Omnibus Spending Bill Includes Over $9 Million in Funding Requests for Inland Area

Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Joe Baca (D-Rialto) joined a bipartisan majority in the House of Representatives to support an omnibus spending package that makes strong investments in education, health care, and energy security.  H.R. 1105, the FY 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act, was approved by a 245 - 178 vote.

“With this spending bill, Congress is making an investment towards the future of American families,” said Rep. Baca.  “This responsible legislation protects essential funding that President Bush’s budget for Fiscal Year 2009 would have decimated.  While today’s budget bill is not perfect, it will help send more Californians to college, invest more funds in health care, increase funding for renewable energy and give our law enforcement officers more of the tools they need to effectively fight crime.”

H.R. 1105 is written to work in harmony with the economic recovery package President Obama signed into law earlier this month.  The legislation makes immediate investments that address the country’s needs, while also investing in America’s long term economic strength. 

The bill also includes over $9.2 million in project funding requests made by Rep. Baca.  The funding from these requests will directly benefit the Inland community by supporting important water, transportation, law enforcement, education, and community development projects.  Notable local projects funded in the legislation include:

• $5 million for the Inland Empire Regional Water Recycling Project (jointly requested with Reps. Calvert and Drier, and Senators Boxer and Feinstein);
• $570,900 to California State University, San Bernardino for their Twin Tower project;
• $475,000 to the City of San Bernardino for the I-10/Cherry and I-10/Citrus Interchange Reconstruction projects;
• $475,000 to the City of Ontario for the I-10 and Fourth Street Interchange at the Grove Avenue Corridor;
• $300,000 to the City of Rialto for new Police Department Surveillance Cameras;
• $285,000 to the City of Rialto for the Metrolink Transit Station Expansion Project;
• $266,000 to the Community Hospital of San Bernardino for facilities improvements and new equipment;
• $250,000 to the Para Los Ninos Family Resource Center in Ontario; and
• $114,000 to the San Bernardino National Forest Association for the training of youth in conservation-related work. 

“The community and environmental projects funded in this bill provide vital opportunities to our Inland residents,” added Rep. Baca.  “From fixing our roads, to strengthening local law enforcement and providing area residents with clean drinking water – this federal attention will help to ensure the Inland area is a better place for families to raise their children and put down roots.”