U.S. Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania is making headlines by securing a hefty $1 million in federal funding for the William Way LGBT Community Center in Philadelphia. This cash infusion came as part of the bipartisan FY24 appropriations bill passed by the Senate, according to a press release from John Fetterman's office.

Caught up in House Republicans' crosshairs, the Community Center had previously been nixed from the House's fiscal year 2024 appropriations bills, which Fetterman slammed as "mask-off bigotry." The newly passed Senate package, which includes measures across the board from Defense to Housing, finally restored the funds for the center after a concerted effort by Fetterman and his allies.

I am proud to have secured these critical funds for the people I was elected to represent during my first annual appropriations process," Fetterman expressed. He cited the range of projects that would benefit from the legislation, extending aid to rural farmers, veterans, and the unhoused, emphasizing, "Investing in these communities is critical." His satisfaction with the William Way LGBT Community Center's funding was palpable, especially after House Republicans tried blocking the allocation along partisan lines, as reported by John Fetterman's office.

According to the Center, the project aims to transform two underutilized rowhomes into a state-of-the-art complex, increasing the facility's space by 78% for various programs and affiliated organizations. Helping meet the needs of some of Philadelphia's most vulnerable, the William Way LGBT Community Center provides vital services, from healthcare to cultural enrichment, right in the heart of the Washington West neighborhood.