The Shadow
WASHINGTON –U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) applauded congressional passage of legislation to avert a partial government shutdown and fund key of the government for Fiscal Year 2024. This legislation funds major priorities across several federal departments, including the departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Justice, Energy, Interior, Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, as well as their related agencies. Specifically, this legislation includes more than $467.5 billion in federal funding, including nearly $148 million in federal funding for Virginia-specific projects secured by Sens. Warner and Kaine.
“It’s about time,” said Sen. Warner. “I was proud to support the passage of this legislation, which will give our federal agencies the funding they need to serve the American people and respond to the novel needs of the current fiscal year. I’m particularly thrilled that we were able to secure funding for over 100 individual projects in communities throughout the Commonwealth. These projects will make a world of a difference at the community level, tackling specific needs like making our neighborhoods more resilient to climate change, improving the quality of drinking water, addressing homelessness, strengthening local transportation systems, supporting domestic violence victims, and investing in young Virginians, among many others.”
“Although this is long overdue, I’m glad we passed legislation to fund several parts of the government. The bill includes many provisions I fought for to make our communities safer, expand access to affordable housing, support child care on our military bases, and boost economic growth,” said Sen. Kaine. “I’m proud that we secured funding for 105 community projects across Virginia that will improve transportation, upgrade water infrastructure, support health care, and more. I urge Congress to take up the rest of the government funding bills as soon as possible.”
David Crosier, president of the Masonic Theatre Preservation Foundation Board comments, “On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Masonic Theatre Preservation Foundation, I extend our deepest gratitude to Senators Warner and Kaine, both who have visited the Theatre, for their unwavering support and leadership in championing the appropriation funding for the Historic Masonic Theatre in Clifton Forge, Virginia. Their advocacy and commitment to preserving our nation’s historical landmarks have not only contributed significantly to the continuation of this cherished institution but have also underscored the importance of cultural preservation in our communities”.
As part of the Fiscal Year 2024 appropriations process, members of Congress were able to work with the communities they represent to request funding for local community projects, otherwise known as earmarks, in a manner that promotes transparency and accountability. This process allows Congress to dedicate federal funding for specific projects in Virginia. The Senators worked to secure nearly $148 million for community projects across the Commonwealth.
Through strong advocacy, the Senators secured funding in the budget bills for many areas in Virginia including the Shenandoah Valley Region. Funding for this region includes:
• The Senators successfully secured $1,000,000 for Craig County to replace antiquated communications equipment that is at the end of its life span and eliminate communications dead spots throughout the County by increasing the coverage area from 70% coverage to 95%, improving public safety.
• The Senators successfully secured $1,840,000 for the Town of Clifton Forge to upgrade portions of the sanitary sewer collection system. • The Senators successfully secured $1,000,000 for the Harrisonburg Rockingham Child Day Care Center to expand capacity for affordable child care in the community.
• The Senators successfully secured $812,000 for the Blue Grass Resource center to restore an 18-room historic inn on the National Register of Historic Places that was built in 1904 in Highland County.
• The Senators successfully secured $575,000 for the Millennium Group to open a child care center and support the Community Health Workers Training Program in Nelson County.
• The Senators successfully secured $300,000 for the Northeast Neighborhood Association for the interior renovation of the Dallard-Newman House, a listing in the National Register of Historic Places in Harrisonburg. The funding will be used for the installation of new insulation, HVAC units, and ADA
measures for the house, which will open to the public in 2024-2025 as Harrisonburg and Rockingham County’s first museum dedicated to African American history.
• The Senators successfully secured $94,000 for the Masonic Theatre Preservation Foundation to replace all entrance and emergency exit doors for the Historic Masonic Theatre in Clifton Forge.
