Local Projects to Receive Federal Funding

Washington, DC - Congressman John Shimkus (R, Illinois-19) is pleased to announce that local projects have received federal funding in an appropriations bill that passed the House Thursday.  That bill will be voted on by the Senate this weekend, and the President has indicated he will sign it into law.

"These are earmarks that I specifically asked for within the federal appropriations process," Shimkus explained.  "And while I did not vote for passage of this bill, these projects would not be getting these funds had I not made the initial request."

"I have expressed my discontent with how much money is being spent in Washington, and my votes reflect that position.  However, I am elected to represent the people of the 19th District, and it is my job to work to get our fair share of funding," Shimkus noted.

Funded in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, Fiscal Year 2010 (HR 3288) were the following projects:

• $3 million - Relocate the entrance road for the Air National Guard Base at Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport in Springfield (Military Construction; joint request with Congressmen Aaron Schock and Phil Hare)
• $250,000 - Christian County Sheriff, Interoperable Communications Upgrades (Commerce Science and Justice)
• $110,000 - Fairfield Police Department, Emergency Communications and Equipment Upgrades (CSJ)
• $100,000 - Wayne County Sheriff, Equipment and Supplies (CSJ)
• $100,000 - Southern View Police Department, Training and Equipment (CSJ)
• $10,000 - Findlay Police Department, Equipment (CSJ)
• $200,000 - Hamilton Memorial Hospital, Electronic Medical Records Equipment (Labor, HHS and Education)
• $350,000 - Lincoln Land Community College, Hire Education Program for pre-apprenticeship program (Labor, HHS & Ed; joint request with Congressman Aaron Schock)
• $500,000 - Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, High Tech Simulation Lab for Advance Practice Nursing Students (Labor, HHS & Ed; joint request with Senator Richard Durbin)
• $100,000 - Hope Institute for Children and Families, Services to the Developmentally Disabled (Labor, HHS & Ed)
• $400,000 - Edwards County, Bone Gap Road (Transportation and HUD)
• $400,000 - City of Harrisburg, Missouri Street Hospital Access (Transportation and HUD)

All Congressional earmark requests must be posted online.  Congressman Shimkus' requests, some of which did not receive funding or were funded below the full requested level, can be viewed at www.shimkus.house.gov; click on "Transparency" under the Legislative tab; then click on "FY 2010 Appropriations Requests." 

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