WASHINGTON—
Congressman Parker Griffith announced today the U.S. House of Representatives has approved the Omnibus Appropriations bill.The legislation increases funding for the Constellation Program managed by the Marshall Space Flight Center and also funds several space research, transportation, justice and education projects that Griffith has worked toward since January.
The bill increases funding for NASA's Human Space Flight Budget by $300 Million and provides an increase of $75 Million for the Ares Program. Most notably, the bill includes language that would prevent any efforts by NASA to cancel or change the current Constellation program without first seeking the approval of Congress.
Griffith celebrated this victory for the Tennessee Valley saying "In addition to providing a full commitment to our space program, this bill provides for valued undertakings in the Tennessee Valley that will create jobs and improve our infrastructure at a time when we need it the most."
Griffith was able to secure funding for the following projects in the 2010 Omnibus Appropriations bill:
Redstone Arsenal - Gate 7 Access Point ($3,550,000): to construct a standard access control point to include guard house, canopy, guard booths, and a covered vehicle inspection station. Additionally, this funding will go toward demolition of the existing gate house and reconstruction of the guard house, roadways and approach zone.
Alabama A&M University - NASA Research ($500,000): to fund a dedicated High Temperature Carbon-Composite Lab within the Advanced Space Propulsion Research and Technology Center. This Center has been instrumental in creating a comprehensive, diverse and flexible pool of talent at lower labor rates in the civil service environment who facilitate research and development as well as studies and analyses of higher temperature advanced propulsion research development.
University of North Alabama - Health Science Building ($700,000): This project requests continued funding for the construction of a science and health sciences center to be located on the campus of the University.
City of Huntsville - Martin Road ($800,000): to widen Martin Road to five lanes, replace and upgrade Gate 7 at the entrance to Redstone Arsenal.
City of Huntsville - Holmes Avenue Overpass ($500,000): to extend a bridge and widen the channel for Pinhook Creek to lower flood elevation levels at a major entry point into downtown Huntsville, Alabama.
City of Huntsville - Huntsville Airport Authority Air Carrier Enhancement ($250,000): to provide funding for air carrier ramp enhancements, improved baggage operations and maintenance. This funding will also allow the airport to allow the City of Huntsville Fire Department to gain strategic access in the event of structural fires.
City of Athens - Widening of US Highway 72 ($450,000): to add additional lanes for widening of the highway under CSX railroad.
City of Ardmore - Ardmore Police Department ($20,000): to purchase digital in-car cameras for police vehicles.
Lawrence County - Criminal Justice ($40,000): to hire an investigator of sexual/cyber predator crimes.
Morgan County - Morgan County Sheriff's Department ($160,000): to replace mobile data terminals in police cruisers.
National Children's Advocacy Center (NCAC) ($350,000): to fund a Child Abuse Internship Program which will fill a gap between graduate didactic education and the training for professionals in the field. This will provide a high quality graduate internship for therapists who have a particular focus in child abuse. To recruit nationally for these students, there will be a stipend available. This will also provide funding for a part-time therapist who will supervise, train, and mentor these interns. Continuation of training grant which provides professional education for child abuse professionals from around the country and incorporates expansion of online Research Library to provide individual CACs with full access to emerging research.
