Congress approved a $1.5 trillion FY22 omnibus spending package to fund the federal government through September 30. We are pleased to share that through our collective action, JCPA successfully advocated for the inclusion of many of our top priorities in the bill:
- Israel’s Iron Dome: $1 billion to replenish Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system, which protects the lives of all Israeli civilians from rocket fire.
- Middle East Partnership for Peace Act: $50 million for the Alliance for Middle East Peace, as established in the Nita M. Lowey Middle East Partnership for Peace Act (Public Law: 116–260), to advance peace and coexistence in the region.
- Aid to Ukraine: $13.6 billion in critical military, economic, and humanitarian aid for the Ukrainian people and the extension of the Lautenberg Amendment, a family reunification program that allows some legal residents to bring family members who face persecution abroad to the U.S.
- Hate Crimes: $5 million to implement the Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act (Public Law 117-13), which seeks to improve hate crimes reporting, tracking, and response—especially crucial amid alarming increases in hate, bigotry, and discrimination.
- VAWA Reauthorization: The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), allowed to expire in 2019, will once again be law, improving the lives of millions of survivors of gender-based violence.
- Domestic Human Needs: $140 billion for SNAP (formerly food stamps) and $6 billion for Child Care and Development Block Grants that help low-income families access quality child-care and close the education gap.
- Climate Change: More than $8 billion for climate change research and resiliency programs.
- Human Rights: $60 million for USAID’s Complex Crises Fund, which enables the government respond to unanticipated, urgent needs in situations where U.S. action could help halt violence or advance peace. It was formally established by the Elie Wiesel Genocide and Atrocity Prevention Act (Public Law: 115-441).
This is spending bill is a huge win that it will save lives—and that is worth celebrating. It demonstrates how much we can achieve when we work together and join forces with other communities to advocate for justice.
