Press
Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - December
19, 2007
Contact: BRIAN PERRY: 601-932-4647
PICKERING:
$70 MILLION FOR THIRD CONGRESSIONAL
DISTRICT PROJECTS
$10.4 million
in funding for Jackson-Metro
area projects
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Congressman
Chip Pickering announces more than
$70 million in federal funding
for projects in Mississippi’s
Third Congressional District, $10.4
million of which goes to Jackson-Metro
area projects.
The House of Representatives passed
the omnibus bill (HR 2764) today,
encompassing 11 of the 12 annual
appropriation bills, and providing
$473.5 billion in discretionary
spending for fiscal year 2008. It
includes $70 billion for military
operations in Iraq and Afghanistan,
and $11 billion for a border fence,
emergency drought relief, and funding
for veterans. The Senate already
passed the measure and President
George W. Bush is expected to sign
it.
“We were able to secure
critical funding for agriculture,
energy, infrastructure, health
and research projects across the
state,” Pickering said. The
legislation contains more than
$300 million for projects in, or
partnering with, Mississippi. The
1.6% across-the-board budget cut
negotiated by House conservatives
and the White House to reduce spending
will affect some projects.
Pickering continued, “I
enjoyed working with Senators Cochran
and Lott to enact many of these
priorities that, among other projects,
address important infrastructure
and transportation needs in the
Jackson-Metro area. Safe, reliable
and efficient transportation is
essential to a vibrant economy,
quality of life, and attracting
new jobs to Mississippi.”
Jackson-Metro
Projects:
$2,940,000 – East
Metropolitan Corridor*
$2,000,000 – Jackson
Evers International Airport*
$1,476,000 – Flora
Drinking Water and Wastewater
Construction Project**
$1,470,000 – I-55/Gluckstadt
Interchange Improvements**
$735,000 – Madison
Historic Gateway, Town Square
Project**
$735,000 – East
Brandon Bypass**
$492,000 – Strategic
Biomass Initiative – Mississippi
Technology Alliance
$196,800 – Ridgeland
Water Protection Project**
$196,800 – West
Rankin Utility Authority**
$146,000 – Center
for Innovation and Entrepreneurial
Services – Mississippi
Technology Alliance**
$61,100 – Law Enforcement
Technology – Smith County
Sheriff’s Department
*Cochran/Pickering
Projects
**Cochran/Lott
Projects
Two of Pickering’s long-term
projects in Congress also received
funding in this legislation. The
measure includes $188 million in
funding for the Strategic Petroleum
Reserve, $24.6 million of which
is to acquire land at the new site. The
Energy Policy Act of 2005 included
the Pickering Strategic Petroleum
Reserve Amendment that directed
the Department of Energy to select
one or more new sites, and to commence
with the administrative and environmental
processes necessary to create additional
reserve facilities. This led to
the selection of the Richton, Mississippi
salt domes as a future SPR facility
location.
The measure also includes $868,875
for Pickering's National Veterinary
Medical Service Act signed into
law in 2003. The act encourages
veterinary assistance in underserved
areas to guard against foreign
and domestic disease outbreaks
or agro-terrorist threats by helping
graduates repay student loans for
their term of service.
Congressman
Chip Pickering represents
Mississippi’s Third Congressional
District and serves on the House
Energy and Commerce Committee. This
is his sixth term.
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