Representative Ron Kind Votes for Bipartisan Omnibus Appropriations Package, Applauds Inclusion of over $11 Million for WI-03 Community Projects

March 9, 2022 
Washington, DC – Today, Rep. Ron Kind voted for the bipartisan omnibus appropriations package, a legislative measure to fund the federal government for the fiscal year. Additionally, Rep. Kind applauded the inclusion of funding in the package for five Community Projects in Wisconsin’s Third Congressional District. These projects will deliver over $11 million in federal funds to Wisconsin’s Third Congressional District.  

“The bipartisan appropriations package that passed the House today includes critical investments to help lower the cost of living for hard working families, create jobs, and more,” said Rep. Ron Kind. “Further, I’m thrilled that funding for five projects in Wisconsin’s Third Congressional District was included in this package. From supporting our firefighters and law enforcement officers to increasing flood resiliency, these projects would make a big impact on our communities and I’m proud to have advocated for them in Congress.” 

Through the Community Project Funding Request process for the 117th Congress, which was included in this appropriations package, Rep. Kind secured support for five Community Projects in Wisconsin’s Third Congressional District. These projects include:   

• Portage County Sheriff’s Office - Body Worn and In-Car Cameras for Patrol - $616,000 

Funding would provide body worn cameras to the Portage County police force and upgrade in-car cameras. 

• City of Platteville, WI - City of Platteville Fire Station - $7 million

The current Platteville Fire Station was constructed in 1963 with additions and alterations in 1985, 1994, and 2015. Due to space constraints in the apparatus bay, the department is required to house several vehicles in the already limited parking area. The facility as it stands today does not meet current code requirements and ADA guidelines. Funding would be used to build a new facility.  

• City of River Falls, WI - West Central Wisconsin Biosolids Facility Commission - $1.6 million  

The West Central Wisconsin Biosolids Facility wastewater recycling facility serves 21 communities in Wisconsin and Minnesota. Large portions of the facility are nearing the end of their useful life in which infrastructure improvements are needed to handle increased by-product shipments. These would include improvements to address end-product handling issues related to storage and improve product marketability, upgrade infrastructure in need of repairs. 

• City of Elroy, WI - City of Elroy Electrical Substation Renovation - $525,000  

The project would flood proof of the City of Elroy's electrical substation that serves the entire community to prevent flood waters from entering the facility. Project would include installation of a floodwall, gates, storm water pumping system, and related site improvements. Project also includes utility related improvements and all related site restoration.  

• Village of Ontario, WI - Village of Ontario Flood Resiliency - $1.6 million  

​​​​​​​The Village of Ontario is located at the southern boundary of the Upper Kickapoo Watershed in Vernon County and has experienced 21 of the highest 22 floods on record since 2000. It also holds the highest record crest in the entire Kickapoo Valley from the back-to-back events that occurred in 2018. The August 2018 flood elevation was four feet above the 100-year flood elevation and had the following impacts on the community: The project would provide relocation sites for businesses and residential structures to not only replace those lost to flooding, but to create long-term economic stability.  

This legislation also includes $13.6 billion to support Ukraine in the wake of Russia’s unprovoked attack. Additional appropriations provisions will:  

• Help lower the cost of living for working families by expanding child care and early learning programs, increasing access to homeownership, and supporting schools and students.  
• Invest in our rural communities through support for telehealth, expanding access to rural broadband, and support for rural water and waste program loans and clean and reliable drinking water.   
• Create American jobs, put people to work rebuilding our infrastructure, help small businesses thrive, support high-quality job training and apprenticeship programs, and more.