Mike Thompson United States Congressman - First District of California
Home  |  Biography  |  Constituent Services  |  Newsroom  |  Issues & Legislation  |  First District  |  Visiting D.C.  |  Contact

In This Section:
  Press Releases
Email Newsletter:

Enter your to receive our email newsletters.
Email the Congressman:

Mike wants to hear from you.

» learn more
 

Newsroom :: Press Releases


Napa Flood Protection, Other Napa Projects Receive Funding from Congress

February 25, 2009



WASHINGTON— Today the House of Representatives passed an omnibus spending bill that will provide continued funding for governmental programs through the end of fiscal year 2009.  In this bill, Congressman Mike Thompson (D-Napa Valley) secured $10.5 million for the Napa River Project, and additional money for other projects important to Napa County.

“Investing in smart infrastructure projects like the Napa River is one of the best ways we can keep good jobs in our communities and invest in our future,” said Thompson.  “We’ve learned the hard way in Napa that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and I’ll continue to fight for funding for this project to make sure that our homes and businesses are kept safe.”

The funding for the project was $1.1 million over President Bush’s budget request.  In FY 2008, Congressman Thompson secured $10.8 million for the Napa Flood Project, which was $3.3 million above the President’s budget request.  To date, Congressman Thompson has successfully increased funding over the President’s budget for this project by $28.3 million.

Last year, President Bush refused to work with Congress to come up with a compromise to pass a budget for 2009.  The spending bill passed by the House today now heads to the Senate, and is expected to be signed into law shortly after passage in the Senate.

In addition to this funding, Congressman Thompson successfully worked for $4.6 billion in emergency funding for the Army Corps of Engineers that was included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act signed into law by President Obama last week.  The Napa River Project is one of the projects that will be considered for this funding.

Congressman Thompson also secured funding for the following projects that are important to Napa County, including:

$24.5 million for Pierce’s Disease, Research and Control - Pierce’s Disease is a harmful plant virus that is spread by the glassy-winged sharpshooter. In the late 1990’s, this pest was responsible for the complete destruction of more than 1,000 acres of grapevines in Temecula that cost growers and the California economy tens of millions of dollars. This funding will be allocated to plant inspection programs and viticulture research institutions.
 
$5.3 million for Sudden Oak Death, Research and Control - Sudden Oak Death is a fungus-like pathogen that has decimated oak trees, and can even infect other plant species like our prized Redwood trees. This disease has stricken at least 12 of California’s counties and has spread to the Pacific Northwest. This funding will be allocated to the research, eradication and control of this pathogen.
 
$218,000 for Olive Fruit Fly, Research and Control - The Olive Fruit Fly is the world’s most disastrous olive pest and has infested thousands of acres of California’s olive groves, jeopardizing the state’s vital olive oil and table olive industries.

###