Whitfield Delivers for First Congressional District | News | Congressman Ed Whitfield

News | Congressman Ed Whitfield | United States Representative

Whitfield Delivers for First Congressional District September 24, 2008 WASHINGTON - U.S. Representative Ed Whitfield (KY-01) scored a big win for the First Congressional District today, securing critical funds for projects and organizations throughout the area. Whitfield also supported a measure in the same bill which will lift a long-standing ban on new off-shore drilling, increasing domestic fuel supplies and helping drive down costs at the pump.

"Federal funding for local projects is absolutely critical to maintaining and growing our communities in the First Congressional District," Whitfield said. "I am always pleased to do what I can to support these important initiatives."

Whitfield supported, and the House passed, H.R. 2638, the Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act of 2009. This bill will fund the federal government through March of 2009 and provide funding for defense, military and homeland security operations as well as various other spending measures. Included in the legislation were a number of important measures for the First Congressional District.

Whitfield successfully requested more than $17,000,000 for projects throughout his District including $10,000,000 for daycare services at Fort Campbell; $750,000 for the Crittenden County Emergency Operations Center; $630,000 for the Installation Chapel Center at Fort Campbell; and additional funding for the production of military equipment in Graham, Franklin and Greenville.

In addition, funds were provided for Kentucky Lock and Dam, Olmsted Lock and Dam, Wolf Creek Dam, the Delta Regional Authority, the Appalachian Regional Commission, and cleanup and medical monitoring at the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant, in order to continue these vital projects and programs.

Furthermore, the legislation passed today will lift a ban on new off-shore drilling in the United States and allow oil companies to seek federal approval to drill off our shores. The ban is set to expire on September 30, 2008 and the bill passed today will ensure that the moratorium is not extended. Whitfield, along with many of his colleagues, have been calling on House leaders for months to let the ban expire. The Congressman has long supported initiatives to open up certain coastal areas to environmentally responsible drilling, introducing and co-sponsoring legislation that would do just that.

"Folks in Kentucky have been telling me for months that it is time to open up certain coastal areas in our country for environmentally responsible drilling," Whitfield said. "I have carried their voices to Washington and been proud to support measures time and time again that would allow for this drilling. Today, Kentucky motorists scored a huge win and I am hopeful that the lifting of this moratorium will help increase domestic fuel supplies and drive down prices at the pump."

The bill will now be considered by the Senate and, upon approval, sent to the President to be signed into law.

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