LTC 170-2007 Federal Appropriations UpdateFROM: Jorge M. Gonzalez, City ManagerC -
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DATE: July 16, 2007
SUBJECT: FEDERAL APPROPRIATIONS UPDATE
The purpose of this LTC is to provide the Mayor and City Commission with an update on the
City's Federal appropriations requests. I am pleased to report that as of last week, three
earmarks totaling $1,975,000 are included in House and Senate appropriations bills.
Information about each individual appropriation is as follows:
Atlantic Greenway Corridor Network
Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen has included $500,000 for this project in the House of
Representatives' FY 2008 Transportation, Treasury, HUD & Independent Agencies
Appropriations Bill.
Gang and Drug Prevention (After-School) Program
Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz has included $725,000 for the City's After
School Program in the House of Representatives' FY 2008 Commerce, Justice, Science &
Related Agencies Appropriations Bill. This program received $50,000 in the 2006
Appropriations Bill.
City Center Housing Initiative
Senator Mel Martinez has included $750,000 for the City Center Housing Initiative (Allen,
London House, and Barclay) in the Senate's FY 2008 Transportation, Treasury, HUD &
Independent Agencies Appropriations Bill.
This represents the first step in a process that should result in significant Federal funds for
each project. Once the Senate and House pass each bill on their respective floors, members
will convene in conference committees, to negotiate a final project list.
While the Administration has confidence that the final project lists will include some level of
funding for each project, the City's lobbyists will work over the next few weeks with the City's
representatives to ensure the highest level of funding in the final bill.
West Avenue Bridge
In addition to these 2008 appropriations, both the House and Senate have approved a
separate piece of legislation with technical amendments to the Transportation Equity Act
(TEA-LU), which is the 6-year transportation authorization bill passed in 2005. The original
legislation included an $800,000 authorization forthe WestAvenue Bridge project. The most
recent legislation includes an amendment sponsored by Representative Debbie
Wasserman-Schultz that provides this project with an additional $620,000. The only
remaining step for this bill is final approval in a House and Senate Conference Committee.
I will continue to update you as the Federal appropriations process continues. In the
meantime, if you have any questions or need additional information, please do not hesitate
to contact me. Additionally, should you wish to contact the Members listed above and thank
them for their support of these projects, either by phone or through a letter, their contact
information is as follows:
Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (Atlantic Greenway Corridor)
2160 Rayburn House Office Bldg.
Washington, D.C. 20510
DC Phone: (202) 225-3931
Main District Phone: (305) 220-3281
Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (After School Program)
118 Cannon House Office Bldg.
Washington, D.C. 20510
DC Phone: (202) 225-7931
Main District Phone: (954) 437-3936
Senator Mel Martinez (City Center Housing Initiative)
356 Russell Senate Office Bldg.
Washington, D.C. 20510
DC Phone: (202) 224-3041
Main District Phone: (407) 254-2573
JMG/HF/kc
c: Executive Staff
Fred Beckmann, Director, Public Works Department
Kevin Smith, Director, Parks Department
Vivian Guzman, Director, Neighborhood Services Department
Kevin Crowder, Director, Economic Development Division
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