WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) released the following statement after voting to support the $1.8 trillion spending and tax package that will fund the government through the fall of 2016. The bill now heads to President Obama’s desk to be signed into law.

“Today was a win for Connecticut families, commuters, manufacturers, farmers and fishermen. I fought to win a seat on the Senate Appropriations Committee so that I could work to bring federal funding back home to Connecticut, and this budget delivers in a big way for our state. This budget makes historic investments in Amtrak and rail safety, Connecticut-made fighter engines, helicopters and submarines, and Long Island Sound. The bill helps troubled kids, protects our open spaces and waterways, and will help revitalize areas overrun with abandoned buildings and empty factories.

“People in Connecticut tell me they want Congress to focus on helping the middle class. I was proud that this bill made the Child and Earned Income Tax Credits permanent to help Connecticut workers keep more of their hard-earned money and build a better life for their families. We took major steps to combat climate change, providing incentives for increased production of clean energy like wind and solar and preventing Republican attempts to block new rules on clean water and power plants. And we ensured that Connecticut businesses can keep tax credits that help them invest in innovation so they remain competitive in today’s complex global economy.

“Still, the bill has some serious flaws – it’s not the bill I would have written. Democrats are in the minority, so I knew going in that the final bill would be far from perfect, but I believe we got the best bill we could have in this Congress. After years and years of damaging cuts, this budget finally starts making investments in the programs that help Connecticut."

Below is a list of some of the important Connecticut priorities included in the final funding package:

  • $3.8 billion for Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, which is a $160 million increase and includes an increase of $50 million for the Mental Health Block Grant for states
  • $1.4 billion for Amtrak, an increase of $19 million
  • $19 million dedicated to a new Northeast Corridor rail fund
  • $50 million in new funds for Positive Train Control and other rail safety measures
  • $25 million in new funds for National Network for Manufacturing Innovation$8.4 billion for 68 F-35 Joint-Strike Fighters, including $1.3 billion for 11 additional F-35s above the requested level
  • $2.6 billion for 102 Blackhawk Helicopters, including $139 million for 7 additional Blackhawks for the National Guard
  • $5.3 billion for two Virginia-class Submarines and Future Year Procurement Funding
  • $971 million to fully fund  Ohio Replacement Program
  • $167 million to fully fund the Virginia Payload Module$32 billion for the National Institutes of Health, an increase of $2 billion
  • $116 million for the Fisheries Management Program and Services and $140 million for the Fisheries and Ecosystem Science Program and Services, funds that support the Northeast Fisheries Science Center’s Milford Lab
  • $15.3 million for acquaculture programs
  • $450 million for the Land and Water Conservation Fund, an increase of $144 million
  • $10 million for the Highlands Conservation Program, an increase of $7 million
  • $2 million in new funds for the Girls in the Juvenile Justice System program
  • Requirement that police in schools who receive federal grants are properly training to reduce the school-to-prison pipeline

Below is a list of critical tax credits included in the final “extenders” package:

  • Makes permanent the Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit Makes permanent the research and development tax to encourage innovation
  • Creates parity for the mass transit users for the commuter tax deduction
  • Makes permanent the enhanced incentive for donations of conservation easements
  • Makes permanent the educator tax deduction for out-of-pocket expenses that teachers incur for school expenses
  • Extends solar and wind tax credits for five years with a commence construction provision