WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Steven Palazzo (MS-4) released the following statement after passage of the 2015 omnibus appropriations bill:

“The omnibus passed by the House today is a huge victory for South Mississippi. It provides $1 billion for the LPD-28 amphibious assault ship, built by Ingalls Shipbuilding right here in Pascagoula. Not only is this ship required by the Marine Corps, its construction will directly protect more than 3,000 shipbuilding jobs along the Mississippi coast.

"This was a team effort, and without the hard work of Senator Cochran and Senator Wicker, as well as our House delegation, this outcome would not have been possible.”

The 2015 Consolidated Appropriations Act funds the federal government through the fiscal year, with the exception of the Department of Homeland Security, which is funded through February.  Congressman Palazzo successfully secured authorization for the LPD-28 in the 2015 Defense Authorization bill, which was appropriated through today’s legislation.  The LPD was not originally included in the President’s budget.  The ship will maintain more than 3,000 jobs at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Miss.  It’s economic impact to the region could be as much as 2 billion dollars.

The omnibus contains several provisions favorable to Mississippi, including a prohibition on the Army transfer of Apache helicopters from MS National Guard units, funding for the payments-in-lieu-of-taxes program utilized by counties and school districts, and language proposed by Rep. Palazzo and Rep. Cassidy that prevents the administration from implementing new Flood Risk Management Standards.