On March 23rd, President Biden signed the second "minibus" appropriations package (H.R. 2882), encompassing the final Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Defense, Financial Services and General Government, Homeland Security, Labor, Health and Human Services and Education, Legislative Branch, and State and Foreign Operations spending bills. This occurred two weeks after the approval of the other six spending bills, and included more than $30 million for 27 community initiatives throughout California.  

RCRC member counties and surrounding areas will benefit from funding secured for the following projects: 

  • Arroyo Grande Creek Levees in San Luis Obispo County — $1.2 million: This funding would support a project to evaluate potential flood easement areas that would provide additional flood protection and reduce flood impacts to an area south of Arroyo Grande Creek that experienced catastrophic flooding in 2001 and 2023. 

  • City of Tulare Regional Business Accelerator — $2.5 million: This funding will support the creation of a small business accelerator in the City of Tulare to create opportunities for equitable economic growth in the City, County, and greater region. 

  • Geriatric Whole Community Pilot Program in Merced County — $125,000: This pilot program will provide comprehensive, interdisciplinary care to Medicare and dually enrolled Medicare and Medicaid patients living with severe mental illness and chronic medical conditions. 

  • Madera County Emergency Medical Services Equipment — $940,000: This funding will purchase emergency medical equipment for Madera County EMTs. 

  • Mobile Mental Health Access Point for Rural Californians Project in Merced and Stanislaus Counties — $357,000: This funding will enable La Familia Central Valley to pilot a mobile mental health clinic to expand culturally-competent mental health care access in rural counties. 

  • Nursing Program Expansion at Allan Hancock College in Santa Barbara County — $1.5 million: This funding will expand Allan Hancock College's nursing program capacity and training for bilingual nurses. 

  • Save the Children’s Food Security Initiatives — $1 million (Several Regions): This funding will increase access to food and educational resources for children facing income and educational inequities in Fresno, Tulare, Los Angeles, Kings, Kern, and Madera County 

A full list of California community projects included is available here. 

The appropriations package also addresses needs across California, including these longstanding priorities of the late Senator Feinstein: 

  • $20 million to upgrade aerial firefighting tankers that fight wildfires in California. 

  • $324 million for the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program and $324 million for the Assistance to Firefighter (AFG) grant program. These grants provide critical funding to state and local agencies to assist with firefighting equipment, training, and personnel costs. 

  • Fully funds the 5.2% pay raise for servicemembers and DOD civilian employees. 

  • $5 million for the Air Force to research atmospheric rivers, which is essential for California to effectively manager water resources. 

With all 12 spending bills now signed, the federal government's funding extends throughout the remainder of Fiscal Year 2024, concluding on September 30, 2024.  For the full text of the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 see here.