WASHINGTON- Today, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 399-17 to pass the final version of the FY06 Energy and Water appropriations bill reported from the Conference Committee made up of Members of both the House and Senate. Congressman Bart Stupak (D-Menominee) worked with the conferees to secure $5,796,000 for a variety of projects in northern Michigan, including vital harbor dredging projects.

“I’m pleased to see so many of the important projects in northern Michigan were funded in the final Energy and Water appropriations bill,” Stupak said. “These projects are vital to the safety and economy of the local community. Without funding for projects such as harbor maintenance, breakwall protections and the upkeep of our critically needed Soo Locks, these rural communities could face floods, watercraft wrecks and the inability to ship products.”

Below is the list of projects Stupak secured in the Energy and Water Appropriation bill for northern Michigan. This is the final amount appropriated by Congress for these projects for Fiscal Year 2006. The bill must now go to the President for his signature.

List of northern Michigan Projects

Grand Marais Harbor Construction of Replacement Breakwater - $1,543,000

Sault Ste. Marie Replacement Locks - $1.5 million

Michigan Tech University for Fuel Cell Research - $500,000                                   

Menominee Harbor Maintenance/Dredging - $400,000

Keweenaw Waterway Maintenance - $333,000

Ontonagon Harbor Maintenance Dredging - $300,000

St. Francis Hospital Escanaba, Michigan - $250,000

Alpena Harbor Maintenance Dredging - $261,000

City of Negaunee Wastewater Treatment Plant - $200,000

Ontonagon Harbor Channel Extension - $184,000

Marquette Shoreline Protection- $140,000                                         

Charlevoix Harbor Maintenance - $80,000

Northwestern Michigan College-Traverse City Harbor Dredging - $55,000

Mackinac Island East Breakwall - $50,000               

Other Michigan Programs to Note:

Surveillance of Northern Boundary Waters - $2,083,000

Great Lakes Navigation System Study Investigations - $1,285,000

###