $30 million in grants.
Provide rural communities with $2.4 billion for housing loans and $1.4 billion for rental assistance

Energy Department (DOE) - received $3.77 billion over 2017 in the 2018 Omnibus Bill, for a total appropriation of $34.52 billion. Weatherization is among the DOE programs funded that is aimed at helping low income families make their homes more energy efficient and their bills lower. Weatherization is Federally funded, but administered by the state for local application.

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