On Thursday, July 28, the Senate Appropriations Committee released draft text of the annual bills that fund the federal government 

Following Senator Reverend Warnock’s advocacy, the draft government funding bills include robust investments in several priorities for the Athens area and communities throughout North Georgia, including new economic development in Rome, investing in poultry education at University of Georgia, and increasing home ownership in Athens

Senator Reverend Warnock: “This federal funding will bring new local economic opportunities, improve our agriculture economy, and increase home ownership–I’m going to keep fighting to get it over the finish line”

Washington, D.C. — Following months of advocacy and conversations with partners across Georgia, today Senator Reverend Warnock (D-GA) proudly announced that he secured critical federal investments for several Georgia priorities in the recently-released draft fiscal year 2023 government funding bills, including more than $14.3 million for critical projects and initiatives in the Athens area and communities across North Georgia that will expand access to rural health care, invest in Georgia’s poultry economy, and increase homeownership. 

“I’m pleased that my fight for Athens and North Georgia priorities are reflected in the draft government funding bills,” said Senator Reverend Warnock. “As the voice for Georgia in the United States Senate, I’ll continue to listen to Georgians in every corner of the state to make sure they’re represented in Washington. This federal funding will bring new local economic opportunities, improve our agriculture economy, and increase home ownership–I’m going to keep fighting to get it over the finish line.” 

The twelve government funding bills, released on July 28 by the Senate Appropriations Committee, reflect months of behind-the-scenes work by Senator Warnock and his office to ensure the bills address critical priorities for Georgia families and companies, including major investments to strengthen our national security and Georgia’s military communities; complete vital projects to improve and modernize the state’s infrastructure: increase support for the state’s colleges and universities, including HBCUs: and, importantly, support and create good-paying jobs in every corner of the state. In addition to securing funding for several Georgia priorities in the base text of the legislation, Senator Warnock also successfully secured $129.49 million in direct federal investments for 64 Georgia projects and initiatives, in more than 40 counties, through Congressionally-directed spending requested on behalf of stakeholders across the state. The appropriations bills must now be approved by the full Senate. 

[For a FULL list of investments and policies Senator Reverend Warnock secured for Georgia in the Draft Senate Government Funding Bills, visit HERE.] 

See below key wins for Athens & North Georgia that Senator Reverend Warnock secured in the draft Senate government funding bills: 

• Rome Floyd County Northwest Regional Hospital Property: Senator Warnock successfully secured more than $5.1 million in Congressionally-directed spending funds to redevelop the community’s Northwest Regional Hospital Property into an industrial park–investing in one of Rome County’s least-developed census tracts. 
• Poultry Science and Research: Senator Warnock secured $4 million in Congressionally-directed spending funds for University of Georgia to address the critical needs of the poultry industry in Georgia and beyond. This investment will support Georgia’s thriving poultry economy. 
  • Senator Warnock, working with Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff, also successfully secured $1 million in Congressionally-directed spending for the U.S. National Poultry Research Center, which will support infrastructure investments at the USDA Southeast Poultry Research Laboratory located in Athens, GA.
• Home Ownership in Athens: Senator Warnock secured $2.88 million in Congressionally-directed spending funds to increase the supply of owner-occupied housing in Athens-Clarke County, GA, and to establish youth mentorship programs. This funding will help build generational wealth and support Athens youth still struggling with the impacts of the pandemic.
• Fannin County Fire Department: Senator Warnock secured $1.2 million in Congressionally-directed spending funds to support the purchase of equipment for the Fannin County Fire Department, allowing the Department to better protect the health and safety of firefighters and surrounding communities. 

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