BOSTON – Senators John Kerry and Edward Kennedy, with Congressmen Michael Capuano and Stephen Lynch, today announced that the omnibus appropriations bill approved by Congress contains $106,244,300 in federal assistance for the metro-Boston area. Statewide, Massachusetts initiatives received a total of more than $236 million.

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008 will fund 15 cabinet agencies and other federal agencies for Fiscal Year 2008.  It includes the following appropriations bills: Agriculture, Commerce-Justice-State, Energy-Water, Foreign Operations, Interior, Labor-Health and Human Services-Education, Legislative Branch, Transportation-Treasury, and Veterans Administration-Housing and Urban Development.  The bill now goes to the President’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 metro Boston,” 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 Congressmen Capuano and Lynch 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 metro-Boston, 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 initiatives will have a direct impact on the people of the 8th District, from generating jobs and economic growth to improving the health and safety of our constituents, especially our young people.  Many of these projects are also a critical part of our efforts to ensure that Massachusetts remains the leader in life sciences research,” said Congressman Capuano.

“I am very pleased that this bill will bring much-needed federal dollars to the towns of the 9th Congressional District.  While many of our towns are struggling with budget shortages, our goal was to address a variety of important needs,” said Congressman Lynch.  “Senator Kennedy, Senator Kerry and I have worked together to see that these funds are allocated to maximize the benefits, not only to the Ninth Congressional District, but to all of Massachusetts.  The economic benefits, the infrastructure improvements, the public safety upgrades, and greater access to health care are all important initiatives that I am proud to support.”

The City of Boston has many projects that are slated to receive funding.

"I applaud the Massachusetts Congressional Delegation for securing targeted funds for the City of Boston. These appropriations will help us fight crime, improve infrastrucure and expand access to community services," Mayor Menino said. "This funding is a bright spot in a budget that continues to fall short on funding for domestic programs because of pressure from the administration to fund other priorities. I am proud of our Congressional Delegation for working hard in trying to get a federal budget that is more in line with our local needs such as public safety, education, housing and health care."

YouthBuild, a program that works high-risk, is another project that will receive funding.

“We are grateful but not surprised that once again Senator Kerry has organized and influenced his colleagues to increase the appropriation for YouthBuild by 18.5% above the President’s budget number so that out-of-school low-income youth can complete their education while building homes for the homeless.  Senator Kerry has been a passionate champion of YouthBuild students since 1992,” said Dorothy Stoneman, Founder and President of YouthBuild.

Federal assistance in the omnibus bill for metro Boston includes:

Massachusetts Projects in the FY 2008 Commerce Justice Science Appropriations Conference Report
$406,550 for the City of Boston’s Gang and Youth Initiative
$223,000 for the City of Brockton Police Information technology initiative
$223,250 for the Massachusetts Sheriff’s association’s Law Enforcement and information Sharing program
$350,000 for the Law Enforcement Technology and Training Center at the Center for Technology Commercialization
$164,500 Braintree Police Department
$493,500 Suffolk University Juvenile Justice
$305,500 for ROCA
$305,000 for Learning Through Listening
$94,000 for Straight Ahead Ministries

Massachusetts Projects in the FY 2008 Energy and Water Appropriations Conference Report
$6.943 million for Boston Harbor Dredging
$347,000 for Boston Harbor (45-Foot Channel)
$98,000 for Coastal Massachusetts Ecosystem Restoration
$500,000 for Lilliputian Systems, Inc Silicon Based Solid Oxide Fuel Cell
$500,000 for UMass Boston Marine Systems Research
$1 million Boston College Institute for Integrated Sciences
$500,000 for Emmanuel College
$300,000 Brockton Wastewater Treatment Facility
$9.514 million for Muddy River

Massachusetts Projects in the FY 2008 Financial Services Appropriations Conference Report
$8 million for the renovation and expansion of the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library
$182,000 for Boston’s Chinatown Neighborhood Center Workforce Development Initiative
$100,000 for Inquilinos Boricus en Accion

Massachusetts Projects in the FY 2008 Interior Appropriations Conference Report
$1.982 million for the Boston Harbor Islands

Massachusetts Projects in the FY 2008 Labor-HHS Appropriations Conference Report
$59.25 million for YouthBuild
$204,000 for Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology
$165,000 for the Boston Children’s Museum
$141,000 for the Boston Health Care for the Homeless
$1.19 million for the Boston Medical Center J. Joseph Moakley Center
$312,000 for the Brockton Neighborhood Health Center
$165,000 for the Brockton Area Private Industry Council
$220,000 for Children’s Hospital in Boston
$248,000 for Emmanuel College
$180,000 for the Massachusetts 2020 Foundation
$204,000 for the Fenway Community Health Center
$229,000 for Horizons for Homeless Children
$250,000 for Lesley University
$165,000 for Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers
$204,000 for the Museum of Afro-American History
$165,000 for Stonehill College
$165,000 for Brockton Hospital
$331,000 for Emerson College
$204,000 for Wheelock College
$619,000 for Urban College of Boston
$243,000 for Boston University Medical School for Amyloidosis research
$146,000 for South Boston Community Health Center
$486,000 for the JFYN Network in Boston
$341,000 for Jumpstart in Boston
$97,000 for Sociedad Latina in Boston
$150,000 for Holbrook Public Library

Massachusetts Projects in the FY 2008 Transportation, HUD and Related Agencies Appropriations Conference Report
$670,000 for the Commonwealth Avenue Green Line Station
$200,000 for the Veterans Benefits Clearinghouse
$200,000 for the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts Facility Renovation
$200,000 for the City Year Headquarters Renovation
$200,000 for the Greater Boston Food Bank
$1 million for Northern Avenue Bridge Construction
$1 million for Commonwealth Avenue Street Reconstruction in Boston
$200,000 for Oliver Ames High
$100,000 for Year Up in Boston
$500,000 for Brockton Bus Replacement
$200,000 Norwood Airport Reconstruction
$341,000 Gavin/Cushing House

Massachusetts Projects in the FY 2008 Homeland Security Appropriations Conference Report
$2 million for the Chelsea Street Bridge

Massachusetts Projects in the FY 2008 Agriculture, Rural Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Conference Report
$98,000 for Human Nutrition Equipment Tufts University
$730,000 for Human Nutrition Tufts University

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