Washington, DC – Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey (D-CA) today secured $26 million in funding for a variety of urgently needed projects such as canal dredging, expanded access to quality health care, and wetlands restoration throughout Marin and Sonoma Counties.  Woolsey also secured an additional $30 million in funding jointly with her colleague Mike Thompson (D-Helena). The funding was part of the Fiscal Year 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act, a $410 billion package to fund government operations through the end of the fiscal year.

“These projects are important investments in our local communities,” said Woolsey.  “They will address urgent needs such as protecting our homes from flooding, expanding access to quality health care, and ensuring that our first responders have the resources needed to protect us in case of an emergency.”

The legislation is an essential piece of comprehensive efforts by the Congress and the Obama Administration to confront the economic downturn.  Much of the funding in the legislation, for example, supports efforts to develop renewable energy, strengthen our nation’s education system, and assist the millions of workers who have recently lost their jobs.  And in order to confront the rising deficit, overall funding is 5% below the previous year’s levels.

“I am proud to announce these local investments, and to stand behind them.  It’s important that we bring honesty and transparency to this process, which is why over the past few years I have listed every appropriations funding request that I have made on my website for all of my constituents to review,” Woolsey said.  “I look forward to continuing my work with community partners and local government officials throughout Marin and Sonoma to do everything that we can to address the needs of local residents.”

The funding secured by Woolsey will support a number of environmental, health and security related projects throughout Marin and Sonoma Counties including:

• $382,000 to help restore Colgan Creek;

• $1,492,000 for the Army Corps of Engineers to dredge the San Rafael Canal;

• $14,000,000 for wetland rehabilitation at Hamilton Airfields;

• $216,000 to fund the North Bay Water Reuse Project which will provide recycled water for local agricultural use;

• $4,703,000 to fund maintenance efforts at the Warm Springs Dam at Lake Sonoma;

• $239,000 to continue Corte Madera Creek flood control efforts;

• $200,000 to support continued salmon research by scientists and conservation agencies;

• $190,000 to improve emergency readiness in Sonoma County by increasing the interoperability of emergency communications;

• $200,000 for Center Point of San Rafael to help people formerly incarcerated transition back into their communities;

• $10,000 to help confront gang violence by supporting the Santa Rosa Mayor’s Gang Prevention Task Force;

• $153,000 to develop a restoration plan for the Bolinas Lagoon;

• $119,000 to protect and restore 80 square miles of habitat in the San Pablo Bay Watershed;

• $1,000,000 to protect coastal homes by studying waves and shoreline changes;

• $1,250,000 towards the rehabilitation of the historic hospital on Angel Island State Park;

• $238,000 to research the cause of Marin County’s disproportionately high rate of breast cancer;

• $190,000 to support Sonoma County Department of Health and Services’ efforts combat the growing threat of alcohol and drug abuse among seniors;

• $475,000 to facilitate greater public access to the historic Fort Baker park by funding an alternative fuel shuttle, constructing pedestrian and bicycle access lanes, and improving road and parking access to the adjacent beach;

• $950,000 to enhance the safety of commuters on the Golden Gate Bridge by installing a moveable median barrier;

• $475,000 to facilitate the usage of the Larkspur Ferry by making immediately needed improvements to the site’s inadequate parking facilities;

• $188,000 for adolescent substance abuse treatment provided by the Sonoma County Department of Health Services.

In addition, Woolsey jointly secured over $30 million in funding for a series of projects in Sonoma County with her colleague Congressman Mike Thompson (D-Helena):

• $427,500 to support development of the preliminary engineering plans for the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District;

• $381,000 to expand health care access to underserved residents of Sonoma County by expanding access to community health centers;

• $5,300,000 million to protect Redwood trees by combating the spread of Sudden Oak Death;

• $218,000 to protect local agricultural from the Olive Fruit Fly;

• $24,500,000 to combat the spread of Piersce’s Disease, a major threat to local agricultural production.