WASHINGTON DC – This week, House Appropriator Mike Honda (CA-15) secured much-needed dollars for California’s 15th district as part of the Transportation and Housing spending bill, which passed the House Appropriations Committee on Tuesday.  Rep. Honda commented on his funding requests, detailed below, by saying, “As our district and nation rebound from the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, I will make sure that my constituents in CA-15 are receiving the federal funds that we need to secure new jobs and ease the social problems that come with a recovering economy.  My constituents deserve to know that their tax dollars are being efficiently and effectively returned to their communities in visible and meaningful ways.”

Funding secured by Rep. Honda as a part of the Fiscal Year 2011 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development spending bill:

$2,000,000 for the BART to Silicon Valley Project: This project will extend the BART system to San Jose; support the regional economy; enhance regional connectivity and mobility; alleviate traffic congestion; accommodate future travel demand; improve access to employment, education, medical, and retail centers; and maximize public transit usage. The people of the County of Santa Clara have repeatedly supported local tax measures to pay for the extension of the BART line into their county. Local and state funding make up a significant majority of the funding for the whole project.

It is estimated that an average of 2,500 annual temporary jobs would be created by the construction of the BART to Silicon Valley Project and up to 7,400 permanent jobs would be created per year as a result of the project.  In addition, for every dollar spent on construction, operations and maintenance of the BART to Silicon Valley Project, $4 to $10 would be reinvested in the region’s economy.

“As a consistent supporter of BART to Silicon Valley, I know that these federal dollars will help bring new jobs to our communities, alleviate traffic on I-680 and I-880, connect Santa Clara County with the greater Bay Area, and make this long-awaited initiative into a reality,” said Rep. Honda.  

“With this federal funding, we will be able to keep the BART Silicon Valley Project on schedule and take the necessary next steps to advance the project closer to construction.  Extending BART to Silicon Valley has been a long time coming.  It is important to keep this project moving forward so that its numerous benefits for the community can be realized as soon as possible.” - VTA Board Chair Sam Liccardo.

$350,000 for the YWCA Silicon Valley Domestic Violence Shelter: This project will update, renovate, and expand capacity in the YWCA Silicon Valley Domestic Violence Center shelter that houses victims in immediate danger from domestic violence and the Emergency Shelter Resource Center that contains the food pantry, counseling rooms, and case management offices, allowing more people to have access to these vital services.

Regarding funding for the YWCA Silicon Valley Domestic Violence Shelter, Congressman Honda pointed to rise in deaths related to domestic violence in Santa Clara County from three deaths in 2008 to 11 deaths in 2009, including three children ages 11 months, 4 years, and 11 years.  “Victims of domestic violence in our district must have a safe place to live while they escape their abusers,” said Rep. Honda. “No man, woman, or child should have to choose between a life of abuse or life on streets.”

"With the funding secured by Representative Honda, the YWCA’s domestic violence program, Support Network, will be able to make both structural improvements as well as expanding the shelter that houses the victims of domestic violence as well as their families.  Due to a plumbing issue in 2009, the shelter needed to close one of its apartments. Consequently, during that timeframe, the shelter needed to decrease its availability to victims by 23%.  This funding will ensure that the necessary improvements and upgrades are made to prevent this type of closure from happening.  In addition, the funding will enable the shelter to expand, allowing for a 30% increase in availability to victims in need in the Silicon Valley." - Keri Procunier McLain, CEO, YWCA Silicon Valley

Currently there are 65 shelter beds in Santa Clara County designated specifically for families escaping domestic abuse.  Of those beds, Support Network, the domestic violence program for the YWCA Silicon Valley, provides 16-20 of those beds.  Support Network’s shelter operates at capacity all year, having provided shelter to 220 women and children in 2009.

With the funding provided secured by Rep. Honda, YWCA Silicon Valley will be able to increase and improve our services by:
•    Adding a new apartment, for a total of four temporary living areas for families
•    Increase shelter capacity by at least 30%

These improvements will be made possible by:
•    Updating and renovating current facilities.
•    Converting the current Emergency Shelter Resource Center into an additional client family apartment.
•    Building a new Emergency Shelter resource Center adjacent to the shelter family apartments.

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