Funds for 9/11 First Responder

“I am pleased that this budget rejects some of the President’s deepest cuts to our most critical programs for our seniors, children and working families, provides permanent tax relief for our nation’s middle class and ensures more households won’t get trapped by the AMT next year. I am particularly pleased that the budget includes several amendments that I proposed, including an amendment to create a reserve fund to address the long-term healthcare needs of individuals exposed to the environmental hazards released as a result of the September 11, 2001 attacks,” Senator Clinton said. “This Budget sets the stage for another round of critical economic stimulus incentives including the extension of unemployment insurance, infrastructure investment, home heating assistance and expanded food stamps.  I commend the Senate for taking the necessary steps to right our fiscal ship and to reinforce our commitment to all working families.”

The Budget also included four amendments championed by Senator Clinton, including:

Her amendment that creates a reserve fund to address the long-term healthcare needs of individuals exposed to the environmental hazards released as a result of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center .  Senator Clinton co-sponsored this legislation with Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) and Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA).

• Her amendment with Senator Gordon Smith (R-OR), which creates a reserve fund to expand access to vital medical services for low-income HIV-positive individuals. The amendment was based on the senators’ Early Treatment for HIV Act (ETHA), which provides states the ability to extend Medicaid coverage to low-income, HIV-positive individuals before they develop AIDS.

• Her amendment that provides $53 million in funding for the Lifespan Respite Care Act.  She co-sponsored the amendment with Senator John Warner (R-VA), as she did with the original Lifespan Respite Care Act passed in 2006.  The funding will provide competitive grants to states and localities to increase the availability of respite care services for family caregivers of individuals with special needs regardless of age. The funding will also help establish a coordinated system of accessible respite care at the state and federal level.

• Her amendment to provide funding for stepped-up food safety measures in the wake of last month’s massive beef recall, the largest in American history. Senator Clinton’s amendment provides funding for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to make public the list of producers supplying its nutrition programs, such as the School Lunch Program. Concerns over the source of food for the USDA’s programs mounted after it was revealed that the meat packing company at the center of February’s beef recall was the second largest beef supplier to the School Lunch Program. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) co-sponsored this measure.

In addition, the Senate included several critical measures backed by Senator Clinton, including a permanent extension of several key middle class tax breaks such as the 10% bracket, the refundable $1,000 child tax credit, marriage penalty relief, property tax relief for working families, and estate tax relief.  Also, tax breaks for our men and women in uniform were extended as well. Also included in the budget were Clinton-backed amendments that made significant investment in priorities such as:

• Increased funding for healthcare for our troops and veterans through the VA and reducing the claims backlog at the Veterans’ Benefits  Administration while ensuring that proper care is given to our wounded heroes;

• Investments in our manufacturing work force training in order to remain competitive and investments in innovation through the Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program;

• Greater assistance for home heating costs for working families through the LIHEAP program; and

• Increased funding for law enforcement through the COPS program.