SAVANNAH & COASTAL GEORGIA: Senator Reverend Warnock Secures Major Investments for Savannah, Coastal Georgia Priorities in Draft Senate Government Funding Bills

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 bill includes robust investments in several priorities for the Savannah area, including full funding to keep the Savannah CRTC open and continue the process of removing the I-16 flyover

Senator Reverend Warnock: “From securing the full funding for the CRTC to revitalizing Savannah’s historic downtown to providing cancer treatment access to all Georgians, this legislation includes strong investments for Georgia”

ICYMI from WTOC: U.S. senator, representative speak out against proposal to cut Savannah’s Combat Readiness Training Center

Washington, D.C. — Following months of advocacy and conversations with partners across Georgia, today Senator Reverend Raphael 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 $190 million for critical projects and initiatives in the Savannah and Coastal and Southern Georgia area that will create jobs, bolster our national security, invest in local HBCUs and expand access to health care.

“As a native Savannahian and voice for Georgia in the Senate, I’m proud that the current annual government funding bills reflect the priorities of hardworking people in Coastal Georgia,” said Senator Reverend Warnock. “From securing the full funding of the CRTC to revitalizing Savannah’s historic downtown to providing cancer treatment access to all Georgians, this legislation includes strong investments for Georgia. I’m going to keep fighting to get these funds over the finish line and flowing to our state.”

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 Savannah and Coastal Georgia that Senator Reverend Warnock secured in the draft Senate government funding bills:

Savannah Combat Readiness Training Center (CRTC): Senator Warnock successfully secured $11.7 million in programmatic operational and personnel programmatic funding increases to keep the Savannah CRTC open and fully funded.

Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay: Senator Warnock successfully secured $100 million in programmatic funding for the Kings Bay Nuclear Regional Maintenance Facility and $65.3 million in programmatic funds for the Kings Bay Trident Training Facility–both critical projects as the base prepares to transition to the Columbia Class submarine.

Establishing Wastewater Infrastructure in Bulloch County: At Senator Warnock’s request, the bill includes $3.01 million in Congressionally-directed spending funds to establish public wastewater infrastructure in Bulloch County, which presently does not provide public water or sewer services outside of incorporated areas. The investment in the proposed infrastructure system is necessary to improve access to clean drinking water and fire suppression.

Chatham Area Transit (CAT) Paratransit Facility: Senator Warnock secured $2.25 million in Congressionally-directed spending funds to create a Paratransit Mobility Maintenance Facility, allowing CAT to provide ADA transit services for paratransit customers.

Chatham Area Transit (CAT) Hybrid Electric Ferry Replacement: Senator Warnock secured $1.8 million in Congressionally-directed spending funds to modernize CAT’s hybrid electric ferry fleet and to enhance the state of good repair, which enables old vessels to be replaced with hybrid-electric propulsion.
- This project will help maintain passenger ferry service on the Savannah River in conjunction with maritime growth with the Georgia Ports Authority.

Chatham County Public Safety Building: Senator Warnock secured $1.2 million in Congressionally-directed spending funds to support the build out of communications and technology within the Public Safety Building in Chatham County.

Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge’s Administrative and Visitor Center: Senator Warnock secured $1.8 million in Congressionally-directed spending funds to replace the wildlife refuge’s Administrative and Visitor Center.
- Senator Warnock pushed successfully for this project to be included on the priority project list for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, supporting economic development in the surrounding communities by drawing more visitors to the attraction.

Brunswick Harbor Modification Study: Senator Warnock partnered with Senator Jon Ossoff to successfully secure $1.6 million in Congressionally-directed spending funds for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to study improvements in the efficiency, cost, and reliability of ship traffic in the Brunswick Harbor by making navigational enhancements along the federally-maintained channel.

Savannah’s Lewis Cancer & Research Pavilion: Senator Warnock secured $1.08 million in Congressionally-directed spending funds to connect the rural medical oncologist with the multi-disciplinary disease specific cancer teams at the Lewis Cancer & Research Pavilion (LCRP) in Savannah, and to improve access to best practice and available clinical trials for rural Georgians.

Evans Memorial Hospital [Claxton, GA]: Senator Warnock secured $1 million in Congressionally-directed spending funds to fix the Claxton hospital’s leaky roof and prevent damage to expensive and life-saving equipment, as well as prevent endangerment of the health and safety of patients due to mold and moisture issues that may result.

Flyover Removal and Reconnection Project: Senator Warnock secured $720,000 in Congressionally-directed spending funds toward the removal of the I-16 flyover. The I-16 Flyover is an overpass that was built in the 1960s, cutting through a historic community in Savannah.
- The requested funds will be used to review and update the project’s Interchange Modification Report.

###