(Washington, DC)—Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, II announced that he has secured $97.6 million in federal funding for Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District in the House version of H.R. 5576 Transportation, Treasury, Housing and Urban Development, the Judiciary, the District of Columbia, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act for FY07 (TTHUD).
 
TTHUD Appropriations is a $139.7 billion reauthorization bill that Congressman Cleaver reluctantly voted for. The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration and Cleaver encourages the Senate, including Missouri Senators Bond and Talent, to restore funding to several key programs.
 
“Today, I am reluctantly casting my vote in favor of H.R. 5576.  While this legislation allows current 2006 level funding for vital programs affecting the citizens of the Fifth Congressional District, such as Section 202 housing for the elderly and Section 811 housing for the disabled and slightly increases for Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) and Home Funds for programs that directly affect low to moderate income families in our neighborhoods, it also zeroes out several programs that have had and would continue to have a significant impact on the revitalization and continued growth of the cities and neighborhoods of the Fifth District.  The programs targeted to receive no funds include the CDBG Section 8 program, Brownfield program and Youthbuild program.”
 
“This appropriation bill includes money for several specific projects requested by the communities of the Fifth District. Among them, a large allocation to continue the renovation of the Bolling Federal Building in downtown Kansas City that will bring with it hundreds of high wage construction jobs. I am also glad to help the City of Raytown demolish the old First Baptist Church that currently hinders exciting development plans. And I hope the money secured for Lee’s Summit helps advance their forward thinking plans to build a Community Senior Center.”
 
Cleaver announced funds included in H.R. 5576 for the following projects:
 
• $96.6 million for the remodeling and renovation of the Richard Bolling Federal Building in downtown Kansas City.  This appropriation will fully fund Phase III of a four phase renovation. The total project cost will be approximately $250 million and is targeted to be completed by April 2013.
 
• $500,000 to the City of Raytown for 63rd Street bridge replacement. This bridge serves a critical role as a transportation link into the Downtown District.  It also serves as a vital "Gateway" for the Downtown area for traffic coming from the West off of MO-350, I-435 and the Truman Sports Complex traffic on the Raytown Trafficway.
 
• $250,000 to the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority for bus replacement.

• $150,000 to the City of Raytown for demolition of the abandoned First Baptist Church. The city owns this severely deteriorated building, suffering from mold and vandalism and causing blight conditions in the vicinity. The demolition and removal of this abandoned property is imperative to begin the estimated $40 million mixed use redevelopment of the downtown district.
 
• $100,000 to the City of Lee’s Summit for construction of a Senior Center. The City of Lee’s Summit is planning to build a senior center to serve the City’s senior citizen population.  The center is to be located on city owned property at the corner of 2nd Street and Independence Avenue, which is in the heart of Lee’s Summit.
 
Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Belton, Raymore and Peculiar, Missouri. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee.