President Trump signed the $1.3 trillion-dollar federal spending bill keeping the federal government funded through the end of September. For the last several months, the government was operating on temporary measures.
Among many things, the bill includes:
- $700 billion for defense, $61 billion over the last year, biggest annual defense boost in 15 years. Increases for weapons procurement including 14 Navy ships, bolstering missile defenses. Funds 2.4 percent pay raise for troops.
- $591 billion for domestic programs. Almost $5 billion to battle abuse of opioid drugs, $3 billion more than last year.
- National Institutes of Health get $37 billion, up $3 billion from 2017.
- $1.57 billion for President Donald Trump to begin building his wall with Mexico, and to generally bolster border security.
- Holds the Environmental Protection Administration to last year’s $8 billion. Rejects Trump effort to cut spending for cleaning up Great Lakes, Chesapeake Bay and other areas.
- $380 million to improve election security.
Of note, this bill includes $48.5 billion dollars for surface transportation and another $13.6 billion for airport, railroad and water projects.
“Progress has been made to fix our crumbling infrastructure but this is far from the real investment that we need to keep America’s economy growing,” said Laura O’Neill-Kaumo, National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association (NSSGA) senior vice president of government and regulatory affairs.
“NSSGA’s number one priority remains finding a solution to the faltering Highway Trust Fund,” she added.