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Alaskan Congressman Don Young voted today in favor of H.R. 1105 the Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009.  Rep. Young secured funding totaling $64.8 million for Alaskan constituent projects of interest in this bill that passed by a vote of 245-178.   

“This appropriations bill proved very fruitful for Alaska this year,” said Rep. Young.  “As always I’m very proud of the work I can do in D.C. on behalf of the state of Alaska, and appreciative of my colleagues on the House Appropriations Committee who recognize the need to fund these important projects.  I have always been very vocal in my support of earmarks, and the good they bring to Alaska.  I have been able to secure funds for many important constituent projects of interest this year, and I look forward to the good they will bring the people of Alaska.

“I would like to make the point, however, that while I voted for this bill, I wholeheartedly disagree with the way it was handled by the Majority.  This bill never went through the proper committee process, which means no debate, no amendments, and no Member input.  That’s not the way the House should be conducting its business.  There is nothing representative or bipartisan about a body with a Majority party that makes a habit of excluding Members on the other side of the aisle and continues to legislate in secret.  It is unacceptable and the American people need to start speaking out against it!”

The list of projects as follows:

Agriculture and Rural Development

·      $864,000 for Alaska Association of Conservation Districts for soil and water conservation efforts statewide

Commerce, Justice, State

·      $700,000 for Cook Inlet Beluga Whale Research

·      $500,000 for Public Safety Planning and Village Public Safety Officer Hiring and Training in the NW Borough

·      $300,000 for Steller Sea Lion Co-Management, Bio-Sampling and Outreach/Education

·      $400,000 in funding for sexual assault/domestic violence education, victim assistance and prosecution

·      $150,000 for the Gulf of Alaska Coastal Communities Coalition to serve as an advocate for small boat community-based fisheries in the Gulf of Alaska

Energy and Water

·      $713,625 for the Anchorage Regional Landfill to recover methane gas from the Anchorage landfill and convert it into electrical power.  This funding would provide the infrastructure (transmission line and electrical generators) to convert methane to electrical power generation for 2500 homes for 40 years.

·      $951,500 for Unalaska Geothermal Energy for exploratory drilling and site investigations.

Army Corps of Engineers

·      $263,000 for Alaska Regional statewide ports (feasibility study)

·      $3.328 million for Alaska Coastal Erosion (construction)

·      $478,000 for Sitka harbor breakwater correcting a design deficiency (construction)

·      $16.338 million for Anchorage Harbor (dredging, operations, and maintenance)

·      $780,000 for Dillingham Harbor (operations and maintenance)

·      $575,000 for Homer Harbor (operations and maintenance)

·      $724,000 for Nome Harbor (operations and maintenance)

Labor, Education and Health and Human Services

·      $81,000 for Literacy Council of Fairbanks for afterschool tutoring program

·      $951,000 for Providence Hospital Residency Program in Anchorage to train physicians and improve health care in underserved areas 

·      $485,000 for Galena City Schools for their boarding school operation

·      $490,000 for Nugen's Ranch Rehab for construction of new facility at Point McKenzie

·      $33.315 million for the Alaska Native Education Equity Act

·      $238,000 to the Alaska PTA in Anchorage to train parents in their roles and responsibilities under the No Child Left Behind Act

·      $1.475 million to the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation in Bethel for renovation and equipment

Interior and Environment

·      $250,000 City of Craig for water and wastewater improvements

Transportation, Housing and Urban Development

·      $798,000 for the Bus Acquisition for Fairbanks North Star Borough

·      $665,000 for MASCOT Bus Bay Expansion for Mat-Su Borough

·      $950,000 for Fairbanks North Star Borough Rural and Road Service Upgrades

 

Rep. Young wrote the following allocations into existing law in SAFETEA-LU.  Funds are released each year through the annual appropriations bill:

·      $15 million for Ferry Capital Projects for Alaska and Hawaii from the Federal Transit Administration

·      $5 million for the Denali Commission from the Federal Transit Administration for waterfront, docks, and related infrastructure                       

·      $15 million  for the Denali Access from the Federal Highway Administration for roads, boardwalks, and related infrastructure                

 

Rep. Young also secured funding for the following national programs which are of interest to Alaska:

·      $4.965 million for  Reach Out and Read 

·      $24.083 million for Reading Is Fundamental

·      $25.095 million for the Center for Civic Education (We the People Exchange)

·      $5.019 million for the Center for Civic Education (National Council on Economic Education for Cooperative Education Exchange)

·      $415 million for the Office of Violence Against Women

·      $20 million for programs provided for by the Victims of Child Abuse Act

·      $300,000 for i-Safe e-Safety Education and Outreach Initiative 

 

 

 

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