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For Immediate Release
 
November 22, 2004
Green Announces Federally-Funded Projects for the 29th District
 
Projects included in the end-of-session congressional appropriations bill
 
Washington, DC - Today, Rep. Gene Green (D-Houston) announced that Congress has approved federal funding for several projects in the 29th Congressional District.  Rep. Green secured this funding in the fiscal year 2005 Omnibus Appropriations bill. 
 
            “Currently, Texans only receive 92 cents in federal funding for each dollar they contribute in federal taxes,” said Rep. Gene Green.  “This funding will ensure that the citizens of North and East Harris County get a good return on their investment and benefit from projects that spark economic growth, improve transportation outlets, and increase the quality of life in our community.”
 
Funding levels for projects in North and East Harris County are listed below.
 
$37 million for Houston FAA Air Traffic Control.  $25 million is to complete funding for construction of a new Houston Terminal Approach Control Radar (TRACON) to replace an aging facility at risk to flooding.  Another $12 million is for multiple pieces of communications, navigation, and surveillance equipment to support airspace redesign and the development of new terminal and enroute air traffic procedures in the Houston area. 
 
$22 million for deepening and widening of the Houston Ship Channel, which will allow the project to accommodate modern shipping to be completed by spring of 2005, with environmental restoration work to follow.  The Port of Houston requested $33 million in funding and the President’s budget provided only $18 million. 
 
In addition, the Houston Ship Channel will receive $16 million in operations and maintenance funding, roughly half of the $31 million requested by the Port. 
 
$1.2 million for the Trust for Public Land to acquire a 13.5 acre tract of land along Buffalo Bayou’s south shore at Lockwood Drive.  The acquisition of this land would further the goals of the Buffalo Bayou Partnership by allowing for restored wetland habitats, increased wildlife habitats and improved water quality along the Bayou.
 
$1 million for US 90 construction to fill the gap between Beltway 8 and Interstate 10.  U.S. 90 is a major east and western thoroughfare freeway for the East Harris County region, but its true regional mobility and development potential cannot be reached unless the freeway links up directly with the interstate system through I-10.  The total project cost is $35 million and this funding will jumpstart the project in FY 2005 going into next year’s highway bill.
 
$770,000 for the Houston Independent School District’s (HISD) Early Childhood Learning Centers.  This appropriation would help HISD to open Early Childhood Education Centers serving 5,000 to 7,000 area children who qualify for early childhood services, but are kept from participating by space limitations at existing schools.
 
$625,000 for Hunting Bayou.  The funding is necessary for initial construction stages on this project to benefit the watershed by reducing the number of structures in the 100-year flood plain from 5,500 to 800.   Harris County Flood Control will cover half of the total project cost of $180 million and the cost benefit ratio is 3.3.
 
$340,000 for Greens Bayou.  This study funding for a new flood damage reduction project for Greens Bayou, will complete the reformulation of the project under General Reevaluation Review, which is approximately 90% complete.  Greens Bayou was one of the hardest hits areas by Tropical Storm Allison, with over 15,500 residences flooded.
 
$240,000 for the Harris County Hospital District’s TeleHealth Program.  With this program, primary care providers can gain access to medical specialists and diagnostic testing.  To that end, patients can access specialty care without resorting to ERs, which are overcrowded and expensive.
 
$145,500 for the Mason Park Family Center.  The City of Houston will utilize this funding to construct a neighborhood Hispanic cultural family center in Mason Park, in Houston’s predominantly Hispanic East End.
 
$145,500 for the Harris County Unincorporated Areas Revitalization Program.  This funding would help Harris County, Precinct 2 study economic, community, and social reinvestment goals for economic and community redevelopment in the unincorporated areas of Harris County.
 
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