WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Bill Delahunt announced that the House of Representatives passed an omnibus appropriations bill last night that provides funds for the operations of the federal government through fiscal year 2008. It also contains funding for a variety of projects on the South Shore, Cape Cod and the Islands. 

“After months of negotiations, I am pleased that the House has finally passed a bill to fund the federal government and increase funding for a number of important programs,” Delahunt said. “The legislation significantly increases funds for our veterans, while also boosting home heating assistance, health care and education. It also supports a number of important local projects on the South Shore, Cape Cod, and the Islands.”

The Omnibus Appropriations bill was passed last night by the House of Representatives by a vote of 253-154. It includes a number of spending bills rolled into one, plus additional funding for the war in Afghanistan.  The House measure does not include monies for the war in Iraq.

Under this bill, the Veterans Administration will get a $3.7 billion increase in funding.  It includes additional resources for medical services, mental health and substance abuse, assistance for homeless vets, medical facilities and prosthetic research. For a detailed summary of Veterans Administration appropriations, please click here.

“This bill is a huge victory for the 476,000 veterans that live in Massachusetts,” said Delahunt. “It will address growing concern about timely access to VA healthcare and fulfill our promise of providing the high quality care that our veterans need and deserve. It also includes important provisions to deliver adequate mental health care and treatment of traumatic brain injury”

This legislation also gives a boost to the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) by allocating $2.6 billion. This is a $409 million increase above last year’s funding level.  Delahunt has criticized the Bush administration’s proposal to cut the program by $379 million.  To read more, please click here. 

In addition, this bill also includes additional funding to reduce red tape associated with U.S. visa and entry policies.  Delahunt has argued that entry practices at airports and the border not only frustrate U.S. citizens but have had a devastating impact in the tourism and travel industry.  Since 2001, overseas travel to the United States has declined by 17% nationally and by 25% to the Boston area.   The bill includes $40 million for the “Model Ports” program that will target America’s top 20 inbound international airports to streamline the visitor entry process and make the airport more welcoming to international travelers.  Earlier this year, Delahunt introduced H.R. 3232; the Travel Promotion Act of 2007.

Below is a list of important 10th District projects that Delahunt supported in the overall bill:

Project		Amount
Otis Air National Guard Base:  Distributed Ground Station Equipment		$2,000,000
Nantucket-Martha’s Vineyard-Woods Hole Steamship Authority: Oak Bluffs Ferry Boat Construction		$1,350,000
Army Corps-Town of Cohasset Treats Pond Environment Restoration Project		$740,000
Nantucket Municipal Airport, Air Traffic Control Tower Replacement		$500,000
Army Corps-Town of Chatham Dredging of Aunt Lydia's Cove for Fishing Industry		$400,000
South Shore Hospital, South Weymouth, Pre-natal facilities and equipment		$300,000
NOAA Weather Buoy to aid Mariners in Nantucket Sound		$250,000
Army Corps-Dennis, Dredging of Sesuit Harbor		$250,000
Cape Cod Free Clinic and Community Health Center, Mashpee, MA for facilities and equipment		$150,000
Mashpee Wampanoag Indian Tribe Youth Program, MA		$150,000
NOAA Funds to Plan Dredging and Berthing for R/V Bigelow in Woods Hole		$100,000
Silent Spring Institute, Support for research and education on breast cancer and women's health		$100,000
NOAA-Right Whale Conservation/Disentanglement Program		$100,000
Cultural Coast Initiative- “Destination Plymouth” , for renovation and build out of facilities		$100,000
Town of Barnstable Municipal Airport Improvements		$3,250,000
Town of Nantucket Memorial Airport Improvements		$2,750,000

The appropriations bill will now head for consideration by the U.S. Senate. For a summary of this legislation, please click here.

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