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Jenni Terry, 202-225-8490

July 19, 2007

Alexander Earmarks Several Projects in Labor, Health and Human Services, Education Bill

 

Washington, D.C. –U.S. Rep. Rodney Alexander, R-Quitman, today announced the following earmarks have been included in the House Appropriations Labor, Health and Human Services, Education Subcommittee appropriations bill (Labor-HHS).

Alexander, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, worked to secure the following projects:

● University of Louisiana at Monroe’s College of Pharmacy                                                          $300,000
Alexander secured an earmark in the amount of $300,000 to provide the University of Louisiana at Monroe’s College of Pharmacy with state-of-the-art classrooms, laboratory and clinics needed to properly support its existing Health Science programs.

● Louisiana Tech University’s IDEA Place and SciTech Classroom                                              $250,000
Louisiana Tech University received an earmark will go towards the purchase of exhibits for the university’s IDEA Place and for equipment for the SciTech Classroom. 

● Louisiana Delta Community College                             $200,000
This earmark will enable Louisiana Delta Community College to continue its job-training program, which serves 12 parishes in the region.

● Northeast Louisiana Family Literacy Consortium      $200,000
Alexander earmarked $200,000 for the Northeast Louisiana Family Literacy Consortium, which works to provide comprehensive family literacy services through National Even Start Association centers.

● Rapides Parish Career Solutions Center                       $200,000
Through this earmark, totaling $200,000, the Rapides Parish Career Solutions Center will continue its mission of being a hub for businesses to secure a skilled workforce and where potential employees can gain skills training through workshops, incumbent worker training and on-the-job training contracts.

● Point Coupee Better Access Community Health          $100,000
Alexander secured this earmark for Point Coupee Better Access Community Health to continue and expand its Diabetic Outreach Project.

“These projects address some of the greatest needs in the 5th District and the entire state – improving education, strengthening our economy and workforce, and making quality, affordable health care more available,” Alexander said.

“By investing into programs that have a track record of success, these earmarks are a surefire way to assist the 5th District with addressing these needs.”

Alexander said he is pleased these earmarks for the 5th District were included in the Labor-HHS bill, despite heavy opposition by some lawmakers who advocated doing away with all earmarks.

“Though these earmarks may not meet all the needs of the projects, they will be a great help to these groups as they continue to serve the community,” Alexander said.

The Labor-HHS bill passed the House of Representatives on Thursday, and the earmarks awaits final approval in the joint House-Senate Conference report. Alexander said it is important to note that these numbers are not final or guaranteed, but their inclusion in the House bill is a step in the right direction toward achieving federal funding for these important projects.

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