WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) voted in favor of the Senate’s two-year budget agreement that provides increased defense funding and $125 million in additional funding for North Carolina’s Hurricane Matthew relief efforts.

Senator Tillis worked with Senator Burr and the entire North Carolina’s Congressional delegation to ensure North Carolina was included in the additional disaster funds appropriated that will go towards helping local communities recover from the destruction caused by Hurricane Matthew. The funding agreement appropriates nearly $90 billion dollars for disaster relief funds, including the $125 million for North Carolina, to assist communities in Puerto Rico, Texas, Florida, and others recovering from natural disasters. 

The agreement increases defense funding by $80 billion in Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 and $85 billion in FY 2019, and gives our Armed Forces the certainty and resources they need to keep our country safe.

Earlier this week, Senator Tillis joined a bipartisan group of 66 other senators in urging Senate leadership to immediately reauthorize funding for community health centers, which provide access to cost-effective primary and preventive care for families across the country. The agreement extends and increases Community Health Center funding for 2 years.

Lastly, the funding agreement permanently repeals the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB) established under Obamacare. Senator Tillis previously introduced the Protecting Seniors' Access to Medicare Act of 2017, legislation that would have repealed the IPAB, an unelected and unaccountable board of political appointees tasked with making cuts to Medicare that could reduce access to care and limit beneficiaries’ choice. 

“This two-year funding agreement gives North Carolina $125 million in additional funds as we continue to recover from the devastation of Hurricane Matthew and will provide our men and women in uniform the resources they need to rebuild our military and protect our nation against the increasing threats across the world,” said Senator Tillis. “While neither side got everything they wanted, this compromise provides critical funding that will go towards improving the VA, CHIP, the opioid epidemic, and infrastructure spending. I look forward to now working with my colleagues on a solution for DACA, border security and immigration policy.”

The funding agreement also includes the following provisions:

• $4 billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to clear their maintenance backlog and provide quality facilities for America’s veterans.
• $6 billion over two years to combat the opioid addiction and substance abuse epidemic across the country through funding new grants, prevention programs, and law enforcement efforts in vulnerable communities.
• $20 billion to invest in America’s infrastructure.
• Lifts the debt limit until March 1, 2019.
• 4 additional years of funding for the critical CHIP program. This is in addition to the 6 year addition included the previous Continuing Resolution, bringing funding for CHIP until 2028. 

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