Brown Highlights Important Provisions of Appropriations Bill that Will Benefit Appalachian Ohio

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today supported the year-end appropriations bill and tax extenders bill, which include several provisions that will benefit Appalachian Ohio.

“This bill makes long-overdue investments our state needs to create jobs and support economic growth,” said Brown. “Because of our hard work throughout the year, we got a good deal for Ohio’s working families. Those investments, along with the tax extenders package, will provide families and businesses in Appalachian Ohio with the certainty they need to plan for the future.

Brown secured several Ohio priorities, which are outlined below.

Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant

The bill will fully fund continued cleanup work at the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Piketon. After WARN notices were sent to employees, Brown helped fund decontamination and decommissioning (D&D) operations at the plant through Dec. 11 and ensured that no layoffs would occur at the site during that time. Congress is taking up the year-end appropriations bill this week.

Prescription Drug Abuse

The bill provides $7 million to fund anti-heroin task forces within the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program. Competitive grants will be awarded for drug enforcement, including investigations and activities related to stopping the distribution of heroin or unlawful diversion and distribution of prescription opioids. The bill also provides funding for Justice Department grant programs available to state and local governments for residential drug treatment ($12 million), prescription drug monitoring ($13 million), drug courts ($42 million), and the CDC’s state-based efforts program.

Blight Relief

The appropriations bill will allow the U.S. Treasury Department to transfer $2 billion from the Making Home Affordable Program (HAMP) to the more targeted Hardest Hit Fund (HHF). Those funds would then be distributed to states with current contracts, including Ohio, that apply for additional funding for foreclosure mitigation and blight demolition programs. Since 2010, the fund has awarded more than $570 million to Ohio.

Lead-Based Paint Monitoring and Removal

The bill includes funding for critical federal programs at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The CDC’s Healthy Homes and Lead Poisoning Prevention Program is the only federal program that provides funding for states and local health departments to conduct surveillance of where, how, and when children are exposed to lead will receive $17 million. HUD’s Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes helps protect children from health and safety hazards related to lead-based paint and other home hazards. It will receive $110 million for this program.

Manufacturing Hubs

The National Network of Manufacturing Innovation (NNMI) – created by Brown’s legislation last year – will receive $25 million through the year-end appropriations bill to establish more manufacturing centers and support coordination activities. It also includes $70 million for five Clean Energy Manufacturing Innovation Institutes.