Omnibus spending package contains funding for key local community initiatives
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Arlen Specter and Bob Casey today announced that the U.S. Congress has approved federal funding for a number of projects in Northwest Pennsylvania. The projects are part of the Fiscal Year 2010 Consolidated Appropriations Act, a measure which contains funding for several federal agencies, as well as for local transportation, housing, health, education and law enforcement programs.
“This funding will help improve our roadways, schools, hospitals, as well as prevent crime and develop our workforce and small businesses,” said Senator Specter. “I am pleased to see this funding work to advance the important infrastructures that make our local communities run.”
“This money is great news for Northwest Pennsylvania and I am pleased Congress approved this funding,” said Senator Casey. “I will continue working with Senator Specter and the rest of the Pennsylvania delegation to create jobs and promote economic growth by supporting necessary transportation investments, quality health care, education and financial services initiatives, enhanced safety and law enforcement programs and a strong national defense.”
The Senate voted to pass the bill on Sunday 57-39, and the House of Representatives approved the measure on Thursday. The Fiscal Year 2010 Consolidated Appropriations act will now be sent to the President to be signed into law.
Regional projects in the bill, listed by topic, include:
*If a Congressperson also supported a project, his/her name is listed
Transportation
• $1.4 million for the Erie Mass Transit Authority for a transit maintenance facility in Erie County. (Specter-Casey; Dahlkemper)
Housing and Urban Development
• $400,000 for the City of Warren in Warren County for capital improvements and streetscaping in downtown Warren. (Specter-Casey; Dahlkemper)
Financial Services
• $100,000 for the Northwest Pennsylvania Incubator Association for an incubator project in Erie County. (Casey)
Health and Human Services
• $100,000 for Corry Memorial Hospital Association in Erie County for equipment. The equipment will be used in a replacement facility, which will improve access to care for residents of northwestern Pennsylvania. (Specter-Casey; Dahlkemper)
• $100,000 for Hamot Medical Center in Erie County for equipment. This equipment includes ventilators and IV pumps, and will be used at various facilities, in order to eliminate barriers to care and improve patient outcomes through timelier treatment. (Specter-Casey; Dahlkemper)
• $100,000 for Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Erie County for equipment. Funds will be used for a Practice Management Information System (PMIS) to educate medical and pharmacy students on health information technology, such as electronic medical records and e-prescribing. (Specter)
• $100,000 for Meadville Medical Center in Crawford County for equipment. Funds will be used to upgrade a CT Scanner to provide a non-invasive method of diagnosing illness and injury in an outpatient setting. (Specter)
• $100,000 for Sharon Regional Health System in Mercer County for equipment. Funds will be used to upgrade equipment in the Cardiac Cath Lab in the Heart Center at the hospital, including IV upgrades and cardiac monitors. (Specter; Dahlkemper)
Education
• $100,000 for Mercyhurst College in Erie County for education programs and support services for individuals with disabilities. (Specter-Casey)
Criminal Justice
• $200,000 for the Pennsylvania Children’s Advocacy Centers and Multidisciplinary Teams in Erie County for a program to educate parents and adults on the protection of children from online sexual predators. The Internet Child Safety Education initiative will enhance the well being of the children of Pennsylvania and increase awareness about child sexual abuse. (Casey)
• $500,000 for Clarion County for interoperable communications, which will serve a six county region. Clarion County will work in partnership with the Northwest Central Emergency Response Group, which consists of Clarion, Cameron, Clearfield, Elk, Jefferson and McKean counties, for the purpose of promoting seamless interoperability capabilities among counties, hospitals, and regional, state and federal agencies. (Casey-Specter; Thompson)
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