FUNDING INCLUDED IN THE TRANSPORTATION, TREASURY, HUD, JUDICIARY APPROPRIATIONS ACT APPROVED TODAY

Washington, Nov 18, 2005 - "It is an honor for me to represent the people of the Sixth Congressional District, and I am pleased that this measure includes funding I sought for important programs serving my constituents," said Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-Ocala). "Through H.R. 3058, I secured $2.575 million for important programs serving north central Florida. This measure provides $2 million for Gainesville Airport, $300,000 for the Central Florida Community College in Ocala, $250,000 for Santa Fe Community College, and $25,000 for the City of Alachua Veterans Memorial."

H.R. 3058 provides funding for the Departments of Transportation, Treasury, Housing and Urban Development, and Judiciary, as well as the District of Columbia and independent agencies. Members of the House and Senate developed H.R. 3058 as the final version of this funding bill, which will go to the President for approval.

Specifically, H.R. 3058 includes:
* $2,000,000 for the Gainesville Regional Airport from the Airport Improvement Program. Significant infrastructure improvements are needed to accommodate and insure access to scheduled air service, and to ensure an appropriate level of public safety at the airport.
* $300,000 for renovations to the CFCC Fine Arts Auditorium on the Ocala campus. The Central Florida Community College Fine Arts Auditorium is over forty years old and is one the original buildings on the CFCC campus and has not been renovated since 1988.
* $250,000 for federal funding assistance for the expansion and enhancement of the Fine and Applied Arts Education Building at Santa Fe Community College. The expansion of the Fine and Applied Arts Educational Building at Santa Fe Community College will serve to enhance cultural activities through concerts, plays and dance performances in north central Florida.
* $25,000 to help build a Veterans' Memorial at the City of Alachua's new City Hall complex.