OBTAINS $250,000 EACH FOR CFCC AND BELLEVIEW BYPASS

Washington, Jun 14, 2005 - Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-Ocala) today joined the House in approving H.R. 5576, the Treasury, Transportation and HUD, Judiciary, and District of Columbia Appropriations Act.  "I am pleased that I was able to obtain funding for two important projects in our community -- $250,000 for the Central Florida Community College in Ocala and $250,000 for the SR 35/Belleview Bypass," stated Stearns. 

Explained Stearns, "H.R. 5576 includes $250,000 for the Central Florida Community College Fine Arts Auditorium, which is over 40 years old.  The auditorium provides a forum for numerous school activities as well as for community organizations.  In addition, the bill provides $250,000 for the SR 35/Belleivew Bypass to alleviate congestion on US 441."

"In addition, this bill provides funding that is $728 million below last year's level, reflecting a step toward greater fiscal responsibility in prioritizing federal spending." The bill includes $16 million to hire and train 132 new air traffic controllers, and an additional $12 million above the request to hire and train safety inspectors in aircraft certification and flight standards.  It also supports the War on Drugs with  $227 million for the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas program, $194 million for other Federal drug control program, and $20 million for the Counter-drug Technology Assessment Center.