Three Crow-Led Priorities Set to Become Law with Passage of FY2020 Government Funding Bills

Today Rep. Jason Crow (CO-06) successfully secured the passage of three Colorado priorities in the two fiscal year 2020 appropriations bills: H.R. 1865 and H.R. 1158.

• The SAVE Energy Act: Crow's bill promotes energy efficiency among consumers by allowing homeowners to deduct up to $500 from their taxes when they purchase energy efficiency improvements for their homes. This credit expired in December 2017 but under the new appropriations bill which incorporates a one-year version of Crow's bill, the SAVE Energy Act, will be in effect for 2020.

• The POD Act: After being denied entry to the ICE detention facility in his district, Crow introduced the Public Oversight of Detention Centers (POD) Act to allow members of Congress to gain timely access to detention facilities. Today, the POD Act has been included within the government funding bill.

• Funding for REPI: In June, Crow introduced an amendment to increase funding for the Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration Program (REPI) to $100 million. At Buckley Air Force Base, REPI has created hundreds of acres of protected land, built community partnerships, and helped secure money for local projects ensuring the community and Air Force Base grow in tandem. The funding bill passed today matches the amount Crow requested in June.

"These are huge wins for the district that find federal solutions to issues right here at home. Whether it be increasing transparency in the government, finding bipartisan solutions on energy efficiency, or funding key environmental programs, we're thrilled to see these Colorado priorities advance into law," said Crow.

Other key wins for the district include:

• Permanently repeals the Cadillac Tax for high-cost employer-sponsored health care coverage
• Funds the NIH at nearly $42 billion, a 7%, $2.6 billion increase over last year
• Includes $2.79 billion for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy – a $469 million increase
• A $22 million increase over last year for Colorado for highway and transit funding, and a $2.5 million increase for Colorado in terms of community development block grant and the HOME program
• $125 million for STOP School Violence Act grants, which help make schools more secure by training staff and students on threat assessment and prevention. It also helps fund and implement school security infrastructure improvements
• Keeps in a provision that precludes Department of Justice from preventing states' implementation of laws that authorize marijuana use, cultivation, distribution
• Extends the National Flood Insurance Program through the end of FY 2020
• Includes $425 million for election security grants
• $22.63 billion for NASA, a $1.13 billion increase.
• $495 million for the Land Water Conservation Fund
• $3.38 billion for National Parks
• Includes $500 million for U.S. Antarctic Program, operations of which are based in Centennial
• Includes the CREATES Act which makes it easier to bring generic drugs to market, a key component of bringing down drug prices