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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 19, 2008
CONTACT: Matt Mackowiak
Sen. Hutchison Secures $25 Million for Galveston and A&M Projects
Committee Approves Funding for Galveston Railroad Bridge, NERRTC
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced that the committee has approved the Fiscal Year 2009 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations bill, which includes a combined $25.75 million that Sen. Hutchison secured for the Galveston Railroad Bridge and Texas A&M University Terrorism Preparedness Center. The bill is now ready to be considered by the full Senate.
The Appropriations Committee approved $22 million for the National Emergency Response and Rescue Training Center (NERRTC) at Texas A&M University.
“This training center at Texas A&M is a premier facility that provides vital training to America’s first responders,” said Sen. Hutchison. “This funding will help Texas A&M continue to improve training and education programs.”
As one out of seven members of the National Domestic Preparedness Consortium, NERRTC provides effective anti-terrorism training and education for emergency workers and senior officials. The center, which Sen. Hutchison visited in May 2006, integrates Texas Engineering Extension Service training facilities and experienced instructors to give emergency responders unsurpassed training and technical assistance.
Sen. Hutchison has previously helped to secure a total of $106 million for NERRTC since Fiscal Year 2004.
The committee also approved $3.75 million to replace the Galveston Railroad Bridge.
“This is important funding to replace a vital commercial transportation link for the Texas Gulf Coast region,” said Sen. Hutchison. “Billions of dollars of cargo move through this bridge every year and it must be replaced to protect public safety and ensure economic security.”
The Galveston Causeway Railroad Bridge is the only rail link to Galveston Island and crosses the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW). The GIWW is a critical transportation conduit for industries along the Gulf Coast, including the various oil refineries. The bridge was declared a hazard to navigation by the Coast Guard and must be replaced. The appropriations funding will be used to construct a replacement Galveston Causeway Railroad Bridge.
Sen. Hutchison previously secured $3.75 million for Fiscal Year 2008 toward replacing the bridge.
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