Washington, D.C. -Today, the United States House of Representatives finished work on the nine remaining spending bills that will fund the operations of the federal government through the end of Fiscal Year 2009 (September 30). The nine bills were packaged together into one omnibus spending package. Work on these nine bills began in early 2008, but was not finished prior to the beginning of the fiscal year for various reasons. The package of spending bills will now move to the Senate for its consideration. Action is expected in that body before March 6th, the day on which the existing continuing resolution for Fiscal Year 2009 expires.
Funding for several local projects was included in this package. They are as follows:
City of Kokomo ($1,235,000): Funds would be used to relocate the intersection of Park Avenue and Markland Avenue to the north end of the redeveloped Continental Steel Superfund site and to construct a new bridge over Kokomo Creek. The current intersection has experienced more accidents in the last four years than any other 4-way stop in Kokomo. The project will provide for additional lanes which will improve both the safety and efficiency of the intersection.
City of South Bend ($285,000): Funds would be used by the city’s Workforce Training Initiative to provide workforce development training and vocational education to adults. This initiative will work in cooperation with the Airport Economic Development Area (Blackthorn) industrial park to strengthen area workforce skills.
LaPorte County Comprehensive Mental Health Council, Inc. dba Swanson Center ($200,000): Funds would be used by the Swanson Center to develop a permanent facility to treat area mental health needs after more than 40 years of providing services to the community.
Marshall County ($665,000): Funds would be used for the engineering/design and right-of-way acquisition for the construction of interchange ramps at 7th Road and US 31 in Marshall County, Indiana. The project will provide east-west access to US 31, and open a new economic development corridor. Furthermore, the extension project was cited in a US 31 federal environmental impact statement (FEIS) as a priority project. The project is connected to the US 31 Corridor, which is a National Highway System route. (This was also requested by Sen. Lugar.)
Mishawaka Police Department ($210,000): Funds would be used to purchase and install a Motorola Mobile Video Enforcer in-car video recording system in 50 squad cars. The system digitally captures and manages all patrol incidents increasing officer safety, ensuring tamperproof evidence, and making incident review and retrieval possible.
Mt. Zion Mill Pond Dam ($120,000): Funds would be used by the Army Corps of Engineers to repair and improve this dam in Fulton County which is currently in failing condition and holds back 27 to 55 acres of water depending on rainfall and flooding. Failure of this dam would cause those waters to flow into Lake Manitou and would rise to flood levels in a matter of minutes with little chance for evacuation or warning to its many residents.
Saint Mary’s College ($245,643): Funds would be used by the college to coordinate several local community organizations to identify and assist emerging or struggling women-owned small businesses and provide training workshops, materials and other resources for women entrepreneurs. (This was also requested by Sen. Lugar.)
St. Joseph County YWCA ($665,000): Funds would be used to continue and improve services for victims of domestic violence. Some funds would be used to hire individuals to monitor court proceedings, building on the successes of the YWCA’s Court Watch program. In addition, funds would be used to establish the YWCA as a partner site for the statewide Judicial Technology Initiative. Furthermore, funds would be used to pay for counseling for victims of domestic violence, as well as basic services such as shelter, childcare and meals. (This was also requested by Sen. Lugar.)
South Bend School Corporation ($143,000): Funds would be used by the school corporation’s PROJECT HELP to acquire computers and other support materials to help improve literacy among at-risk youth.
The Logan Center ($143,000): Funds would be used to expand autism services for the community and add therapeutic services for children and young adults faced with autism.
TRANSPO ($951,500): Funds would be used to construct a new energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly TRANSPO bus operation center in South Bend. TRANSPO expects the completed project would reduce energy costs by 28% compared to other similar facilities. (This was also requested by Sens. Lugar and Bayh.)
Other local projects were funded in the three spending bills that were signed into law in September 2008. Those projects are as follows:
DefenseCS ($3,600,000): Funds are being used by DefenseCS of Mishawaka to further the development and evaluation of their light-weight bolt on armor-mirror windshield that allows vehicle operators to drive their vehicles and see even after having received multiple rounds or blasts to their already armored windshield.
University of Notre Dame ($1,200,000): Funds are being used by Notre Dame to continue research of next generation military vehicles with improved personnel protection through improved armor synthesis and manufacturing and crashworthiness design. The University will continue its collaboration with AM General and General Dynamics to insure production applications. (This was also requested by Rep. Visclosky.)
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