Congressman Lipinski Secures $1.6 Million in Federal Funds for Local Transportation, Community Development, and Law Enforcement Projects

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, Congressman Dan Lipinski (D-IL) announced that $1.6 million for critical projects in Chicagoland will be included in the Fiscal Year 2008 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations bill and the Fiscal Year 2008 Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations bill, both of which the House is set to consider this week.

"If approved, this funding will help improve the everyday lives of residents of the Third District by providing better transportation infrastructure, community improvements, and opportunities for economic development, as well as better protection in case of an emergency," said Congressman Lipinski.  "I am very supportive of these efforts and was proud to secure these federal funds."

The Fiscal Year 2008 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations bill includes funding for the following projects requested by Rep. Lipinski:

• $400,000 for a parking garage in Berwyn that would serve area communities as well as provide economic development and traffic mitigation in the area.
• $400,000 for extension of the Chicago Transit Authority's Orange Line from its current terminus at Midway Airport to Ford City Mall.  The extension would feature a new station with intermodal connections to nearby neighborhoods and southwest suburban communities.
• $150,000 for the construction of a community center at Saint Richard Parish serving the Archer Heights Community.  This center will be used by the parish, the local community, and organizations such as the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts.

The Fiscal Year 2008 Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations bill includes funding for the following project requested by Rep. Lipinski:

• $650,000 for Cook County to spend on Interoperable Safety and Emergency Communications Radios to allow Cook County to communicate with its 128 municipalities in the event of an emergency and would assist the thousands of first responders in the Cook County region.

These appropriations bills will be considered by the full House of Representatives this week.  If adopted by the House, the bills will be considered in a conference with the Senate, voted on by Congress, and then, if approved, sent to the President to be signed into law or vetoed.