WASHINGTON, D.C. - The House of Representatives today approved funding for important education, economic development, public safety, and infrastructure projects across the Inland Empire today when it passed the Fiscal Year 2003 Omnibus Appropriations Conference Report. The funding was requested by Representative Joe Baca (D-Rialto) during the Fiscal Year 2003 appropriations process. The Senate is expected to pass the Conference Report this evening or tomorrow, and the President is expected to sign the measure promptly.

"Our hard work has paid off and many important community projects will now receive the support they need," Baca said. "In uncertain economic times, we have a responsibility to help our communities grow and prosper by targeting Federal funding at projects that are vital to the economic development of growing communities like ours."

"We have our differences sometimes, but our Inland Empire Delegation works very hard in a bipartisan manner to bring home Federal support and Federal dollars. I want to thank Congressman Lewis, Congressman Dreier, Congressman McKeon, Congresswomen Napolitano, Congressman Miller, Congresswoman Bono and many others from throughout California for their efforts on behalf of the Inland Empire and our state."

Inland Empire projects that were included in the Omnibus Appropriations Conference Report include:

San Bernardino County -----

$500,000 to the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools for the Virtual High Tech High School project

$800,000 to the San Bernardino Sheriffs Department for the SECURES Automated Gunshot Detection System Demonstration Project

City of San Bernardino -----

$450,000 and $225,000 to the City of San Bernardino for the Urban Stream Project

City of Fontana -----

$90,000 to the City of Fontana for the Central Park Baseball Tournament Complex


City of Rialto -----

$1.8 million for the Interstate 10 / Riverside Avenue Interchange in Rialto, California.

$150,000 to the City of Rialto for the Police Activities League (PAL) Program.
 

$50,000 to the City of Rialto for Terrorist Activities Prevention.


City of Rancho Cucamonga -----

$157,000 to the City of Rancho Cucamonga for Emergency Operations Center Technology Enhancements

$810,000 to the City of Rancho Cucamonga for Design and Construction of a Senior Center


Miscellaneous -----

$1.495 million for the Alameda Corridor East

$4.1 million for USDA agriculture science and research grants to Hispanic Serving Institutions