WASHINGTON, DC -- Congressman Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville) today announced that several Northeast Alabama projects have been included in the Omnibus 2003 spending bill that was approved by Congress today.

"Projects in Alabama, particularly in the Fourth Congressional District, will see a tremendous amount of progress included in this spending bill," said Congressman Aderholt. "These are projects important to our communities, neighborhoods and state, and I look forward to seeing the results of hard work our community leaders are putting forward on them."

Among the Northeast Alabama projects receiving funding are:

• $750,000 for the Cullman, Etowah, Marshall and Walker Counties methamphetamine initiatives will fund programs cracking down on Methamphetamine-related crimes and abuse.
• A $300,000 grant to the Community Action & Community Development Agency of North Alabama will fund important technology upgrades in Head Start classrooms.
• $70,000 for Snead State Community College in Boaz will be used for student computers and other technology enhancements.
• $1,000,000 to Albertville's Hospice of Marshall County.
• $1,800,000 for Little River Canyon School in DeKalb County will be used to build the school's new teaching facility.
• $135,000 for the Collinsville Public Library will provide for the renovation of a new building to accommodate the library.
• $180,000 for Attalla's sewerage system improvements.
• $180,000 for Douglas's sewerage system improvements.
• $180,000 for Powell's sewerage system improvements.
• $90,000 for Northeast Etowah County Community and Senior Center.
• Language lifting the fair market value sales restriction on Gadsden Airport. This allows the City the flexibility it needs to recruit industry to the area.
• $900,000 for Fort Payne's sewerage system improvements.
• Among the statewide Alabama projects receiving funding are:
• $50,000,000 for NASA's investigation into the loss of the Space Shuttle Columbia.
• $250,000 for the City of Boaz will be used for facility renovations and expansions.
• $750,000,000 in Firefighter Assistance Grants, including designation as a separate funding category under the VA/HUD subcommittee.
• $10,000,000 for the National Rural Water Association will assist property and business owners comply with environmental laws.
• A $398,000,000 increase in NASA funding over last year, and a $300,000 increase over the President's request.
• A $2,500,000,000 increase in Veterans Administration Medical Care funding.
• $2,000,000 for safer railroad crossings will be used to test install up to 7 innovative crossing systems that will further restrict drivers from crossing the tracks as a train approaches.
• $3,000,000 for Brain Trauma Foundation initiatives that offer nationwide training to EMS personnel in the management of traumatic brain injury. Much of the money is to be used to expand the program to more areas of the country.
• $30,000,000 is earmarked for Corridor X, $2,000,000 is earmarked for Corridor V. Alabama will also receive approximately $11,400,000 which can be used on either corridor as decided by the state. These three items come from $188,000,000 allocated to the Appalachian Development Highway System.
• $310,000 for Greenhouse, nursery, and turfgrass research in Alabama provides research support for developing small family farms in non-traditional agricultural areas. The leads to more productive farming and expanded employment opportunities.
• $1,700,000 to the USDA-ARS National Soil Dynamics Lab in Auburn will allow applied research in the areas of waste management, water quality management, and organic matter degradation, and its impact on soil and water.
• $12,100,000 for the USDA Rural Water Circuit program will help support its goal of providing on-site, hands-on technical assistance to Rural Utilities Service water system borrowers.
• $125,000 to Auburn University for The Alabama Beef Connection program, which is researching ways to enhance the quality of beef products.

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