WASHINGTON – Last week, Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) led her colleagues in sending five letters to the House Appropriations Committee advocating for strong FY2022 funding for programs that benefit the Fifth District. As appropriations legislation is put together for the upcoming fiscal year, this type of input from Members of Congress can help shape how critical programs are funded.

“In Congress, I will never waver from securing resources for my constituents,” said Congresswoman Williams. “I am proud to have led these appropriations requests, engaging colleagues from across the country and on both sides of the aisle, to support programs that will benefit the Fifth District, uplift marginalized communities, and ensure everyone has the opportunity to achieve the promise of America.”

The five requests led by Congresswoman Williams are:

1. $10 billion for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Co-led with Reps. Mike Levin (D-CA), David McKinley (R-WV), and John Katko (R-NY) this request was joined by 76 Members of Congress and requests $10 billion in funding for the Fifth District based CDC. This funding level would represent a $2.1 billion increase over the total funding level approved for the previous fiscal year.
2. $150 million for YouthBuild: Joined by 136 Members of Congress, this request supports $150 million for YouthBuild, a program that provides education and hands-on training to low-income youth across the country.
3. Full Funding for the Emmett Till Civil Rights Reauthorization Act: Joined by 33 Members of Congress, this request supports full funding for the laws on the books that allow federal investigation and prosecution of civil rights crimes. 
4. Strong Funding for African American History and Culture Museums: Joined by 31 Members of Congress, this request supports grant programs that fund African American history and culture museums around the country. The request also supports strong funding for the National Museum on African American History and Culture in Washington, DC. This request builds on the legacy of the late Congressman John Lewis who wrote the original laws authorizing the grant program and the National Museum on African American History and Culture.
5. Strong Funding for Endometriosis Research: Co-led with Reps. David Scott (D-GA), Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon (R-PR), and Kathleen Rice (D-NY), this bipartisan request advocates increased funding for endometriosis research at the National Institute of Health and makes endometriosis research possible under the Department of Defense’s peer-reviewed medical research program. Endometriosis impacts about one in ten women but receives comparatively low levels of funding relative to the number of people impacted.

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