Press Release

June 9, 2005

Bishop: Priority on 2nd District Projects
FY'06 Science, Commerce and Justice Appropriations Bill slates programs for funding

Washington, D.C. Congressman Sanford Bishop, a Member of the House Appropriations Committee, announced that more than a dozen 2nd District Projects were included in the House passed version of the FY’06 Science and Departments of State, Justice, Commerce, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. Having passed the House of Representatives today, these earmarked projects will now be reviewed and designated funding when the House and Senate meet in conference to reconcile the differences between their respective bills.

The projects range from after school and youth advocacy programs, to a program geared towards helping prisoners reenter society with a lowered risk of recidivism.  (A complete list of 2nd District projects is included)

“Each of these projects can really make a difference in our community. This is why I submitted them for funding. This is why the Subcommittee recognized their individual importance, and this is why I am confident that they will each be funded in the conference committee,” said Congressman Bishop. “The bill as a whole, goes a long way towards funding many of our critical judicial, science and small business programs that touch the lives of so many Americans.”

The Science and Departments of State, Justice, Commerce, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for FY’06 (H.R. 28.62) provides a total of $57.45 billion dollars for the named departments. This includes $5.8 billion for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, $2.6 billion in assistance for state and local law enforcement agencies, $16.5 billion for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), $1.5 billion to continue worldwide security improvements and the replacement of vulnerable U.S. embassies abroad and $590 million for the Small Business Administration, in support of a record business loan program to help American entrepreneurs access capital through he certified development company program.

Projects included in the Science and Departments of State, Justice, Commerce, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act:

• SOWEGA – CASA, Inc. (Southwestern Georgia Judicial Circuit), Court Appointed Special Advocates; Americus, GA

• Junior Marshal’s Program – Columbus, Georgia

• Clay County Improvement Association (CCIA), teen center; Ft Gaines, GA

• Urban League of Columbus, Youth Advocacy Program; Columbus, GA

• Upgrade 911 Communications System; Miller County, GA

• James Barnes Community Development Corporation, teen drug prevention and mentoring; Dawson, GA

• Communities in Schools, after school; performance learning center; Albany, GA 

• Communities in Schools, after school; performance learning center; Sumter County; Americus, GA

• Albany International Association, Prisoner Reentry Program; Albany, GA

• South Georgia Olympic Youth Shooting Club, youth after school program; Colquitt County, GA

• Friends with Jesus, Inc, teen after school program; Bainbridge, Ga

• Reaching You, after school program; Thomasville, GA

• Camp Relitso, Inc, Teen and Adult Literacy;

• Office of the Sheriff/Columbus,“ A Child Is Missing/Georgia;” Columbus, GA

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