U.S. Rep. Kendrick B. Meek Secures Federal Dollars for South Florida in Omnibus Appropriations Bill

 

WASHINGTON, DC –  On Tuesday evening, March 10, 2009, the Senate passed a federal appropriations bill that begins to reinvest in the American people's priorities and provides critical support for projects and programs that benefit South Florida. The Omnibus Appropriations bill, which consolidates 9 of the 12 appropriations bills for fiscal year 2009, had passed the House on February 25th.

In total, Congressman Meek has helped secure over $250 million in appropriation dollars this year, placing him in the upper echelon of lawmakers who secured federal funds for their home Congressional District and state.

A sampling of the funding for programs benefiting South Florida that Congressman Meek helped secure appears below:

Metrorail Orange Line Expansion - $20,00,000 (recipient, Miami-Dade County)

Metrorail expansion for the Orange Line includes funding to Miami-Dade County for the North Corridor. The extension runs from the existing elevated guideway just north of the Martin Luther King Jr. Metrorail station at NW 62nd Street, serving the communities along the NW 27th Avenue corridor, Miami-Dade College and the sports venues at Dolphin Stadium and Calder Race Course, to a termination point at NW 215th Street just south of Florida's Turnpike.

Overtown Youth Center Programs - $500,000 (recipient, Overtown Youth Center)

The mission of the Overtown Youth Center is to inspire and empower youth and families by fostering hope through enrichment services. OYC programs are designed to engage children in educational and recreational activities that promote their physical, cognitive, motor, social, and emotional development. After-school services are provided both at their site and within their partner schools and are coordinated closely with in-school services. During the after school hours, students attend daily educational enrichment classes focused on homework assistance, skill building, FCAT preparation, and remediation. Students participate in daily recreational activities that include culturally diverse forms of physical exercise and creative arts.

Minority Community Cancer Screening, Outreach and Prevention Education Program - $238,000 (recipient, The Haitian American Association Against Cancer, Inc.)

Established in May 1997, the Haitian American Association Against Cancer, Inc., (HAAAC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating the public, especially Haitians and Haitian-Americans about early detection and the treatment of cancer. HAAAC mission is to educate and provide information on detection services of cancer to the public, particularly, Haitians and Haitian-Americans who are underinsured and/or not being served. They also serve as a support center for cancer survivors, particularly, Haitians and Haitian-Americans, who are suffering from cancer.

Opa Locka COPS Progam - $75,000 (recipient, City of Opa Locka)

Minority Science Initiative -  $2,200,000 (recipient, Thurgood Marshall College Fund)

This initiative will help NASA in its efforts to recruit minority students to pursue careers in sciences.  The Thurgood Marshall College Fund works to increase the number of minority scholars pursuing science as a career by providing access to research experience and assistance. 

South Florida Everglades Ecosystem Restoration - $123,448,000

Technical Assistance and Economic Development Center - $196,514 (recipient, Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce)

This project is designed to revitalize existing businesses and attract new businesses to Liberty City and surrounding areas.  The program will promote the economic development of the community through technical assistance, technology development and  training and recruiting. 

Palliative Care Center - $214,000 (recipient, Miami Jewish Home and Hospital for the Aged)

U.S. Rep. Kendrick B. Meek represents the 17^th Congressional District of Florida which includes parts of Miami-Dade and Broward Counties. He serves as the lone Florida Democrat sitting on the House Committee on Ways and Means, and also sits on the House Armed Services Committee.

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