Funding Is Contained in the Fiscal Year 2009 LHHS Appropriations Bill
Washington, D.C. – Today U.S. Senators Arlen Specter, Ranking Member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Bob Casey announced the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee has approved funding for several Northwestern Pennsylvania health care, education and labor projects. The projects are contained in the Fiscal Year 2009 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations bill.
“I am pleased my colleagues have approved this important funding for Northwestern Pennsylvania,” Senator Specter said. “Health and education are our nation’s greatest capital assets, and these projects are vital to ensuring quality health care and education for the area’s residents.”
“This money is great news for Northwestern Pennsylvania and I am pleased that members of the committee approved this funding,” said Senator Casey. “I will continue working with Senator Specter to ensure residents of the area have access to quality health care and education.”
The bill will now await action on the Senate floor and must be approved by the House of Representatives and the President of the United States before funding is final.
Northwestern Pennsylvania projects in the bill include:
• $100,000 for Clarion Health System in Clarion County to upgrade and redesign the emergency room.
• $100,000 for University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in Allegheny County for tests to advance potential submission of radiowave technology for FDA approval to initiate a clinical trial. This funding will benefit Erie-based inventor John Kanzius’ non-invasive cancer treatment research.
• $100,000 for Meadville Medical Center in Crawford County to expand and improve the surgical facilities, centralizing the registration, nursing stations, surgery bays, recovery rooms, and waiting rooms onto one floor instead of the existing three floors.
• $100,000 for Edinboro University of Pennsylvania in Erie County to equip a Simulation Clinical Laboratory which will provide nursing students opportunities to practice procedures and critical thinking.
• $100,000 for Hamot Medical Center in Erie County to purchase equipment and construction for the Women's and Children's Hospital in Erie.
• $100,000 for Saint Vincent Health Center in Erie County to connect hospitals, physicians, and patients with telehealth services, diagnostic imaging, electronic medical record documentation and education services in regions with limited access to medical specialists.
• $100,000 for Crisis Shelter of Lawrence County in Lawrence County for victim services with an emphasis on counseling services and prevention education and intervention services for children, adults, and the elderly.
• $100,000 for Jameson Memorial Hospital in Lawrence County to expand the emergency room so that it has the capacity to serve 40,000 patients a year.
• $100,000 for Sharon Regional Health System in Mercer County to renovate, expand and update the School of Nursing.
• $100,000 for Thiel College in Mercer County to support a distance learning partnership with area K-12 schools. Funding will be used to develop curriculum that can be delivered to area middle and high school teachers via distance learning.
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