For immediate release: December 10, 2009
Eric Wortman, Communications Director
Contact: (202) 536-6190
Edward Stern, Deputy Press Secretary
Congressman Salazar brings millions in appropriations funding back to Colorado’s Third Congressional District
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman John T. Salazar, having completed his first year on the powerful House Appropriations Committee, announced that millions in funding for Colorado’s Third Congressional District passed the House of Representatives today in the Consolidated Appropriations Bill. The bill passed by a vote of 221-202.
Today’s action nearly completes the FY2010 appropriations cycle with only the Defense Appropriations bill left to move next week. The Senate is expected to pass, and President Obama to sign, this bill in the coming days.
“I pledged to fight for the Third Congressional District when I joined the Appropriations Committee and I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished in only our first year on the committee,” said Congressman Salazar. “This funding will create jobs and strengthen communities throughout western and southern Colorado. In these tough economic times, I will continue to use every resource available to bring economic development to the Third District.”
Salazar secured $4.485 million for the Third District in addition to his annual language prohibiting the expansion of Pinon Canyon in today’s consolidated appropriations bill, which included the following spending bills:
Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations
Alamosa - $125,000 for Alamosa Public Safety Mobile DATA, equipment to allow first responders to better communicate
Durango - $300,000 for Durango Police Department Interoperability Completion, equipment to allow first responders to better communicate
Mountain Village - $500,000 for Mountain Village Public Safety Communications System, equipment to allow first responders to better communicate
Glenwood Springs - $300,000 for Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment in Garfield, Pitkin and Rio Blanco
Financial Services Appropriations:
Montrose - $200,000 for Montrose Higher Education and Technology Park to establish the technological infrastructure to support and generate economic growth
Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations:
Funding ban on any Pinon Canyon expansion
Transportation, Housing & Urban Development Appropriations:
Roaring Fork Valley - $810,000 for bus rapid transit improvements along a 40-mile corridor connecting Glenwood Springs to Aspen, Colorado
Grand Junction - $500,000 for Grand Junction Airport Commercial Apron Rehabilitation to facilitate aircraft movement, maintain aircraft parking and airfield flow
Moffat and Routt Counties - $750,000 for US 40 NW Chipseal project
Labor, Health & Human Services, and Education Appropriations:
Durango - $400,000 for Mercy Health Foundation for facilities and equipment for a primary health clinic in La Plata County
Pueblo - $300,000 for Colorado State University-Pueblo for facilities and equipment for the Nursing Education Program which will train more nurses in rural Colorado
Colorado - $300,000 for the University of CO School of Medicine, Aurora, CO for health professions training through the Physician Pipeline for Rural Colorado
Today’s announcement follows Salazar previously announced $84 million in funding through the following bills that have already been signed into law:
Interior and Environment Appropriations (over $21 million for Mesa Verde Visitor Center and Curation Center, $300,000 for the City of Rifle for water infrastructure, $300,000 for the City of Monte Vista for water infrastructure);
Homeland Security Appropriations ($425,000 for the Alamosa Fire Department to purchase a new fire truck, $5 million for the Transportation and Technology Center in Pueblo for first responder training);
Agriculture Appropriations ($500,000 for the Fountain Creek Watershed Study);
Energy and Water Appropriations ($49 million to complete the Animas La Plata Project, $1.75 million for the Jackson Gulch Project in Mancos, $600,000 to repair the Platoro Reservoir in the San Luis Valley, and $5 million to begin the Arkansas Valley Conduit).
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