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 South Central 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 South Central 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
• $1,358,750 to construct improvements to the interchange of Interstate 81 and U.S. Route 11 in Franklin County. (Specter-Casey; Shuster)
• $750,000 to replace Craighead Bridge in South Middleton Township in Cumberland County. (Specter-Casey; Platts)
• $400,000 for the Harrisburg Transportation Center rehabilitation project in Dauphin County. (Specter; Holden)
• $250,000 for the York County Transportation Authority for the Rabbittransit Bus Facility in York County. (Specter; Platts)
Housing and Urban Development
• $779,200 for the City of York to restore historic farmers’ markets. These markets serve city residents and act as the only location where fresh, high quality produce and meats can be purchased in the downtown region. (Casey)
Military Construction
• $2.859 million to replace 6 family housing units at the Defense Distribution Depot in New Cumberland (Cumberland County). (President’s budget)
• $7.6 million to build an Army Reserve Center in Harrisburg. (President’s budget)
U.S. Courthouse
• $6,500,000 for the Lancaster Courthouse in Lancaster County. A Lancaster facility is critical to the need of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania to preside over civil and criminal matters in the region. (Specter)
Health and Human Services
• $500,000 for Schuylkill Health System in Schuylkill County for equipment. Funds will be used to improve and replace infrastructure equipment including an IT data center. (Specter; Holden)
• $400,000 for York College of Pennsylvania in York County for nursing education programs, including the purchase of equipment. Funds will be used to refurbish and expand the existing Nursing Department and laboratories to provide improved educational experiences. (Specter-Casey; Platts)
• $450,000 for Hanover Hospital in York County for the development of electronic patient medical records. (Casey; Platts)
• $100,000 for Holy Spirit Healthcare System in Cumberland County for equipment. The organization will purchase a new IV infusion system with a software program to prevent medication related errors. (Specter-Casey)
• $100,000 for Penn State University, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center in Dauphin County for a stroke prevention program. This comprehensive stroke recurrence prevention program will focus on patients in their first year of recovery, including best lifestyle choices, caregiver support, and education. (Specter)
• $100,000 for PinnacleHealth System in Dauphin County for equipment. This equipment will be used for radiation therapy, in order to improve access to cancer care and research. (Specter-Casey)
• $100,000 for Geisinger Health System in Dauphin County for equipment. Funds will be used to purchase and install an Electronic Intensive Care Unit Telemedicine System to provide improved and more efficient health care. (Specter-Casey)
Education
• $400,000 for Harrisburg University of Science and Technology in Dauphin County for curriculum development and for laboratory upgrades, including the purchase of equipment and technology. (Specter-Casey; Holden)
• $100,000 for the Army Heritage Center Foundation in Cumberland County for history education programs. (Specter)
Criminal Justice
• $200,000 for Carlisle Borough in Cumberland County for a public safety video surveillance project (Casey-Specter; Platts)
• $200,000 to Cumberland County for emergency communications infrastructure (Casey-Specter; Platts)
• $300,000 for Dauphin County’s family group conferencing community expansion project. (Casey-Specter; Holden)
• $200,000 for Adams County Department of Emergency Services for radio system upgrades. (Specter; Platts)
• $150,000 for Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence (PCADV) of Harrisburg to support domestic violence training programs which assist over 60 community-based domestic violence programs through the use of technology in improving outcomes. (Casey-Specter)
• $100,000 for City of Harrisburg in Dauphin County for the purchase and installation of digital surveillance equipment in law enforcement vehicles. Digital video surveillance installed in the Harrisburg Bureau of Police’s law enforcement vehicle fleet will provide critical records of the activities occurring when police officers are required to leave their vehicles for traffic stops, investigation of crime scenes and DUI arrests. (Specter)
Science
• $2,400,000 for Susquehanna River Basin Commission to support flood warning infrastructure and provide advanced flood warning information to communities in the Susquehanna River Basin.
# # #
