Rep. Courtney Secures Nearly $51 Million in House Passed FY 2008 Omnibus Spending Bill

Statement

Rep. Courtney Secures Nearly $51 Million in House Passed FY 2008 Omnibus Spending Bill

Congressman Joe Courtney announced that the Fiscal Year 2008 Omnibus Appropriations Bill passed last evening in the House of Representatives includes nearly $51 million requested by the freshman lawmaker for important projects throughout the district.

"Eastern Connecticut is home to many exciting technological initiatives and to some very dire infrastructure needs, which I am proud to be able to address in this appropriations bill," stated Rep. Joe Courtney. "The new Democratic-led majority has kept its promise to restore fiscal responsibility in Washington while continuing to support our local priorities with new federal funding."

Funding has been secured for the following projects:

University of Connecticut, Avery Point Campus, $282,000 - The University of Connecticut's Technology Incubation program to develop new business incubator facilities that will promote startup technology companies to provide economic diversification in southeastern Connecticut.

University of Connecticut, Storrs, $315,778 - New England Center for Invasive Plants provides a consortium of universities, including the University of Connecticut, to develop technologies to address the persistent problem of invasive plants in New England and throughout the country.

University of Connecticut, Storrs, $429,700 - Food Marketing Policy Center furthers the continuing efforts to research food industries, economies of food safety and market concentration.

University of Connecticut, Storrs, $1,626,860 - Center for Excellence for Vaccine Research continues the cooperative agreement between the University of Connecticut and the USDA Agriculture Research Service (ARS) on advanced animal vaccines.

University of Connecticut, Storrs, $149,895 -Funding is provided to the University of Connecticut to implement a program to develop energy generation from bio-resources.

University of Connecticut, National Transportation Security Center of Excellence, $4,000,000 - UConn was selected as a participant in the program to develop safety methodologies for our nation's transportation infrastructure in the 9/11 Recommendations bill.

State of Connecticut, New England Agriculture Project, $356,750 - Tufts University is working to create incentives for New England farmers to conserve land and improve productivity.

State of Connecticut, Avian Influenza Preparedness, $749,475 - Funding will go to the State Department of Agriculture to increase and enhance the nation's avian flu preparedness by developing and conducting a public education program.

Town of Windham, Windham Dispatch Center, $329,000 - The Regional E-911 Dispatch Center operates out of the Town of Windham Public Safety Complex. There is an urgent need for equipment and technology upgrades so that the center can provide services at a level that is comparable to other dispatch centers in the state.

Westbrook, Paul and Lisa Program, $658,000 -- Through four programs, the Paul & Lisa Campaign to Break the Cycle of Commercial Sexual Exploitation offers prevention, assistance, redirection and support to victims and survivors of commercial sexual exploitation

Mystic Aquarium, Immersion Presents AfterSchool Program, $282,000 - Provides access to after-school science and technology academic programs for at-risk youth and delivers the content through its partnership with 150 Boys and Girls Clubs across the country.

National Undersea Research Program, $10,000,000 - NURP is the federal agency charged with stewardship of our living marine and coastal resources and provides scientists with expertise to investigate the undersea environment. This will benefit the NURP site in Connecticut.

Old Saybrook, North Cove, $4,433,000 - Last dredged more than 40 years ago, funding will be used for necessary testing, planning, and permitting for dredging and disposal of materials to restore North Cove's authorized depths

Mystic Harbor, $187,000 - Last dredged 50 years ago, funding will be used to conduct a sampling and testing program of sediment to be dredged from the Mystic (CT) River. Deep draft vessels in particular are experiencing problems in navigating to avoid hitting bottom, especially at lower tides.

Long Island Sound Dredged Materials Management Plan, $3,525,000 - Funding will be used to develop a comprehensive dredging plan for Long Island Sound in cooperation with the Army Corps of Engineers and the State of New York. A forward-thinking plan will have environmental and economic benefits to the region

Colchester, Flatbrook Road Booster Station, $492,000 - Funding will be used to increase the capacity of the Town's sanitary sewer pumping facility. A regional study determined the most efficient and economic way to increase capacity is to construct a booster pump station on Town-owned land approximately half way in distance and elevation between the station and the Treatment Plant.

Enfield, Enfield Sanitary Sewer Inflow Elimination program, $295,320 - Funding will be used to construct necessary improvements to eliminate the inflow of surface storm water and subsurface ground water into the sanitary sewer system and treatment plant and the disconnection of old private residential discharges into the system.

Westbrook, McKinney Refuge, Menunketesuck Salt Meadow Land Acquisition, $698,924 - Available for acquisition is the 20-acre Menunketesuck Salt Meadow Marsh in Westbrook that is comprised of pristine tidal marsh, a forested upland, scrubland, and a rock outcropping that towers 1,000 feet above the Menunketesuck River.

East Haddam, Conte Refuge, Land Acquisition, $1,968,800 - The Fish and Wildlife service would purchase land in the CT, MA, VT and NH to expand the Refuge. The CT parcels are the 289-acre Johnson tract, the 60-acre Barnes tract and the 40-acre Pine Brook Falls tract in Haddam along the Salmon River and Pine Brook.

Putnam, Quinebaug Shetucket Heritage Corridor, Estimated $711,000 - Funding will be used to support programs and projects that preserve and enhance the resources of the Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley National Heritage Corridor, build local capacity, and educate the future stewards of The Last Green Valley.

Long Island Sound Restoration, $4,462,285 - Funding will allow continued cleanup of this Estuary of National Significance and preserve areas along the coastline with ecological, recreational and educational value

Water Systems Council, $689,000 - Through the Wellcare program, the Water Systems Council (WSC) is working with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide nationwide training workshops, public education materials and technical manuals for rural well owners, community leaders, rural water technical assistance providers and others needing information related to wells, well construction, water testing and maintenance.

Amistad America, $238, 869 - Funding for the Atlantic Freedom Tour of the Amistad education programs.

Norwich, English Language Instruction, $263,444 -- This funding will assist Norwich Public schools in developing and procuring technology for their large English as a Second Language (ESL) student population as well as stimulating literacy and graduation rates for their general student population. The Norwich Public School District serves over 3,988 total students of which approximately 342 are English Language Learners from 22 different language backgrounds.

Enfield, Asnuntuck Community College, $238,869 - Asnuntuck is committed to the retention and further expansion of manufacturing in Connecticut and across the interstate 91 corridor. Funding will be used for equipment and materials, technology and staffing, especially for instructional and program development.

New London, DNA EpiCenter, $71,759 - Funding will be used for program development at The DNA EpiCenter, a hands-on, lab-based learning center providing students and teachers with the opportunity to explore topics such as DNA, forensics and genetics.

Stafford Springs, Johnson Memorial Hospital, $238,869 - Funding will be used for the construction and renovation of the Emergency Department.

Groton, Subase New London, $11,900,000 - This funding will help to improve the base by building the new Watercraft Operations Small Craft Facility.

Groton, Subase New London, $9,260,000 - This funding will be used to create the Submarine Learning Facility.

Groton, Mystic River Bridge, $980,000 - Federal funds are requested for Phase 2 of the rehabilitation of the bridge carrying US Route 1 over the Mystic River in Groton.

Mansfield, Mansfield Intermodal Center, $490,000 - Funding will be used for the Intermodal Center, the lynchpin of the Storrs Center, a mixed use retail/residential/commercial redevelopment project.

Willington, Senior Housing, $196,000 - Funding would permit site development of the town's next phase of Senior Housing, which is 6 cottages with 4 (2 bedroom) units each for moderate income Senior Housing.

Town of Vernon, Amerbelle Textiles, $196,000 - The funds will be used to repair slate and asphalt shingle roof(s) and to repair leaks that negatively impact operation at Amerbelle textiles.

Enfield, Streetscape Enhancements, $98,000 - Funding will be used to replace and reconstruct aged streetscape amenities along North Main Street in the Thompsonville section of town.

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