Washington, DC – Senators John Kerry and Edward Kennedy, and Congressman Barney Frank today announced that the final 2008 omnibus appropriations bill approved by Congress this week contains $51,959,000 in direct federal assistance for the fourth Congressional district of Massachusetts.  Statewide, Massachusetts initiatives will receive a total of more than $236 million under the legislation.  A list of the 4th District projects is below.

The total omnibus bill, which contains hundreds of billions of dollars, funds the majority of the federal government’s domestic investments and includes eleven appropriations bills, seven of which include funding for fourth district communities and organizations.  The omnibus legislation now goes to President Bush’s desk for his signature.

“This is a victory for crucial economic development projects throughout the region. >From transportation to health care to social services to education, this money will help make a difference in the quality of life of those who live and work in the region” said Senator Kerry. “By making these investments in our communities, we are investing in our state’s economic future, and that is why Senator Kennedy and Congressman Frank and I fight each year to secure federal funding for these initiatives that make a real local impact.”

"In Massachusetts, we're enormously proud of our world-class hospitals, research centers and universities. They lead the nation and the world in improving the lives of our citizens," said Senator Kennedy. "These federal investments are vital to the people of the fourth Congressional District, and our whole Commonwealth, so that Massachusetts will stay at the forefront of the global economy, and future generations can reach their full potential.”

“These provisions are the result of conversations my staff and I have had with local officials and private organizations that provide important services to people of the 4th district,” Congressman Frank said.  “The projects I requested are concentrated this year as in past years in improving environmental infrastructure, addressing regional transportation needs, and making medical services available to people with limited incomes.”

The City of New Bedford has several projects that are slated to receive funding.

"New Bedford is truly fortunate to have an exceptionally talented and hard-working congressional delegation," said Mayor Scott W. Lang of New Bedford. "Senator Kennedy, Senator Kerry, and Congressman Frank work every day to bring taxpayer money back to our city, affording us the opportunity to strengthen public safety measures, build our local economy and infrastructure, and promote educational opportunities for our residents." 

Federal assistance in the omnibus bill for the fourth Congressional District of Massachusetts includes:

Agriculture, Rural Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill
$3.1 million for Shrimp Aquaculture for Massachusetts and a number of other states
$119,000 for cranberry/blueberry research at UMass Dartmouth
$433,000 for joint Wisconsin/Massachusetts cranberry conservation program

Commerce Justice Science Appropriations Bill
$4.7 million for the National Textile Centers (UMass Dartmouth to receive an est. $300,000)
$2.679 million for the New England Multi-Species Fishery Survey (U Mass Dartmouth School of Marine Science and Technology)
$1.786 million for the Mass Fishery Institute’s Scallop Fishery Initiative program
$400,000 Mill River (Taunton) habitat restoration
$658,000 New Bedford Police Technology upgrades
$13.395 million Massachusetts fishing disaster funding

Energy and Water Appropriations Bill
$356,000 for New Bedford Fairhaven and Acushnet Hurricane Barrier (maintenance?)
$118,000 for Westport River dredging
$98,000 for Coastal Massachusetts Ecosystem Restoration
$9.362 million Muddy River ecosystem restoration and flood control
$8.5 million for radiologic clean-up of Shpack Landfill (Norton & Attleboro) – note that this figure is not specifically included in the bill, but the overall funding level of $140 million for the radiologic clean-up program is sufficient to provide $8.5 million for the Shpack site, the amount requested in the Bush Administration’s 2008 budget

Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Bill
$146,000 for South Coast Connected
$165,000 for Wheaton College
$341,000 for the Greater New Bedford Community Health Center pediatric and maternal care improvements
$341,000 for the Morton Hospital and Medical Center in Taunton radiology department upgrades
$511,000 for Mt. Wachusett Community College
$390,000 for South Shore Hospital
$146,000 for Mt. Ida College veterinary technology program
$165,000 for Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers

Interior-Environment Appropriations Bill
$500,000 for the Bristol County wastewater treatment program (for Fall River, New Bedford and Acushnet)

State-Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill
$1 million for Boston College’s Irish Institute

Transportation, HUD and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill
$200,000 for the Taunton Senior Housing Program
$100,000 for New Bedford Airport Safety Upgrades
$400,000 for Newton Rapid Transit Handicap Accessibility (Auburndale Station)
$200,000 for the Southeastern Massachusetts veterans housing program (for Veterans Transition House)
$400,000 for cost of removal of damaged Elco Dress Factory building in New Bedford
$750,000 for Southbound route 495 ramp planning/design (Mansfield and Norton);
$500,000 for Coggeshall Street/Route 195 interchange planning/design (New Bedford)

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