From the Office of Senator Kerry

Tuesday, November 23, 2004

Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Senator John F. Kerry and Congressman Stephen F. Lynch today announced that $1.5 million in federal funding for the City of Brockton is included in the final Omnibus Appropriations bill approved by Congress for Fiscal Year 2005. The budget package allocates $1 million to help Brockton alleviate congestion along the Route 24/Route 27, Pleasant Street Corridor, $300,000 to improve cancer treatment and diagnostic facilities at the Caritas Good Samaritan Medical Center and $200,000 to expand cardiac care services at Brockton Hospital. The development of the area around the Westgate Mall shopping center has led to increased traffic congestion that, on many occasions, has been the cause of serious motor vehicle accidents. The $1 million in federal funding will assist the City of Brockton in their effort to implement operational and safety improvements along the Route 24/Route 27, Pleasant Street Corridor that are expected to significantly reduce congestion in the area. In addition, the funding will go towards the construction of a more direct connection from Route 24 into the City of Brockton. “The Greater Brockton area’s steady economic development over the last decade has brought increased traffic, and these federal funds will go a long way toward helping Mayor Jack Yunits address the problem of traffic congestion." The $300,00 in funding for Caritas Good Samaritan Medical Center will be used to purchase new medical equipment for the John Joseph Moakley Diagnostic Imaging and Cancer Center, to aid in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Caritas also received a federal appropriation for $1.3 million in 2001 that helped to fund construction of the new Cancer Center. Brockton Hospital will use the $200,000 in federal funding to expand their Cardiac Services diagnostic equipment and capabilities. Chronic, cardiac related illnesses account for a large percentage of all the care provided by Brockton Hospital, and the residents of Brockton are particularly at risk for heart disease, compared to the rest of the state. This new equipment will allow Brockton Hospital to provide its patients with a higher quality of care and early detection screening.

“Senator Kerry, Representative Lynch, and I have been working hard to bring Federal investment to the region in transportation, social services, healthcare and education,” said Senator Kennedy. “These projects will strengthen our state’s ability to meet the challenges of the new century and continue to provide quality services to the people of Massachusetts.” “These projects will make meaningful investments in traffic safety, health care and economic development for Brockton families,” Senator Kerry said. “I am honored to have worked with Senator Kennedy and Congressman Lynch to help secure funding for these important projects.” Congressman Lynch said, “Brockton Hospital and Caritas Good Samaritan Medical Center provide the families of Brockton with two premier medical facilities that provide high quality care to the entire city. This increased federal funding will allow both hospitals to step up their early detection and prevention efforts and will enable them to better protect and treat their patients. I thank Senators Kennedy and Kerry and all the members of the Brockton Delegation—Mayor Yunits, Senator Bob Creedon and Representatives Christine Canavan, Geraldine Creedon and Tom Kennedy—for their commitment to providing Brockton’s health care providers with state-of-the-art medical equipment and facilities.” ###