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This is an official Web Site of the
United States House of Representatives Congressman Maurice D. Hinchey, U.S. House of Representatives 2431 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Phone - 202/225-6335 |
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Contact: Wendy Darwell (202) 225-6335
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 22, 1999
HINCHEY ANNOUNCES BUDGET DEAL'S BENEFITS FOR SOUTHERN TIER
BINGHAMTON - In a press conference at the Binghamton Federal Building, U.S. Rep. Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) discussed the budget package passed by Congress last week and its impact on the Southern Tier. Hinchey highlighted funding for local projects, including additional funding for improvements to sewage treatment plants on the Susquehanna River and funding for the Tioga County Rural Economic Area Partnership (REAP) program.
"After months of delays by the Republican leadership and weeks of negotiations, we finally reached a budget agreement that has its priorities straight: funding is included for improving our schools, making higher education more affordable, putting more cops on the streets and protecting the environment," said Hinchey. "Although the budget package wasn't perfect, Democrats secured a number of major victories."
Congress completed final action last week on the remaining spending bills for the 2000 fiscal year. Spending bills passed for FY2000 provide more than $70 million in earmarks secured by Hinchey for the 26th Congressional District, including more than $50 million for projects in Broome and Tioga counties.
"As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, I'm pleased to say that I was able to secure funding for key items right here in the Southern Tier," Hinchey said. "Nearly $1 million will be available for continued improvements to sewage treatment plants on the Susquehanna River, complementing the $4.3 million award I secured last year for the Binghamton-Johnson City plant. This year's appropriations bills also included approximately $250,000 for the Tioga REAP Zone."
The VA-HUD Appropriations bill provided $998,000 for improvements to sewage treatment plants along the Susquehanna River to improve the river's health. This award is in addition to a $4.3 million earmark that Hinchey secured in last year's bill. The Agriculture Appropriations bill included a $1 million earmark for the nation's four REAP Zones, a U.S. Department of Agriculture pilot program to redevelop rural economies. The four REAP Zones, including the Tioga County Zone, are expected to split the funding. Hinchey previously announced more than $50 million in earmarks he secured in the Defense Appropriations bill for contracts at Lockheed Martin Federal Systems and Eureka Tents/Johnson Worldwide Associates.
Hinchey also highlighted key victories secured for national programs in the budget negotiations that will benefit the region. The final spending bill includes:
·$1.3 billion to continue President Clinton's initiative to put 100,000 new
teachers in America's classrooms. This appropriation will provide for the hiring
of 2,688 new teachers in New York State this year. The class-size reduction
initiative is designed to hire additional teachers in grades 1-3 to bring the
average class size down to 18 students. The Republican proposal would have
eliminated funding for this initiative.
·$253 million increase for 21st
Century Community Learning Centers. The Community Learning Centers program helps
schools provide enriching after-school activities for children and young teens.
The additional funding will allow more schools to participate in the program.
The Republican proposal would not have provided any additional funding for the
program.
·Increased funding for higher education programs, including raising
the maximum Pell Grant award from $3,125 a year to $3,300; a $2 million increase
for Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, which help the neediest
students pay for college; and a $64 million increase for Work Study
programs.
·$920 million to extend the community-oriented policing program
(COPS). This appropriation is a down payment on a five-year plan to put 50,000
more police officers on our neighborhood streets. More than 10,000 officers have
already been hired in New York State in the program's first five years. The
Republican budget proposal zeroed out funding for the COPS program.
·$470
million for the Lands Legacy Initiative and more than $20 million for stateside
funding of the Land and Water Conservation Fund. These appropriations will allow
the federal government and state governments to preserve green and open spaces
and to acquire ecologically important land threatened by development and urban
sprawl.
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