November 22, 2004 - Congressman Adam Smith (D-Tacoma) is pleased to announce that he was able to secure over $20 million in funding for projects throughout the Puget Sound region in an Omnibus spending bill that passed the U.S. Congress on November 20th. The bill now goes to the White House where it is expected that President George W. Bush will sign the measure into law.

The following is a list of initiatives in and around the Ninth District that were funded under the Commerce, Justice and State appropriations bill that was passed as part of a larger Omnibus bill.

Washington State Public Building Mapping Program, Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs - $2 million                                                                        The funds will be used by the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC) to finish their pilot program that was created to help first responders prepare for responding to unintended disasters, criminal acts, and acts of terrorism. 

Washington State Methamphetamine Initiative - $2 million

The funds will aid the state in continuing their comprehensive program to curb the use, production and sale of methamphetamines.

World Vision training of Youth Outreach Workers - $1.5 million

The funds will cover the training of Youth Outreach Workers for facilities expansion costs related to Vision Youth’s tutoring and mentoring activities. World Vision-Seattle’s Vision Youth program originated as the leading model in this site. 

Electronic Fingerprint Criminal Background Check Program, Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction - $1 million

The funds will be used to upgrade the current manual background check system for Washington’s 80,000 state school employees. 

Police Rapid Mobile Response Network - $1 million

The funds will be used to create a pilot program in Pierce County for a rapidly deployable, mobile, wireless video, audio, and text-imaging communications network for law enforcement. 

Smith, working with other members of the Washington state delegation, was able to secure over $8 million dollars in transportation projects for the Puget Sound area. These initiatives, funded as part of the FY 2005 Transportation and Treasury bill, were included in an Omnibus spending bill that passed the Congress on November 20th.

“Investment in our infrastructure is critical to the continued growth of our economy,” said Smith. “By creating these opportunities in the Puget Sound region, we are creating jobs and improving the ability to move products and people in our area, making it more productive and economically feasible to do business here.”

The following is a list of transportation projects in and around the Ninth District that secured funding:

FAST Corridor - $2.5 million

The funds will go to FAST Corridor projects throughout the Puget Sound region.

Kent Valley, State Route (SR) 167 HOV and SW 27th Strander Blvd - $750,000

This project provides a necessary major regional east-west link between Tukwila and Renton that will significantly improve access and circulation in the freight corridor.

Tukwila, Urban Center Access Improvement Project - $1 million

Addresses necessary improvements to Southcenter Parkway in Tukwila to relieve congestion.

Tukwila, Southcenter Parkway Extension - $1 million

Creates improved transportation routes to newly planned development areas in the City of Tukwila.

Intercity Transit Buses (Thurston County) - $1 million

This will allow intercity transit to purchase busses to restore service lost as a result of a state-wide elimination of the motor vehicle excise tax in 1999.

Pierce Transit Maintenance and Operations Facility - $1 million

This earmark will be used to continue the upgrade of Pierce Transit bus facilities and assist in funding the next expansion bus purchases. 

Burien, SR 509 / SR 518 Interchange/Intersection Redevelopment - $1.5 million

Creates interchange improvements and the addition of one travel lane on a portion of the corridor.

The following is a list of initiatives in and around the Ninth District that were funded under the Veterans Administration and Housing and Urban Development appropriations bill that was passed as part of a larger Omnibus bill.

City of Lakewood Sewer Line - $150,000

The funds will be used for the construction of a sanitary sewer tank system and pump station to serve American Lake Gardens and Tillicum neighborhoods of the City of Lakewood. 

Burien Highline Senior Center - $200,000

The funds will used to acquire and redevelop the Burien Highline Senior Center.

Molten Fuel Cell Demonstration Project - $400,000

The facility will demonstrate the cost-effectiveness of fuel cell technology and its applicability to other wastewater treatment facilities nationwide.  This is the first fuel cell plant of this design and the first such plant to rely solely on sludge digester gas generated by a wastewater treatment facility. 

West Hylebos Wetlands Boardwalk Replacement - $72,750

The boardwalk was constructed in 1991 when the West Hylebos Wetlands State Park was opened. The park is considered one of Seattle’s best urban nature walks.”  The boardwalk enables 30,000 to 35,000 visitors each year enjoy one of Puget Sound’s last remaining forested bog wetlands.

White Center Community Facility, King County - $72,750

The funds will be used by the Boys and Girls Clubs of King County to fund a portion of the $2.4 million rehabilitation of the Greenbridge Community Center located at the Greenbridge HOPE VI project in White Center.  The primary user of the Community Center is the Boys and Girls Club which offers recreation, youth, afterschool, and homework support programs for low income children and teens living at Greenbridge. 

The following is a list of initiatives in and around the Ninth District that were funded under the Labor and Health and Human Services appropriations bill that was passed as part of a larger Omnibus bill.

Marine Science and Technology (MaST) Center, Highline Community College - $320,000

The MaST center will provide opportunities for the community in the areas of environmental health, science, and technology education.  The MaST’s programs will increase environmental health awareness, literacy, and promote stewardship of environmental and business related health issues.  Training will include topics such as urban water quality, preserving marine dependent habitats, and minimizing ecological impacts of toxins released in the water.  The facility will be used to promote science and technology education to K-12, community college students, and community members, while providing training opportunities in science and technology to K-12 teachers. 

New Futures Children and Family Advocacy Program - $320,000

New Futures serves King County, Washington’s poorest, most isolated children with child and family centers in three of the region’s toughest neighborhoods. The heart of their work is child and family programs.  Their after-school program serves children who are at the greatest risk of failing in school.  Pre-K programs offer child and family literacy and parenting skills, and youth programs provide a supportive environment where teens develop a positive support network with peers, and build relationships with adults. 

Life Sciences II-III Building, University of Washington - $1.5 million

The Life Sciences II building will house the Department of Bioengineering and will include instructional research laboratories, offices for faculty, students and staff, academic advising and administration.  The LS-II facility will support integrated research and education in five bioengineering thrust areas: Distributed Diagnosis and Home Healthcare; Molecular Bioengineering and Nanotechnology; Medical Imaging and Research; Computational Bioengineering; and Engineering Biomaterials. 

Information Technology Center, Tacoma Community College - $450,000  

The principal focus of this project is to provide the community with expanded computer resources.  These computers will not only increase general student access but also expand computer literacy. 

Experience Music Project - $430,000

This funding will be used to create a living archive of interviews with musicians, producers, and key players that have helped shape one of America’s most enduring legacies—American popular music. This archive will be made available for use by scholars, students, educators, journalists, and museum curators, enabling them to contribute to the preservation and enhancement of the rich tradition of music in America and beyond.

Center for Learning and Technology, Pacific Lutheran University - $950,000  

Pacific Lutheran University is constructing a Center for Learning and Technology that will house its Department of Mathematics, Department of Computer Science and Computer Engineering, Business School, and the Math, Engineering and Science Achievement (MESA) Program, which has a proven track record of success in starting underrepresented minority and female public school students in grades K-12 on the path to college. 

Center for Pediatric Bioethics, Children’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center in Seattle, WA - $340,000  

This funding will support the expansion of research into critical areas of children’s health nationwide while promoting the highest standards of medical ethics and protections for patient’s rights in pediatric research. 

The following is a list of initiatives in and around the Ninth District that were funded under the Energy and Water appropriations bill that was passed as part of a larger Omnibus bill.

Green/Duwamish Ecosystem Restoration - $1.25 million  

Congress authorized the Green/Duwamish Ecosystem Restoration Project for construction in the Water Resources Development Act of 2000.  The majority of the identified restoration sites have been identified and the local governments have committed the funds necessary to move forward. 

Puget Sound and Adjacent Waters Restoration - $500,000 

Funding will allow the Corps to continue a habitat restoration program throughout the Puget Sound basin that was authorized by Congress in the Water Resources Development Act of 2000.

Seahurst Park Seawall Removal and Beach Restoration - $150,000 

The existing seawall has eroded the beach and damaged the fish habitat during the past thirty years.

Puget Sound Nearshore Marine Habitat Restoration - $525,000 

This is a habitat restoration project in the nearshore, estuary and marine areas of Puget Sound, a vital element of salmon recovery in the basin.