FY 2010 ENERGY AND WATER BILL INCLUDES FUNDS FOR RCC LABS & THE NYC WATERSHED

Washington, D.C.--Congressman Eliot Engel voted to approve H.R. 3183, the fiscal year 2010 Energy and Water Appropriations bill. This measure emerged from the House-Senate conference committee, which resolved differences between the two versions. The measure will also create jobs with investments in new technology, scientific research and conservation efforts.

Contained in the funding bill, passed by the House by a vote of 308 to 114, is $300,000 for Rockland Community College (RCC) science laboratories, and $945,000 for the New York City Watershed. The watershed funding was directed through the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, in conjunction with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

Funding for RCC will be used to upgrade and replace six science labs supporting instruction in biology, engineering, and physics. “This funding will greatly aid Rockland Community College in training our next generation of scientists. Congress has been making a substantial investment in education, specifically in the area of scientific research. This effort began with the billions invested in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and continues with this legislation,” said Rep. Engel. “RCC plays such an important role in the economic development of Rockland County, as well as the educational development of Rockland’s youth.”

“It is very important for the college to have state-of-the-art science laboratories. We have a large nursing program and it is crucial to have these upgrades in order to give them a quality education. We are really grateful to Congressman Engel for all he has done and continues to do for our school,” said RCC President Cliff Wood.

The legislation also allocates $767,000 to Southern New York Flood Control Projects, designed to reduce the risk of damage from floods and storms. “Too many regions in New York have faced disastrous floods over the last few years, including the Village of Suffern, portions of Clarkstown, and the river villages of Westchester. This funding is a necessary step in the process towards solving these longstanding problems,” said Rep. Engel.

The New York City Watershed agreement funding was secured by Rep. Engel, along with Rep. John Hall, Senator Schumer and Senator Gillibrand. It is designed to help New York City protect its drinking water supply by helping local governments in the region boost environmental infrastructure within the Catskill region. In 1997, New York City, New York State, upstate communities, environmental organizations and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) agreed to work together to help New York City avoid filtration of the majority of its drinking water system. The method chosen will help New York City, and upstate communities, improve their unfiltered water supply by having it meet federal criteria.

“Some of our Bronx communities saw the devastating effects of New York City building a multi-billion dollar filtration plant for the Croton system watershed on park land. The funding will help to keep the Catskill/Delaware water clean and avoid the need for plants to treat nine times as much water as the Croton system and disrupting vast swaths of Catskill land, “Rep. Engel said. “Drinking water is a precious resource and we must do all we can to protect it. I am pleased to be able to help the process by securing funding through this legislation, and enable New York to move closer to its goal of having a protected, clean drinking water for residents of New York City, the surrounding regions and the entire state as a whole.”

H.R. 3183, the Fiscal Year 2010 Energy and Water Appropriations bill, invests in such programs as solar energy, biofuels and energy efficient buildings. “I believe the investments made in this bill are important steps in the right direction, especially as it relates to biofuels and energy efficiency. I have repeatedly said that America’s energy independence is not only a top priority, but a national security issue. We must break our addiction to foreign oil and the best way of doing that is to provide alternative fuels,” said Rep. Engel, a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

In addition, the bill will modernize the electric grid by investing in “smart grid” technology to ensure the cheaper and more efficient delivery of electricity to homes and businesses. There is also an increase in funds for weatherization grants to help families save money and energy and reduce their utility bills by improving their home’s energy efficiency.

The next step in the process is approval from the Senate, and then from President Obama. “I look forward to the President’s approval of the legislation and to the improvements to our nation’s water and energy needs which will result from this funding,” added Rep. Engel.