WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Bill Delahunt joined with Senators John Kerry and Edward Kennedy today to announce that the omnibus appropriations bill approved by Congress contains $35,803,000 in federal assistance for the South Shore, Cape Cod and the Islands. Statewide, Massachusetts initiatives received a total of more than $236 million.

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008 will fund 15 cabinet agencies and other federal agencies for Fiscal Year 2008.  It includes the following appropriations bills: Agriculture, Commerce-Justice-State, Energy-Water, Foreign Operations, Interior, Labor-Health and Human Services-Education, Legislative Branch, Transportation-Treasury, and Veterans Administration-Housing and Urban Development.  The bill now goes to the President’s desk for his signature.

 “This is a victory for crucial economic development projects throughout the region. From transportation to health care to social services to education, this money will help make a difference in the quality of life of those who live and work on the South Shore,  Cape Cod and the Islands,” said Senator Kerry. “By making these investments in our communities, we are investing in our state’s economic future, and that is why Senator Kennedy and Congressman Delahunt and I fight each year to secure federal funding for these initiatives that make a real local impact.”

"In Massachusetts, we're enormously proud of our world-class hospitals, research centers and universities. They lead the nation and the world in improving the lives of our citizens," said Senator Kennedy. "These federal investments are vital to the people on the South Shore, Cape Cod, the Islands, and our whole Commonwealth, so that Massachusetts will stay at the forefront of the global economy, and future generations can reach their full potential.”

“These funds are vitally important to the health and economic well-being of our region, said Congressman Delahunt.   With state and local governments hard pressed for provide funding to for critical initiatives, I am pleased that --- working with Senators Kennedy and Kerry --- we were able to step in and get these important projects funded and off the ground,” Delahunt added.

A wetlands restoration project in Quincy is one of the projects set to receive funding.

“Through patience and perseverance, many dedicated Quincy residents   have long fought to restore tidal flow to 300-acres of long neglected marshlands,” said Douglas S. Gutro, President of the Quincy City Council. “Today, thanks to the leadership and environmental advocacy of Senators Kerry and Kennedy as well as Congressman Delahunt, the dream of a Broad Meadows marsh restoration may now become a reality.”

Various other environmental projects across Cape Cod are also slated to receive funding.

"We are very grateful to Senators Kennedy and Kerry and Representative Delahunt for their commitment to protecting Massachusetts’s most critical open spaces and recreational resources for future generations,” said Craig MacDonnell, The Trust for Public Land’s Massachusetts State Director.  “Future generations of Bay Staters will benefit greatly from their efforts, and we applaud their leadership on improving the quality of the natural environment on Cape Cod, and specifically on behalf of the National Seashore - one of the most heavily visited national parks in the country - for securing $2 million for the second phase of the 57-acre North of Highland Campground project.  This year's allocation will complement last year's funding to bring us one step closer to permanently ensuring that the campground will forever remain in the public's hands."

Federal assistance in the omnibus bill for the South Shore, Cape Cod and the Islands includes:

Massachusetts Projects in the FY 2008 Energy and Water Appropriations Conference Report

$8.5 million for the Army Corps of Engineers – Operations of the Cape Cod Canal 
$118,000 for the Army Corps to develop plans to dredge federal channel in Woods Hole, Great Harbor
$2.391 million for Army Corps to undertake federal-state wetlands restoration project in Quincy
$394,000 for Army Corps Dredging of Aunt Lydia’s Cove navigation channel and fishing industry mooring basin
$117,000 for Army Corps Dredging of Sesuit Harbor Dennis federal channel
$98,000 for federal-state Coastal Massachusetts Ecosystem Restoration Project
$728,000 Army Corps–Town of Cohasset Environment Restoration Project for Treats Pond

Massachusetts Projects in the FY 2008 Financial Services Appropriations Conference Report

$500,000 for the Mashpee Wampanoag Indian Tribe’s Governance and Economic Development Center

Massachusetts Projects in the FY 2008 Labor-HHS Appropriations Conference Report

$204,000 for the Town of Barnstable Youth activities
$170,000 for Cape Cod Free Clinic and Community Health Center in Mashpee, Mashpee, MA
$121,000 for Silent Spring Institute, for research and education on breast cancer and women’s health
$165,000 for Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers
$390,000 for South Shore Hospital, South Weymouth, Pre-natal facilities and equipment

Massachusetts Projects in the FY 2008 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Conference Report

$1.8 million for the Digital Ground Station (DGS) IOC Equipment at Otis Air National Guard Base

Massachusetts Projects in the FY 2008 Transportation, HUD and Related Agencies Appropriations Conference Report

$1.375 million for the Oak Bluffs Ferry Terminal Reconstruction
$3.185 million for federally approved improvements to Barnstable Municipal Airport
$2.695 million for the federally approved improvements to Nantucket Memorial Airport
$500,000 for new Nantucket Airport Air Traffic Control Tower
$100,000 for Destination Plymouth – renovation and build out of facilities

Massachusetts Projects in the FY 2008 Interior Appropriations Conference Report

$3.292 million for the Cape Cod National Seashore ($2 million for land acquisition, remainder for facility improvements)

Massachusetts Projects in the FY 2008 Agriculture, Rural Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Conference Report

$3.1 million for Shrimp Aquaculture for Massachusetts and a number of other states
$119,000 for Cranberry-Blueberry Research
$433,000 for the Conservation Planning for Cranberries (split with Wisconsin)

Massachusetts Projects in the FY 2008 Commerce Justice Science Appropriations Conference Report

$2.679 million for the New England Multi-Species (UMass-SMAST) fishery information program
$1.786 million for the Mass Fishery Institute’s Scallop Fishery Initiative program
$235,000 for NOAA Funds to Plan Dredging and Berthing for new R/V Bigelow in Woods Hole
$235,000 for NOAA Weather Buoy to aid Mariners in Nantucket Sound
$94,000 for NOAA- Right Whale Conservation/Disentanglement Program
$282,000 for federally recognized Mashpee Wampanoag Indian Tribe Youth Program, MA

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