WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey (D-Petaluma) on Thursday announced that the City of Petaluma will receive $7.25 million for the Petaluma River. The funds were secured in the Omnibus Appropriations bill of FY 2003. Rep. Woolsey secured more than twice the amount of money that the President requested in his FY 03 budget. The City will receive $6 million for the Petaluma Flood Control Project and $1.25 million will be allocated for dredging.

“Federal funds are becoming more and more difficult to secure as the Bush administration has turned a historic budget surplus into a ballooning federal budget deficit,” said Rep. Woolsey. “The Republicans have put their priorities into a $674 million dollar tax cut for the rich and an impending war with Iraq, rather than infrastructure projects that pay good wages and improve the lives of the American people.”

“We’re getting close to completing the Petaluma River Flood Control Project which will improve the lives of many citizens in Petaluma,” said Rep. Woolsey. “I’ve worked on this project since being on the Petaluma City Council and I am very pleased that we’ve gotten this far - but will continue to fight for additional funding until this project is completed.”

The Petaluma River Flood Control Project widens 3,500 feet of the river and replaces low-hanging bridges to prevent trapping debris that cause flood waters to spill into the Payran neighborhood. Once the project is complete, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will remap the city, taking Payran residents out of the 100 year flood zone, and lowering insurance rates.

“We appreciate the Congresswoman Woolsey’s tenacity at getting this money for us,” said Mike Beirman, Petaluma City Manager. “This money will go a long way to completing the Petaluma Flood Control Project and will protect the property and citizens of central Petaluma.”

This $7.25 million for the City of Petaluma is in addition to more than $20 million Rep. Woolsey secured over the last several years for construction and dredging of the Petaluma River. The Omnibus Appropriations bill of FY 03 is a compilation of the 11 outstanding appropriations bills that were not passed in the 107th Congress. The only appropriations bills that the Republicans brought to the House floor were Military and Defense Appropriations. After the Senate approves the omnibus conference report, the President can sign the bill into law.