Kerry, Kennedy, Tsongas Announce Merrimack Valley to Receive Nearly $4 Million in Federal Funding

Press Release

Senators John Kerry and Edward Kennedy, with Congresswoman Niki Tsongas, today announced that the omnibus appropriations bill approved by Congress contains $3,964,988 in federal assistance for the Merrimack Valley region of Massachusetts. Statewide, Massachusetts initiatives received a total of more than $236 million.

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008 will fund 15 cabinet agencies and other federal agencies for Fiscal Year 2008. It includes the following appropriations bills: Agriculture, Commerce-Justice-State, Energy-Water, Foreign Operations, Interior, Labor-Health and Human Services-Education, Legislative Branch, Transportation-Treasury, and Veterans Administration-Housing and Urban Development. The bill now goes to the President's desk for his signature.

"This is a victory for crucial economic development projects throughout the region. >From transportation to health care to social services to education, this money will help make a difference in the quality of life of those who live and work in the Merrimack Valley," said Senator Kerry. "By making these investments in our communities, we are investing in our state's economic future, and that is why Senator Kennedy and Congresswoman Tsongas and I fight each year to secure federal funding for these initiatives that make a real local impact."

"In Massachusetts, we're enormously proud of our world-class hospitals, research centers and universities. They lead the nation and the world in improving the lives of our citizens," said Senator Kennedy. "These federal investments are vital to the people of the Merrimack Valley, and our whole Commonwealth, so that Massachusetts will stay at the forefront of the global economy, and future generations can reach their full potential."

"This important federal funding makes new investments in Democratic priorities like historic increases in spending for our veterans, more funding for medical research, expanding Pell Grants and other college assistance, and adding critical funding for home heating assistance for low-income families and our seniors. I am also very pleased that two important economic development projects that were included at my request were retained in the final bill. These two projects and the funding for many other valuable projects secured by Senators Kennedy and Kerry as well as former Congressman Meehan, are representative of the great partnerships that can be made between the federal, state and local government," said Congresswoman Niki Tsongas.

State Senator Steven Baddour's district benefits from many of the projects.

"This bill delivers much needed funding to many deserving projects throughout our region," said State Senator Steven Baddour. "From the I-93 Junction project, which represents thousands of new jobs, to providing support for the Methuen-Arlington neighborhood association, these federal dollars help keep our local projects alive to benefit all the residents of the Merrimack Valley. I would like to thank Senator Kerry, Senator Kennedy, and Congresswoman Tsongas for their continued work and dedication on our behalf."

Federal assistance in the omnibus bill for the Merrimack Valley region of Massachusetts includes:

Massachusetts Projects in the FY 2008 Commerce Justice Science Appropriations Conference Report
$223,250 for the Middlesex Community College regional technology police training program
$282,000 for a Essex County Heroin and Oxycontin Enforcement Program
$235,000 for the Essex County Sheriff's Office Information Sharing Program

Massachusetts Projects in the FY 2008 Labor-HHS Appropriations Conference Report
$191,593 for the Middlesex Community College Health Education Program
$195,523 for Northern Essex Community College
$162,117 for Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers
$191,593 for Emerson Hospital in Concord, MA for facilities and equipment
$229,912 for the Lowell Community Health Center

Massachusetts Projects in the FY 2008 Transportation, HUD and Related Agencies Appropriations Conference Report
$980,000 for the Lowell Riverwalk
$392,000 for the I-93 P&D Construction in Andover, Tewksbury and Wilmington
$392,000 for Merrimack Valley Bus Replacement
$73,500 for Lawrence Community Works
$245,000 for the Tri-city Community in Acton and Malden
$73,500 for a bus for the Lowell Council on Aging
$98,000 for the Methuen-Arlington Neighborhood, Inc. for planning, design and construction of a multipurpose facility for low-income residents

Source