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Washington, DC - Congressman Tom Reed announced his legislative priorities yesterday, including a 2.6 percent increase in pay for our troops, increase in aid for college students and $6.7 billion to address opioid and heroin abuse were, included in yesterdays passed government funding bill.

"Drug abuse affects every neighborhood in New York and has robbed countless individuals of their full potential," Reed said. "We care about those struggling with heroin and other forms of opioids and are proud to ensure our communities have increased funding to address this crisis. Additionally, it was very important to us that our troops get a pay bump and our college students receive more aid as college costs keep skyrocketing,"

The bill also required the Secretary of the Navy to complete a report within 180 days on the national security concerns related to the closing of Dresser-Rand in Wellsville.

"When Tom brought to my attention the national security concerns surrounding the closing of Dresser-Rand we immediately agreed that this issue is critical and must be promptly addressed by the Navy," Chairwoman of the House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee Rep. Kay Granger said. "We believe the requested report will further reflect the concerns of Congress regarding the relocation and interruption in the production of steam turbines - like the ones built in Wellsville, NY."

This is the second required report on the national security concerns of moving Dresser-Rand out of Wellsville. The first, authorized in the National Defense Authorization Act, is due for completion on February 9, 2019.

"There are generations of institutional knowledge located in Wellsville which cannot be replicated at another location, and there have been numerous occasions when Dresser-Rand employees were essential in the urgent repair of Navy ships," Tom said. "Congress has serious national security worries surrounding the closure of Dresser- Rand, and we are proud to be able to secure this second report on the dire concerns of the Navy in this bill."

The bill also includes a $2 billion increase in funding for the National Institute of Health for research to prevent and cure cancer, Alzheimer's and other devastating diseases.

The House passed funding bills for the Departments of Energy and Veteran Affairs last week.

This bill funded the Departments of Defense, Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education through fiscal year 2019 and remaining government agencies through December 7.

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