Federal Appropriations Will Fund Local Medical Improvements, Education Programs

Washington, DC – Today, a bipartisan majority in the House of Representatives approved the Fiscal Year 2010 Labor, Health and Human Services appropriations bill, legislation that includes a total of $38.9 million in federal funding for projects secured by Congressman Joe Baca (D-Rialto). The bill includes funding secured by Rep. Baca for critical medical center construction and improvements in the Inland area, and civic education programs active at both the local and national level.  The legislation passed the House with a 264 to 153 vote.

“The federal dollars in this bill fund vital improvements to our Inland area medical facilities,” said Rep. Baca.  “Strengthening the health care infrastructure of Southern California is absolutely necessary to increasing access and quality of care for all area residents.  I am proud to support this responsible bill, which makes public health in the Inland Empire a top priority.”

The funding project requests made by Rep. Baca and secured in the FY 2010 Labor, Health and Human Services appropriations bill include:

• $3.4 million for the University of California Riverside School of Medicine.  The funding will be used to make capital improvements to the UCR Medical School, enabling them to open in 2012 [requested in conjunction with Reps. Ken Calvert, Jerry Lewis, and Mary Bono Mack];
• $500,000 to the St. Bernardino Medical Center in San Bernardino.  The funding will be used to elevate breast cancer treatment in the community through the purchasing of a new MRI machine;
• $35 million for the Center for Civic Education and the We The People project.  The funding will be used to fund educational programs, in the 43rd District and across the nation, that promote an understanding of and commitment to the fundamental values and principles of American constitutional democracy [request made in conjunction with 35 other Members of the House].

“I am happy to support the essential funding for the We the People program included in today’s legislation,” continued Rep. Baca.  “This civic-minded program provides textbooks and other materials to classrooms right here in the 43rd District, and all across the United States.” 

“Strengthening America’s health and education for our future generations is one of our government’s most essential tasks,” concluded Rep. Baca.  “I will continue to work with the President and my colleagues to achieve meaningful health care reforms, and I urge the Senate to quickly pass its Labor, Health and Human Services Appropriations bill so we can enact this necessary funding into law.”