(Warwick, R.I.) Congressman Jim Langevin (D-RI) joined a majority in the House of Representatives this week to vote for the $485 billion Omnibus Appropriations bill, which funds important domestic programs for Fiscal Year 2008.  This legislation begins to reinvest in the priorities of the American people and provides support to many projects throughout Rhode Island’s Second Congressional District.

“This week, we took a step toward reversing the President’s harmful budget cuts to domestic priorities over the past six years and reinvesting in our nation,” said Langevin. “However, I was deeply disappointed that President Bush and the Congressional Republicans blocked our efforts to provide even greater funding for the priorities of Rhode Islanders and the American people.

The measure provides a total of $473.5 billion in regular appropriations, plus an additional $7.5 billion in emergency funding for needs including border security, the Women, Infants and Children program, a cybersecurity initiative and the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.  The bill also includes $3.7 billion in “contingent emergency” funds, which require a Presidential certification of emergency, for veterans health care. Unfortunately, the President blocked billions more in domestic spending increases previously passed by the House.

The following is a list of projects Langevin supported in the Second Congressional District:
Agriculture
• $478,000 for URI's Environmental Biotechnology initiative, which will allow the procurement of core laboratory facilities equipment in the Center for Biotechnology and Life Sciences) at the University of Rhode Island - This was a joint request with Congressman Patrick Kennedy.
• $300,000  for Tick-Borne Disease Prevention at URI’s Center for Vector-Borne Disease to mitigate the devastating impact of tick-transmitted diseases, including Lyme disease, on public health and the economy in Rhode Island and the Northeast region - This was a joint request with Senators Jack Reed, Sheldon Whitehouse and Kennedy.

Commerce-Justice-Science
• $188,000 for Narragansett Interoperable Communications to continue creating a statewide interoperable communications network to permit police, firefighters, public works, and university police to seamlessly communicate with each other.
• $305,500 for the City of Providence for an 800 MHz Interoperable Radio System - This was a joint request with Reed and Whitehouse
• $352,000 for the Institute for the Study and Practice of Nonviolence for their Streetworkers program - This a joint request with Kennedy
• $263,000 for Providence After School Alliance (PASA) and The Education Partnership to create five “AfterZones” in needy communities that provide after school programs to 200-300 middle school students - This was a joint request with Reed, Whitehouse and Kennedy.
• $423,000 for Providence After School Alliance Programs for At Risk Youth - This was a joint request with Reed, Whitehouse and Kennedy.

Energy & Water
• $143,000 for Block Island Harbor of Refuge to repair bulkheads that are federal responsibilities. 
• $630,000 to initiate and complete Charlestown Breachway navigation improvement project - This was a joint request with Reed.

Financial Services
• $282,000 for the USS Saratoga Museum Foundation to create a family attraction, educational center, and museum on Narragansett Bay, featuring the aircraft carrier, Saratoga, as its centerpiece. 

Labor, HHS, Education
• $185,000 for Comprehensive Community Action Program, Inc. to fund facilities and equipment for their new oral health program for children from low income families, located in Warwick. 
• $438,000 for the Northwest Community Health Care to help with the construction of an 8,000 square foot community health center on Danielson Pike in Foster, Rhode Island -This was a joint request with Reed and Whitehouse.

Military Construction and Veterans Affairs
• $8,200,000 for the RI Air National Guard’s  Readiness Center - This was a joint request with Reed.
• $33,000,000 – RIANG’s Aviation Support Facility - This was a joint request with Reed.

Transportation-HUD
• $1,500,000 for the Relocation of I-195 - This was a joint request with Reed, Whitehouse and Kennedy
• $335,000 for the Town of Coventry to construct a new Coventry CARES Community Center - This was a joint request with Reed

“While there is always more work to be done and critical initiatives to support, I am pleased to have helped so many wonderful projects in my district,” said Langevin. “I look forward to watching these programs develop. With the passage of this budget, I promise to continue the fight for more resources to make our nation and state stronger.”

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