House Green Lights 11 of Congresswoman Lauren Boebert's Bipartisan Amendments

11 of Congresswoman Lauren Boebert's bipartisan amendments to the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill passed the House. In addition, 14 of Congresswoman Boebert’s appropriations requests were included in the base bill.

Congresswoman Lauren Boebert (CO-03)  said, “Redirecting wasteful spending in the bill to important Third Congressional District priorities is just common sense. I’m thrilled my bipartisan colleagues in the House supported my efforts to prioritize more resources for rural hospitals, increase access to telehealth services for 2.8 million rural veterans, combat wasteful and fraudulent healthcare spending, strengthen charter schools, support physician workforce expansion in rural areas, and address the unique challenges of rural and Indian education.”

Background:

This week, the House debated H.R. 5894, the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2024. Included in the base bill were 14 of Congresswoman Boebert’s bipartisan legislative initiatives. The House also passed 11 of Congresswoman Boebert’s amendments to the bill.

In the 118th Congress, Congresswoman Boebert has been an extremely effective legislator, focusing on the needs of Colorado’s Third Congressional District and delivering numerous legislative victories. Specifically, five of the Congresswoman’s bills and 65 of her amendments have passed the House. She has also passed seven bills through the House Committee on Natural Resources and the House Committee on Administration. Congresswoman Boebert has secured $19.7 million for 10 important water and infrastructure projects in the Third District through Community Project Funding requests that are included in House Appropriations bills as well as 42 other of the Congresswoman’s Appropriations requests are included in the base text of House Appropriations bills.

Here are the 11 amendments of Congresswoman Boebert’s that passed the House:

Boebert Amendment No. 8 – Transfers $2 million from Health and Human Services General Department Management to the Small Rural Hospital Improvement Grant Program. The closure of rural hospitals has become a growing problem, with over 138 hospitals shutting down since 2010 and 450 more at risk. This program supports rural hospitals in delivering quality and affordable healthcare by providing them with investments in technology and training. Despite limited spending on rural health programs, this amendment recognizes the vital role that rural hospitals play in providing healthcare to rural areas. It's a practical step to empower rural communities and cut through bureaucratic red tape.

Amendment #8 passed by a voice vote with unanimous bipartisan consent.

Boebert Amendment No. 9 – Transfers $2 million from Health and Human Services General Department Management for the purchase and implementation of telehealth services to improve health care coordination for rural veterans between rural providers and the Department of Veterans Affairs. Colorado's Third Congressional District is home to over 100,000 veterans. Telehealth, which utilizes technology for remote healthcare, is essential to address the challenges faced by the 2.8 million rural veterans in the VA health care system. These veterans often face obstacles such as provider shortages and limited facilities, which result in higher rates of chronic diseases and mental health issues. Congresswoman Boebert's amendment aims to ensure that these veterans receive the quality care they deserve by expanding telehealth services and fulfilling our commitment to their well-being.

Amendment #9 passed by a voice vote with unanimous bipartisan consent.

Boebert Amendment No. 10 – Transfer $2 million from Health and Human Services General Department Management to the Rural Emergency Hospital Technical Assistance Program. The initiative is crucial in ensuring rural communities access quality and affordable healthcare. The program supports hospitals and communities in making informed decisions about adopting the Rural Emergency Hospital model. It assists in financial analysis, workforce planning, and community health impact assessments. This program aims to improve healthcare in rural areas by simplifying the implementation of REH requirements. This amendment is essential in encouraging rural communities, cutting bureaucratic red tape, and supporting responsible healthcare policies.

Amendment #10 passed by a voice vote with unanimous bipartisan consent.

Boebert Amendment No. 11 – Transfers $2 million from Health and Human Services General Department Management to the Rural Residency Planning and Development Program to support physician workforce expansion in rural areas. The shortage of healthcare professionals in rural communities is a significant issue, with over 75% of rural counties designated as Health Professional Shortage Areas. Rural residency programs in family medicine, internal medicine, and psychiatry provide training to residents in rural settings to produce physicians committed to practicing in rural communities. The program not only addresses the shortage of healthcare professionals but also contributes to rural economies, enhances medical service access, and strengthens communities.

Amendment #11 passed by a voice vote with unanimous bipartisan consent.

Boebert Amendment No. 12 – Transfers $2 million from the HHS General Department Management to suicide prevention research and techniques to combat the mental health epidemic. The issue of suicide and mental health continues to be a significant global concern, with alarming statistics highlighting the need for urgent action. According to the World Health Organization's latest data from 2022, almost 800,000 people die by suicide every year, making it the second leading cause of death among 15 to 29-year-olds. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has worsened mental health problems, leading to increased cases of depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders. As a result, there's an urgent need for accessible and practical mental health support to address this crisis.

Amendment #12 was included in the bipartisan en bloc and passed by a voice vote with unanimous bipartisan consent.

Boebert Amendment No. 13 – Transfer $2 million from Health and Human Services General Department Management to the Inspector General to combat waste, fraud, and abuse. Allocating $2 million to the HHS Office of Inspector General ensures that taxpayer dollars are used responsibly and for their intended purpose. Inspector Generals across the federal government, including HHS, have a track record of saving billions of dollars and exposing criminal wrongdoing. In FY 2021 alone, HHS's Inspector General conducted investigations leading to 504 criminal actions and 669 civil actions related to Medicare and Medicaid fraud and abuse. This commonsense amendment addresses public concerns about government corruption and fraud, offering a relatively small investment to bolster the watchdog function of the Inspector General and potentially uncover substantial fraud.

Amendment #13 passed by a voice vote with unanimous bipartisan consent.

Boebert Amendment No. 36 –  slashed funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) by $3.61 billion for NIH's corruption, tyranny, and failure to transparently address gain-of-function research COVID-19 pandemic. Conflicting statements from the NIH's Acting Director about research practices further underscore transparency issues. Moreover, the Biden Administration's controversial use of the NIH, particularly in reversing restrictions on fetal tissue research, adds to the concerns. While the underlying bill has made some reductions, the proposed amendment argues for a more substantial cut to realign NIH priorities with congressional intent and express disapproval of its actions. It sends a clear message to the White House that Congress expects responsible spending and ethical practices from the NIH.

Amendment #36 passed by a voice vote with unanimous bipartisan consent.

Boebert Amendment No. 61 – Transfers $2 million for the Department of Education and increased funding for Charter School Grants by a similar amount. This amendment champions the role of charter schools in providing parents with the choice of a high-quality education regardless of their income or location. During the pandemic, charter school enrollment grew, uniquely serving marginalized students. Research highlights their positive impact on test scores, college enrollment, and civic engagement, especially for Black, Hispanic, and low-income students. The Charter School Program, the sole Department of Education initiative supporting school choice, empowers parents to tailor education to their children's needs.

Amendment #61 passed by a voice vote with unanimous bipartisan consent.

Boebert Amendment No. 62 – Transfers $2 million from the Department of Education to the Rural School Programs. This amendment addresses rural communities' educational challenges, where school closures and lack of resources disproportionately impact over 9.3 million children. The Rural Education Program, specifically the Small, Rural Schools Achievement, and Rural and Low-Income Schools programs, aims to support these districts. By transferring funds from the Department of Education bureaucracy to these initiatives, we can ensure that children in rural areas receive a proper education regardless of their zip code.

Amendment #62 passed by a voice vote with unanimous bipartisan consent.

Boebert Amendment No. 63 – Transfers $2 million from the Department of Education to the Office of Indian Education. It is crucial to remember the federal government's obligation to provide educational services to Indian tribes and their members, as established by treaties, statutes, and court decisions. However, this responsibility has been neglected and underfunded for far too long. There are 183 Bureau-funded elementary and secondary schools on 64 reservations in 23 states, serving approximately 42,000 Indian students. These schools are often located in remote areas with limited resources and aging infrastructure. In light of this, this amendment seeks to redirect funds from unnecessary expenditures in the bill to support Indian education. This acknowledges the moral and legal obligation to honor commitments to Indian tribes and respect their sovereignty, self-determination, and cultural diversity.

Amendment #63 passed by a voice vote with unanimous bipartisan consent.

Boebert Amendment No. 81 - Transfers $2 million from Department of Education bureaucracy to the Inspector General to combat waste, fraud, and abuse. Honest taxpayers deserve the assurance that their hard-earned dollars are utilized responsibly to educate America's children. As highlighted in this year's semi-annual report, the Inspector General's track record demonstrates its effectiveness in closing investigations involving fraud and corruption, resulting in significant financial recoveries. With a substantial budget of hundreds of billions of dollars, these funds must be dedicated to their intended purpose. This amendment safeguards the Inspector General's ability to fulfill its critical role in ensuring Department of Education funds are used responsibly, furthering the education of our children without any tolerance for wrongdoing.

Amendment #81 passed by a voice vote with unanimous bipartisan consent.

Congresswoman Lauren Boebert also submitted 14 appropriations requests that were included in the base bill. Read the full letter from the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee Chairman Robert B. Aderholt to Congresswoman Boebert listing these priorities HERE.

Congresswoman Boebert’s appropriations requests found in the base bill include:

1. $1.9 billion for the health centers program in the Department of Health and Human Services.
2. $402.6 million for Rural Health in the Department of Health and Human Services.
3. $285 million for the Apprenticeship Grants program in the Department of Labor.
4. $20 million for the Water and Wastewater System Operations Specialists Apprenticeships program in the Department of Labor.
5. Bill language includes prohibition related to vaccine mandate published by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
6. $450 million for the Charter Schools program in the Department of Education.
7. Bill language prohibits funding from going to Planned Parenthood.
8. Bill reduces funding for the Student Aid Administration in the Department of Education by $265 million.
9. Bill does not include dedicated funding for diversity in biomedical research.
10. Bill does not include funding for the Women's Bureau at the Department of Labor.
11. Bill does not include funding for a government sponsored, pro-abortion website in the Department of Health and Human Services.
12. Bill language includes prohibition related to gain of function research in certain nations.
13. Bill language includes prohibition related to an executive order regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion.
14. Bill does not include funding for the Bureau of International Labor Affairs under the Department of Labor.

Additional Background Courtesy of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies:

The Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies bill provides $147 billion for programs under the jurisdiction of the Subcommittee, which is $60.3 billion (29%) below the FY23 enacted level and $73 billion below the President’s Budget Request. The bill protects life, promotes American values, prioritizes medical research, and combats the opioid epidemic – all while reining in wasteful bureaucracy and enhancing oversight and accountability.

This appropriations bill:

Protects Life

• Maintains the Hyde Amendment and ensures no federal funding can be used for abortion-on-demand.
• Maintains the Dickey-Wicker Amendment, a legacy rider that prohibits the creation or destruction of human embryos for research purposes.
• Prohibits the NIH from using human fetal tissue obtained from an elective abortion to be used in taxpayer-funded research.
• Prohibits Planned Parenthood-affiliated clinics from receiving funds.

Eliminates Waste and Abuse in the Government

• Prohibits any funding in the bill from going to Ecohealth Alliance (the entity that originally sub-granted taxpayer funding to the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China), the Wuhan Institute of Virology, or any lab located in the People’s Republic of China, Cuba, Iran, the People’s Republic of Korea, Russia, Venezuela, or any other nation that is determined to be a foreign adversary of the United States.
• Prohibits funding from being used for any “gain-of-function” research as was being done on bat coronaviruses prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Prohibits enforcement of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) COVID-19 vaccine mandate on health care workers.
• Includes provisions preventing the Biden Administration from moving forward with business-killing regulations relating to independent contractors, joint employer status, and federally forced wage rates for agricultural workers.

Strengthens Oversight of Taxpayer Dollars

• Includes provisions requiring increased reporting to Congress on spending plans and unobligated balances.
• Requires all “Questions for the Record” submitted from any Congressional Committee to be answered within 45 business days or the agency will receive a financial penalty to its administrative accounts.
• Requires the Department of Health and Human Services to provide Congress an annual report on the number and cost of abortions performed under the Hyde Amendment exceptions within a certain time frame or face a penalty of $1,000 per day from the Secretary’s administrative account.
• Eliminates the Office of Communication at the Department of Education.

To read the full bill click HERE.