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Energy Appropriations Bill includes funding for 6th District projects

Alvernia College in Berks County and Saint Joseph’s University in Montgomery County each would receive $500,000 to expand their science and health education offerings.

Washington, May 24, 2005 - Congressman Jim Gerlach today lauded passage of H.R. 2419, the Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2006. The legislation, which passed the House by an overwhelming bipartisan majority late Tuesday, included $1 million for projects in Berks and Montgomery counties.

“Passage of this legislation is excellent news for both Alvernia College and St. Joseph’s University,” Rep. Jim Gerlach said. “The $500,000 each institution would receive from this legislation will help with the construction and renovation of new health and science centers at each college. These facilities will allow each of these wonderful 6th District colleges to help educate and train the next generation of healthcare professionals we all need, use and rely on.”

Located in Reading, Alvernia College is private, liberal arts school serving approximately 2,600 students in the heart of Berks County. The $500,000 included in H.R. 2419 for Alvernia College will be used to help construct a new 32,000-square-foot, 10-lab science center complete with extensive office space and room suitable to meet the needs of the institution’s current and future students.

Situated in Montgomery County, St. Joseph’s University intends to use the $500,000 included in the appropriations bill to assist in the continued renovations of the institution’s Science Center. Science education is an important component of Saint Joseph’s overall curriculum offerings, sending more than 80 percent of its yearly pre-med students onto medical school. Many of those students choose to attend one of the fine medical schools in the greater Philadelphia area and many, roughly 83 percent according to the University, end up eventually working in the growing science and medical sector in southeastern Pennsylvania.

“I was happy to work with each school to secure this money, and glad to see that my colleagues in the House found these projects as worthy as I did,” Rep. Gerlach said.

The legislation, which passed the House by a 416 to 13 vote Tuesday night, now heads to the Senate for consideration.




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