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

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Kendrick B. Meek (D-FL) and the U.S. House of Representatives approved on Monday, December 17th 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 11 of the 12 appropriations bills for fiscal year 2008, will fund 14 of the 15 Cabinet departments, several independent government agencies, and the District of Columbia government.

"From improving transportation congestion in our region to increasing the number of law enforcement personnel on our streets to supporting youth outreach programs, these federal dollars will serve vital community needs," said Congressman Meek. "The efforts of Democrats in Congress have produced tangible results that will improve the everyday lives of South Floridians."

In total, Congressman Meek has helped secured $14,316,000 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 - $3,400,000 (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.

Pediatric Brain Tumor Institute - $1,600,000 (recipient, Miami Children's Hospital)

Miami Children's Hospital Brain Tumor Program - First in Florida The Brain Tumor Program offers multidisciplinary care to children with brain and spinal cord tumors. MCH treats more pediatric brain tumor patients than any other hospital in the state. Equipped with cutting-edge neuro-navigation devices, a dedicated team of pediatric neurosurgeons, led by Dr. Ragheb, are able to successfully perform the most difficult and complicated surgeries. To enhance the surgeons' capabilities, the program is acquiring intraoperative equipment. Medical oncology care is provided in conjunction with the MCH Cancer Center and includes the latest drug protocols. Several research projects developing novel techniques and treatment options for children with brain tumors are underway.

Virginia Key Beach - $1,000,000 (recipient, Army Corps of Engineers)

In June 1945, Virginia Key Beach was established as the only public beach and recreation facility for what historically was known as Miami's "colored beach." The establishment of the beach was a significant victory during the early days of the Civil Rights movement. Virginia Key Beach Park served as a locale for the South Florida community until the Park was transferred to the City of Miami and closed in 1982. In June 1999, a group of citizens called the Virginia Key Beach Park Civil Rights Task Force was established in response to plans of private development of the beach park. Later that year, the Miami City Commission established the Virginia Key Beach Park Trust to oversee the development of the historic Park property. The Trust has been working to restore and preserve this historical treasure. In August 2002, the site was placed on the National Register of Historic Places and given a Florida Historical Marker. The 82.5 acre property is located at 3861 Rickenbacker Causeway.

7th Avenue Transit Village - $500,000 (recipient, Miami-Dade County)

The 7th Avenue Transit Village Project is a mixed-use development project that will be a multi-modal hub located in the heart of Liberty City, one of Miami-Dade's oldest and most celebrated communities. This project will create economic growth and community redevelopment opportunities for the communities in District 3. Miami-Dade Transit's Transit Village will be built in the community to ultimately enhance current transportation services and revitalize the area located at the Southeast corner of 7th Avenue and 62nd Street, and provide immediate access to I-95.

Overtown Youth Center Programs - $235,000 (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 - $234,000 (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.

Camillus House - $195,000 (recipient, Camilus House)

Serving the South Florida community since 1960, Camillus House is a non-profit organization that provides humanitarian services to poor and homeless men, women and children. Camillus offers a full continuum of services that includes food, shelter, housing, rehabilitative treatment, and health care.

Opa Locka COPS Progam - $141,000 (recipient, City of Opa Locka)

Miami Gardens COPS Program - $141,000 (recipient, City of Miami Gardens)

COPS provides grants to tribal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to hire and train community policing professionals, acquire and deploy cutting-edge crime-fighting technologies, and develop and test innovative policing strategies. COPS-funded training helps advance community policing at all levels of law enforcement - from line officers to law enforcement executives - as well as others in the criminal justice field. Because community policing is by definition inclusive, COPS training also reaches state and local government leaders and the citizens they serve. This broad range of programs helps COPS offer agencies support in virtually every aspect of law enforcement, and it's making America safer, one neighborhood at a time.

Miami Weed & Seed - Operation Save Our Streets - $94,000 (recipient, Miami-Dade Weed & Seed)

Miami/Miami-Dade Weed & Seed, Inc. is a non-profit community based organization that works for the betterment of residents in Liberty City and Little Haiti to alleviate the ills associated with crime, drugs, trafficking, environmental and health related issues.

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

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