President Biden has signed the bipartisan Fiscal Year 2022 appropriations omnibus into law. The bill, which Representative Rice and Senator Schumer voted for, includes $14,235,000 in Community Project Funding that will directly benefit New York’s 4th Congressional District.
“I don’t often get to vote on legislation that has such an enormous and immediate impact on my district,” said Representative Rice. “These investments will help increase our education resources, protect our local environment, rehabilitate our infrastructure, and more. I fought hard for their inclusion in the 2022 budget, and I’m proud to be able to deliver the results to Long Island today.”
“I’m always working hard to bring federal resources back to Long Island, and this budget agreement is no exception. Whether it’s the infrastructure improvements in Long Beach and Hempstead, educational programming for our youth, money for small businesses to make needed improvements, or so many of the other projects I championed, I know this federal funding is a great investment and will benefit Long Island for years to come,” said Senator Schumer.
“I am excited and grateful to Congresswoman Rice and Senator Schumer for always advocating for the Village of Hempstead,” said Hempstead Mayor, Waylyn Hobbs, Jr. “These funds will help address our antiquated infrastructure and move us further towards a downtown revitalization.”
“Uniondale is an integral part of Hempstead Town, and this $2 million in federal funding will go a long way towards enhancing the area’s downtown commercial corridor via strategic streetscape investments,” said Hempstead Town Supervisor Don Clavin. “I am grateful for our federal partners for helping secure this funding, and look forward to seeking additional avenues for community-oriented development across America’s largest township.”
“We are very grateful to Congresswoman Kathleen Rice and Senator Chuck Schumer for leading the way to identify federal resources for YouthBuild giving many young adults a chance to jumpstart their careers,” said Theresa Regnante, President & CEO of United Way of Long Island. “This investment empowers our local communities, enabling individuals to achieve success, reduce the unemployment rate and puts people back to work.”
“This is an historic day that marks a win in the battle for social justice in our community,” Said Dr. Fauth Vaughn-Shavuo, Executive Director of the P.E.A.C.E Afterschool Program, Inc. “Thank you Kathleen Rice for your continued support of the children and families of the P.E.A.C.E. Afterschool Program, Inc. on Terrace Avenue in Hempstead. You will be remembered for persevering in the hard fought battles and bringing home the monies we need to support our children's growth, development, and success. We are most grateful.”
“The Long Island FQHC is thankful for Rep. Rice, Senator Schumer and their support,” said David Nemiroff, President & CEO of Long Island FQHC. “This money will go directly into improving the Hempstead Health Center. This project will help deliver more access to healthcare for our most underserved and vulnerable residents.”
“The Town of Hempstead’s Marine Nature Study Area has long served as a space for neighbors of all ages to explore the majesty of Long Island’s diverse ecosystems right here in America’s largest township,” said Hempstead Town Supervisor Don Clavin. “Federal financial support to enhance the Study Area’s educational facilities will help inspire the next generation of New York conservationists, and we are grateful for our partners in Congress for their work securing this important funding.”
“LGBTQ Long Islanders have been greatly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, affecting their mental and physical health, as well as the accessibility of their own community,” said PFY LGBTQ Services Manager Aiden Jay Kaplan. “While the world begins to enter a new normal, and agencies like PFY begin to offer in-person programs and services we continue to uncover a growing need for mental health support among LGBTQ individuals. This Community Project Funding will support PFY’s existing Health and Human Services Initiative and allow us to expand services to focus on new emerging needs. Through this initiative PFY will expand not only our services for LGBTQ individuals but also our supportive services for parents and guardians and launch new services for LGBTQ women. PFY has an extensive history of being responsive to the needs of Long Island’s LGBTQ Community, and with this funding we will take another step to ensure the community has the support it needs to thrive.”
“These projects will help ensure clean drinking water for our residents and that the City is in position to meet the needs of our less advantaged youth,” said Long Beach City Manager Donna M. Gayden. “We applaud the tireless advocacy and strong leadership of Senator Schumer and Congresswoman Rice in delivering these projects to Long Beach. On behalf of our 34,000 residents, we thank them.”
"The Corporate Source is delighted to receive funding for our Information Technology Training & Certification Program for People with Disabilities, which is creating exciting career paths and providing greater opportunities for disability employment and inclusion,” said Michael Kramer, CEO of The Corporate Source. “Thank you to Congresswoman Rice for her wonderful support and joining TCS in changing lives!"
“The Long Island Greenway will serve not only as an economic and tourism draw for communities across the island, but it will serve as a vital component of daily life for residents, allowing for a cleaner, safer mode of transportation,” said Carter Strickland, VP of the Midatlantic and New York State Director for Trust for Public Land. “Trust for Public Land applauds Senators Schumer and Gillibrand for their commitment to secure this federal funding which, combined with state and private resources, is a huge step forward in completing construction of the final 25-mile stretch of the Empire State Trail, benefiting millions of New Yorkers.”
Representative Rice and Senator Schumer jointly championed $5,200,000 in funding for 6 total projects. These include:
- $2,000,000 for the Village of Hempstead sewer system improvements, including the construction of a new gravity sewer main that will allow for the development of new housing and commercial developments.
- $700,000 for United Way of Long Island’s YouthBuild program in Long Beach and the Town of Hempstead.
- $1,000,000 for the City of Long Beach’s Sand Filter Rehabilitation Project, which will rehabilitate the city’s drinking water sand filtration system for the first time in 20 years.
- $400,000 for the City of Long Beach for the creation of an early childhood learning center at the West End Community Center.
- $100,000 for P.E.A.C.E. Afterschool Program of Hempstead for afterschool and summer programs that will further a program to reduce crime in the 100 Terrace Neighborhood in Hempstead.
- $1,000,000 for Long Island FQHC, Inc. including facilities and equipment at the Hempstead location and additional examination rooms to build capacity for medical services including pediatric, nutritional and behavioral, women’s health services.
Congresswoman Rice individually supported funding for 4 additional projects, for a total of $2,405,000 in funding. These include:
- $130,000 for a new interactive exhibit at the 52-acre Oceanside Marine Nature Study Area.
- $2,000,000 for Uniondale economic investments, including streetscape improvements in commercial districts that will enhance pedestrian and motorist safety.
- $150,000 for Long Island Crisis Center of Bellmore for behavioral health services in the LGBTQ community.
- $125,000 for The Corporate Source of Garden City for IT training and certification training programs for people with disabilities.
Senator Schumer individually supported funding for 5 additional projects, for a total of $6,630,000 in funding. These include:
- $480,000 for the Town of North Hempstead to address blighted and deteriorated properties on the main commercial corridor of New Cassel, with a grant program to enable small businesses to upgrade building facades and sidewalks as part of an overall brownfield revitalization, business development, and livability initiative.
- $2,500,000 for the Trust for Public Land to complete engineering studies and conceptual design for Phase 1 of the Long Island Greenway, a 25-mile multi-purpose path from Eisenhower County Park in Nassau County through several parks and communities to Brentwood State Park in Suffolk County.
- $250,000 for the Autism Society of America, Nassau Suffolk Chapter to develop a statewide training program for first responders when working with individuals with autism and other disabilities.
- $200,000 for the Autism Society of America, Nassau Suffolk Chapter to provide instructors and materials to teach cooking, food preparation, and other skills required to work in a restaurant, cafeteria, or kitchen providing food service.
- $3,200,000 for the Village of Hempstead to improve the village’s water treatment plant and to install distribution mains in the downtown areas of Lent Ave, Washington St, Burr Ave, Kallum Place, and Main St.
The full text of the bill can be viewed here.