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Press Release

Rep. Bera Secures $450,000 in House Appropriations Package to Support Sacramento-area Job Training Program for Young Adults with Autism

Washington, DC, July 29, 2021

Today, Representative Ami Bera, M.D. (CA-07) announced that he secured in the House Fiscal Year 2022 Appropriations package $450,000 to support critical job training programs for Sacramento-area young adults on the autism spectrum.

"I'm proud to have secured $450,000 in the House passage of the FY 2022 House Labor-HHS Appropriations bill to support the important job training programs that Meristem is providing to young adults with autism in the Sacramento region," said Representative Bera. "If signed into law, this funding would help expand this vital program into a year-round paid internship, equipping young adults on the autism spectrum with valuable skills that empower them to live a life of greater independence and fulfillment."

The following project championed by Rep. Bera was included in the Fiscal Year 2022 House Labor-HHS Appropriations Bill, which today passed the House of Representatives:

Project Sponsor: Meristem
Project Name: Community Employment Program for Adults with Autism
Project Location: 9200 Fair Oaks Boulevard, Fair Oaks, 95628
Funding Amount: $450,000
Explanation: This program's purpose is to prepare and place young adults with autism, who often face significant barriers to employment, into internships with local businesses. Program participants will receive work skills training and job coaching from Meristem and be placed in paid internships in mainstream jobs that offer public interaction and provide pathways to sustainable employment. Funding would help grow the program into a year-round paid internship model, expand the level of training and increase the number of internship opportunities.
The House Labor-HHS Appropriations bill now heads to the Senate for consideration. In total, Rep. Bera secured more than $2.5 million to support eight community funding projects for the Sacramento-region in the House passage of FY 2022 appropriations bills.