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Washington, D.C. - Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) today announced that he has secured $1.22 million in new federal funding for two Broome County projects. Hinchey used his position on the House Appropriations Committee to secure $1 million for a Binghamton University microelectronics research project and $220,000 for the Vestal Police Department to acquire a mobile firing range for its officers. The funds are part of the Science, the Departments of State, Justice, and Commerce, and Related Agencies (SSJC) Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2006, which is expected to pass the House later today.
"With $1 million in new federal funding, Binghamton University will be able to further expand its work with microelectronics research, which in turn will benefit our nation's space exploration efforts," Hinchey said. "On a separate front, Vestal residents will be very well served by having a police force that is going to be more adequately and easily trained in firing weapons. The new training facility will allow for officers to train on a more regular basis without an added cost to local taxpayers."
Binghamton University’s Small Scale Systems Packaging Center develops and evaluates new materials, products and processes for key microelectronics applications, and provides a vital link between research and the manufacturing and assembly of microelectronics that integrates devices into systems. The $1 million in new federal funds will be used to leverage tens of millions of dollars in state and private sector resources to further enable the growth of the Center. Specifically, the Center will tackle pressing challenges presented by small-scale systems integration and manufacturing that can be applied to the science of space exploration. With a focus on developing small-scale systems that are lightweight and low cost, the Center will contribute to developing capabilities and supporting research and technology that will enable sustained and affordable space exploration.
The Vestal Police Department will use its $220,000 in federal money to purchase a firing range trailer that will allow for handgun, shotgun, and rifle training. Since the Town of Vestal has no firing range, the police department has been forced to use a privately-owned outdoor range in Tioga County. This has resulted in the loss of training time due to travel time and the department also incurs significant overtime costs because of the limited availability of range time. Many times the department has to pay overtime to keep the road patrols for the town at minimum levels during the range periods. Additionally, officers are also sometimes forced to train in less than favorable weather conditions due to the lack of available range times.
"I am delighted to have helped secure these funds for Broome County and look forward to using my seat on the House Appropriations Committee to bring home even more money in the future," Hinchey said
The Senate is expected to approve the SSJC Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2006 tomorrow. The measure then moves to the White House where the president is expected to sign it into law. The SSJC Appropriations bill is one of ten spending bills Congress is required to pass annually.
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