"Returning $3 million in tax dollars is a victory for the families, workers and businesses of South Florida," said Rep. Wasserman Schultz. "From helping children with autism to helping implement community master plans and alleviating congestion, I am proud to have worked with many of my colleagues in Congress to secure funds for these worthy projects that will improve the lives of South Floridians."
The following South Florida projects were included in the "Labor, Health and Human Services, Education" appropriations bill:
| 1) | Organization: | Broward Community College |
| Title: | Center for Preparedness & Prevention | |
| Description: |
The Center for Preparedness & Prevention will address training issues associated with disaster recovery. Funding will go towards a training program geared toward citizens and mental health professionals in critical incident stress and to addressing the needs of a community following a disaster. | |
| Funds Secured: | $350,000 | |
| 2) | Organization: | Nova Southeastern University (NSU) |
| Title: | Florida Nursing and Teaching Capacity | |
| Description: |
Florida is experiencing severe nursing shortages. The nursing crisis is especially dramatic in South Florida due to a large elderly population that requires increasing medical attention from nurses. NSU provides nursing education in a clinical and research environment through its medical school. NSU also offers teaching degrees in nursing to support other statewide nursing education and community college programs. Shortages can be addressed through expanded education, training and recruitment programs. | |
| Funds Secured: | $200,000 | |
| Note: |
Florida's nursing shortage demands urgent attention. The National Center for Health Workforce Analysis projects that by 2020; Florida will need 61,000 more nurses than the projected availability. Enrollments in nursing schools will fall short in replacing the nurses that will soon retire. More people over 65 reside in Florida than in any other state. In the next five years Florida's over 65 population will grow by 30%. Florida's over 85 population is growing three times faster than the overall population. This situation greatly exacerbates an already critical nursing shortage. | |
| 3) | Organization: | City of Pembroke Pines |
| Title: | Pembroke Pines Florida State University Charter School's Autism Program | |
| Description: |
A federal appropriation would enable the City to expand the autism program at the Pembroke Pines Florida State University Charter School. This program allows children with autism and related problems to receive an individualized, age-appropriate education, alongside their same chronological general education peers. | |
| Funds Secured: | $400,000 | |
| Note: |
The Pembroke Pines Florida State University Charter School is the only city sponsored Charter School in Florida. The autism program attracts students outside Pembroke Pines in Broward County and other areas. | |
| 4) | Organization: | The Victory School for Children with Autism |
| Title: | Continuing Professional Education and Community Outreach Enrichment | |
| Description: |
The Community Outreach Enrichment Program is designed to build awareness for the community, to expose our students to the community and also to assist our parents in transition of their child in society. The Continuing Professional Education Program is designed to enhance our teacher's education, to expose our teachers to what is going on in the Autism Spectrum and also to receive hands on training with other children and adults that have autism. This will result in our teachers obtaining a higher skill level for our students at The Victory School as well as for our community outreach programs. | |
| Funds Secured: | $50,000 | |
| 5) | Organization: | Young At Art Children's Museum |
| Title: | The Global Village: A Gateway to Cultural Understanding | |
| Description: |
To support the development of The Global Village, a 4,500 sq. ft. immersive educational journey that will diminish prejudices, break racial barriers and instill pride in one's own cultural heritage as well as the heritage of other cultures. 300,000 children and adults annually will be impacted by this important educational opportunity. | |
| Funds Secured: | $100,000 | |
| Note: |
Young at Art has worked vigorously throughout its 16 years to encourage multicultural understanding, respect and appreciation. The Global Village will be the premier educational experience at the new Young at Art Children's Museum which will serve as the major focus of the new Arts & Education Complex in western Broward County. |
The following South Florida projects were included in the "Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU)" appropriations bill:
| 6) | Organization: | Downtown Development Authority - City of Fort Lauderdale |
| Title: | Las Olas Boulevard Streetscape Improvements | |
| Description: |
Streetscape/landscape enhancements, traffic calming, and improvements to traffic flow in the Las Olas Boulevard corridor. This project continues the implementation of recommendations in the 2000 Las Olas Community Transportation Plan. | |
| Funds Secured: | $610,000 | |
| 7) | Organization: | City of Miami Beach |
| Title: | West Avenue Bridge | |
| Description: |
Funding goes towards acquisition, design, and construction of the West Avenue Bridge, which will help reduce the volume of traffic at the busiest Alton Road intersections, and provide a safer venue for motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians. | |
| Funds Secured: | $620,000 | |
| Note: |
West Avenue parallels the busiest segment of SR 907/Alton Road, intersects with US 41/McArthur Causeway (level of service (LOS) E at this intersection is a normal occurrence, meaning the average driver waits 55 - 80 seconds, the limit of what most drivers consider acceptable); with an urban collector road (17th Street), and a minor arterial road (Dade Boulevard) which lead to the Venetian Causeway and downtown Miami. A connected West Avenue would help reduce the volume of local traffic at the busiest Alton Road intersections with 17th Street and Dade Boulevard. In addition, it would provide a safer venue for cyclists, pedestrians and motorists making their way to the supermarket or the Venetian Causeway, than the existing traffic congested options. | |
| 8) | Organization: | City of Tamarac |
| Title: | Pine Island Road Pedestrian Overpass | |
| Description: |
The Pine Island Pedestrian Overpass is part of the City's Main Street Improvement Project, for which the City has adopted a Capital Improvement Program as part of the budget process to provide $1.535 million for Main Street Infrastructure improvements. | |
| Funds Secured: | $610,000 | |
| Note: |
The City of Tamarac has begun planning phases for a new Town Center along Main Street. Current plans and increases in population have made pedestrian traffic in this area an increasing concern for the City. The intersection of Pine Island Road and NW 57th Street has proven to be a safety hazard for pedestrians needing to cross the street to access many of business and cultural amenities. Pedestrians currently are required to cross an 8-lane road that averages 3,088 cars per hour. This overpass will allow pedestrians to safely cross to the other side of Pine Island Road. |
The following South Florida project was included in the "Science, State, Justice and Commerce (SSJC)" appropriations bill:
| 9) | Organization: | Girl Scouts of the USA |
| Title: | Girl Scouts of the USA VIVA: Adult Volunteer Hispanic Outreach Program in Florida and New Mexico | |
| Description: |
In 2004, nearly 225,000 Hispanic girls were registered as Girl Scouts. Through Girl Scouts, these girls are exposed to life experiences that help them to develop courage, confidence and character to make the world a better place. To reach more Hispanic girls and their families, Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) has created VIVA, a culturally-sensitive and comprehensive volunteer training program and model to build partnerships with key Hispanic institutions, and recruit and train new volunteers through a specially-developed curriculum that prepares Hispanic adults to lead a Girl Scout troop. By building a strong volunteer base, GSUSA will be able to bring the benefits of Girl Scouting to more Hispanic girls. Using lessons learned and best practices in New Mexico, Texas and Florida, GSUSA plans to develop a model for nationwide replication. | |
| Funds Secured: | Unknown at this time. Amount will be added in conference. $1 million was requested. |
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