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Washington, DC -- Congressman Vern Buchanan (R-FL 13) has secured final approval of more than $47.5 million in federal funding for important public projects in Florida’s 13th Congressional District. The funding was included in an omnibus spending bill expected to be signed into law by President Bush that curbs domestic spending while providing vital resources to the troops fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.
“This soon-to-be law holds the line on spending and funds the troops with no strings attached,” said Buchanan. “I am proud that we were able to restrain government spending – the price tag of the bill was cut by $22 billion – while providing funding for the military and its veterans, border security, and other projects vital to my congressional district. But make no mistake: the bill still has too many earmarks and gimmicks. We need to change the way we do business in Washington and cut wasteful spending.”
The fiscal year 2008 “Foreign Operations/Consolidated Appropriations Act” (H.R. 2764) holds spending to levels proposed by the administration and provides $70 billion for U.S. military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. It also includes the following federal founds secured by Buchanan for public priorities in Florida’s 13th District:
District-wide Projects
- $27,800,000 to construct the Sarasota VA National Cemetery
- $1,295,865 for Florida Citrus Mutual to continue vital citrus canker and greening research by the University of Florida through the Cooperate State Research Extension and Education Service
Sarasota County Area Projects
- $1,504,000 for Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota for the Migratory Shark Research program
- $846,000 for Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota for the Science Consortium for Ocean Replenishment -- a multi-state initiative for the recovery of the nation’s ocean fisheries
- $191,593 for Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota for a cooperative effort to further develop and establish an interactive marine science curriculum and theater
- $442,878 for Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota for the Mote Center for Aquaculture Research and Development
- $286,878 for New College of Florida’s strategic languages resource center to provide digital resources, facilities, and administrative support for language instruction and learning
- $238,754 for New College of Florida to help engage and enhance the digital assets available to students, faculty, staff and the community at Jane Bancroft Cook Library
- $215,174 for New College of Florida to purchase public archeology laboratory equipment to help collect, preserve and present the region’s history and heritage
- $367,500 for the City of Sarasota to help renovate and restore Newtown’s Robert Taylor Community Center
- $490,000 for Sarasota County’s Area Transit to help expand its fuel efficient fleet
- $492,200 for Sarasota County’s Phillippi Creek Septic System Replacement program
Manatee County Area Projects
- $4,680,888 for Manatee County’s project to dredge Wares Creek in Bradenton
- $2,921,496 for maintenance dredging of Manatee Harbor
- $980,000 to increase capacity of the interchange at I-75 and University Parkway on the Sarasota and Manatee county line-- the busiest and most congested interchange in the Sarasota/Manatee area
- $490,000 to reduce congestion and improve safety on I-75 in Manatee County
- $132,840 to study improvements to Tampa Harbor, which will benefit Port Manatee
Charlotte County Area Projects
- $1,215,240 for connectivity of the Intracoastal Waterway, Caloosahatchee River which benefits Charlotte County
- $490,000 for Charlotte County’s efforts to enhance U.S. 41 from SR-776 to the City of North Port in Sarasota County
- $286,878 for Charlotte County to help archive and preserve regional artifacts of historical significance.
- $196,000 for Charlotte County to help renovate and expand the Family Services Center in Port Charlotte
Hardee County Area Projects
- $984,000 for the City of Wauchula’s Municipal Electric Substation Rehabilitation project
Buchanan also secured $950,000 requested by New College of Florida in Sarasota for the Florida Collaborative Development of Advanced Materials for Strategic Applications. The funding was included in the fiscal year 2008 Defense Appropriations Act, which has been signed by the President.
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