Senator Murray Boosts Funding For Public Health and Opioid Response, Education, Child Care, and More; Secures Over $46 Million for WA Projects in Draft Appropriations Bill – Senator Patty Murray

Senator Murray: “This bill touches on so many investments that represent the very heart and soul of this country: from health care, to education, to supporting workers and retirees, and ensuring everyone can live with dignity and respect”

ICYMI: Chair Murray’s Opening Remarks at Full Committee Markup

ICYMI: Senate Appropriations Committee Overwhelmingly Approves LHHS Funding Bill in 26-2 Vote

Washington, D.C. — On Thursday, the Senate Appropriations Committee, led by Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Committee, voted to advance the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies funding bill for Fiscal Year 2024 that Senator Murray led the committee in drafting. The legislation funds the Departments of Labor (DOL), Health and Human Services (HHS), and Education. The Committee voted overwhelmingly, 26-2, to advance the legislation, where it now awaits consideration by the full Senate.

Senator Murray secured more than $46 million in the draft legislation in Congressionally Directed Spending requests for 28 projects to meet critical education, child care, and health care needs across Washington state.

The legislation strengthens investments in kids and families, delivering $700 million more in federal child care funding and $300 million more in funding for Head Start and other early learning programs and increasing the maximum Pell Grant by $250, among other things; commits new resources to address the substance use disorder and mental health crises including by providing over $125 million more for opioid treatment and prevention; protects workers’ rights and puts money back in their pockets by sustaining essential funding for key worker protection agencies and workforce development programs; propels lifesaving biomedical research including by delivering $943 million more for NIH research into mental health, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, opioid use, and more; and protects essential health care funding and sustains key investments in our nation’s public health and preparedness system.

“This bill touches on so many investments that represent the very heart and soul of this country: from health care, to education, to supporting workers and retirees, and ensuring everyone can live with dignity and respect,” said Murray. “Everywhere I go in Washington state, I hear about how the child care crisis is seriously holding back parents, businesses, our economy—everyone. So I’m glad we were able to increase funding for child care in our bill. While this funding alone will not fix the child care crisis, it is meaningful progress—and I am going to keep pushing for bolder steps.”

“We also have strong funding for the mental health and substance use disorder epidemic that has been so devastating here in Washington state. Fentanyl overdose deaths have skyrocketed in Washington state, and we need a whole-of-government approach to tackle this tragedy head-on,” Murray continued. “The funding in this bill is crucial to supporting the people fighting this on the frontlines and getting people the preventive care and addiction treatment that saves lives.”

Included Projects in Washington State:

• $250,000 for Best Buddies International, Inc. for workforce development activities for individuals with disabilities.
• $750,000 for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Washington to expand their career mentoring and exploration program for rural high school students.
• $4.5 million for City of Everett for an alternative response team to support individuals experiencing behavioral and mental health crises.
• $1 million for Clark College to purchase and install equipment and development of curriculum for a clean energy technical education program in Vancouver.
• $750,000 for Consejo Counseling and Referral Service in Renton for a trauma-informed domestic violence therapy and recovery services program.
• $700,000 for Cowlitz Indian Tribe for a mobile health unit for substance use disorder treatment, including equipment.
• $706,000 for Entre Hermanos to support the launch of an HIV support services center in rural Yakima County.
• $511,000 for FIRST Washington Robotics to expand access to STEM education programs in Kent.
• $563,000 for Greater Health Now Accountable Community of Health for a Mobile Women’s Health vehicle to service women in the Yakima Valley.
• $4 million for HealthPoint for equipment and construction of their new Tukwila Health and Wellness Center.
• $2 million for HopeSparks for their Pediatric Medical and Behavioral Health Care Clinic, which will expand pediatric medical and behavioral health care.
• $2.5 million for Island Hospital to modernize their surgical center and improve services for patients, as well as assist with provider recruitment.
• $2 million for Jefferson County Public Hospital District 2, Jefferson Healthcare for the construction of new space to serve seniors in Jefferson County.
• $4.5 million for the Machinists Institute for the purchase of equipment and program development for a manufacturing workforce development program.
• $1.148 million for Mother Nation to construct Spirit Journey Village, a center to provide transitional housing and substance use treatment services for women. This will transform the existing home into a larger housing shelter for Native women who are survivors of substance abuse, homelessness, and domestic violence.
• $436,000 for Mount Vernon School District to improve student safety and provide outreach for drug-impacted and gang-involved youth.
• $772,000 for Multi-Service Center in Federal Way for their workforce development program, which will provide vocational training courses to help participants secure living-wage jobs.
• $5 million for Nisqually Indian Tribe to construct a Substance Use Disorder Integrated Care Clinic in Olympia. The clinic will serve up to 500 clients per day from the Olympia/Lacey/Tumwater/Thurston County area, providing integrated care, including counseling and dentistry, with transportation and child care services provided.
• $1.5 million for Pacific Mountain Workforce Development Council for workforce development services for veterans.
• $1 million for PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center for its Emergency Department Expansion. The project will double the size of the current Emergency Department space to approximately 50,000 square feet, including 30 percent more private patient rooms as well

  SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Identified in the Article

  SDGs	Targets	Indicators
  SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being	Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one-third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.	– $125 million more for opioid treatment and prevention – $943 million more for NIH research into mental health, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, opioid use, and more
  SDG 4: Quality Education	Target 4.2: By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys have access to quality early childhood development, care, and pre-primary education so that they are ready for primary education.	– $300 million more in funding for Head Start and other early learning programs
  SDG 5: Gender Equality	Target 5.4: Recognize and value unpaid care and domestic work through the provision of public services, infrastructure, and social protection policies and the promotion of shared responsibility within the household and the family as nationally appropriate.	– $700 million more in federal child care funding
  SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth	Target 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value.	– Sustaining essential funding for key worker protection agencies and workforce development programs
  SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities	Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, or economic or other status.	– Funding for programs supporting individuals with disabilities, rural high school students, trauma-informed domestic violence therapy and recovery services, substance use disorder treatment, HIV support services, STEM education programs, and more
  SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions	Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable, and transparent institutions at all levels.	– Funding for worker protection agencies and public health and preparedness system

  1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

  SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  The article highlights investments in addressing substance use disorder and mental health crises, including funding for opioid treatment and prevention and research into mental health.

  SDG 4: Quality Education

  The article mentions increased funding for Head Start and other early learning programs.

  SDG 5: Gender Equality

  The article mentions increased federal child care funding, which is relevant to promoting gender equality by recognizing and valuing unpaid care work.

  SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  The article mentions sustaining funding for worker protection agencies and workforce development programs, which contribute to promoting decent work and economic growth.

  SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

  The article highlights funding for various programs that aim to reduce inequalities, such as workforce development activities for individuals with disabilities, career mentoring for rural high school students, and trauma-informed domestic violence therapy and recovery services.

  SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

  The article mentions funding for worker protection agencies and investments in the nation’s public health and preparedness system, contributing to the development of effective, accountable, and transparent institutions.

  2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

  Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one-third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.

  The article mentions increased funding for opioid treatment and prevention and research into mental health, contributing to the target of reducing premature mortality from non-communicable diseases and promoting mental health and well-being.

  Target 4.2: By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys have access to quality early childhood development, care, and pre-primary education so that they are ready for primary education.

  The article mentions increased funding for Head Start and other early learning programs, which aims to provide quality early childhood development and care to prepare children for primary education.

  Target 5.4: Recognize and value unpaid care and domestic work through the provision of public services, infrastructure, and social protection policies and the promotion of shared responsibility within the household and the family as nationally appropriate.

  The article mentions increased federal child care funding, which contributes to recognizing and valuing unpaid care work and promoting shared responsibility within households and families.

  Target 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value.

  The article mentions sustaining funding for worker protection agencies and workforce development programs, which aims to promote full and productive employment, decent work, and equal pay.

  Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, or economic or other status.

  The article mentions funding for various programs supporting individuals with disabilities, rural high school students, trauma-informed domestic violence therapy and recovery services, substance use disorder treatment, HIV support services, STEM education programs, and more. These investments contribute to promoting social, economic, and political inclusion for all.

  Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable, and transparent institutions at all levels.

  The article mentions funding for worker protection agencies and investments in the nation’s public health and preparedness system, contributing to the development of effective, accountable, and transparent institutions.

  3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

  The article mentions specific indicators that can be used to

  Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.

  Source: murray.senate.gov

   

  

  Join us, as fellow seekers of change, on a transformative journey at https://sdgtalks.ai/welcome, where you can become a member and actively contribute to shaping a brighter future.