Congresswoman Johnson successfully secures over $126 million in federal funding for North Texas

Washington, DC – (Monday, December 17, 2007) –  Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson tonight announced that the House of Representatives passed the fiscal year 2008 Omnibus Appropriations bill which included federal funds for programs and projects that will benefit the 30th Congressional District of Texas. The Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations bill includes eleven appropriations bills for fiscal year 2008

"The residents of the 30th Congressional District will truly benefit from the projects and programs funded in this bill," said Congresswoman Johnson. "Overall, this bill will improve our region's infrastructure, provide more and better opportunities throughout our state to conduct important and innovative research, help keep our communities safe, make proactive investments in our environment, and bring opportunities to our region so that North Texas families can benefit for years to come,“ Congresswoman added

Congresswoman Johnson helped secure funding for the following projects that will benefit the 30th Congressional District.

DART Green Line – $84,500,000 

Vital funding for DART's continued build-out of the much anticipated Green Line.  The Northwest/Southeast (NW/SE) extension will ultimately link Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, Farmers Branch, Carrollton, Love Field and Downtown Dallas with Fair Park and Pleasant Grove.  The expansion will add approximately 60,000 daily riders to the system. 

Reading is Fundamental $25,043,000

For over four decades, Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) has provided new books free of charge to more than 300 million underserved children. Dallas ISD offers one of the nation’s largest RIF programs serving almost 50,000 students in grades pre-kindergarten through eight. In Texas, RIF operates in more than 1,300 sites and serves more than 500,000 children.

Dallas Floodway Extension – $12,700,000 

Flood Control Project on Trinity River in Dallas, Texas, which includes levee improvements, wetlands development and land preservation reducing flooding for 12,500 structures in the Central Business District and area neighborhoods. 

Upper Trinity River Basin Feasibility Study – $1,400,000 

Continue assessment of how best to maximize flood control on upper Trinity River region thereby reducing flood risk for more than 10,000 structures in the vicinity of downtown Dallas.  This funding will complete the general investigation work of the Dallas component.

Phoenix House $564,000 

Since opening the Dallas residential treatment facility in 2002, Phoenix House has increased access to treatment services for medically indigent youth, improved early engagement and retention of youth in treatment, and implemented family programming to educate families on how to support their adolescent in treatment and recovery.  Even with these efforts, the need for available treatment has remained high.  With the introduction of ‘cheese’ into our community, the need has become ever more critical.

Dallas Wastewater Reuse Study – $492,000 

Funding for the continuation of a study to determine the feasibility of wastewater reclamation that could serve the Trinity Lakes, irrigation, wetlands, and other recreational components of the Trinity River Corridor project.  The recycling of water has proven to be an innovative and environmentally-friendly tool for municipalities, as it frees up freshwater for domestic needs.

UT Southwestern for facilities and equipment for the sickle cell program – $487,000 

The funding would be allocated with specific regard to the sickle-cell research program at UT Southwestern.  The program is currently leading the way in disease management and it has been designated an National Institutes of Health (NIH) Center of Excellence in Sickle Cell Anemia, one of only a few in the world.  Furthermore, in a collaborative partnership, UT Southwestern and the University of Texas at Dallas have been designated by the NIH as one of ten Comprehensive Sickle Cell Centers nationwide and the only one in the southwest. 

Dallas re-entry programs $470,000  & Dallas re-entry imitative $352,500 

The City will expand current legal, casework, job training and other assistance to ex-offenders who are coming to Dallas upon release from state prisons in order to reduce recidivism. 

Baylor Research Institute – $343,000

The funding is designated to the confocal microscope which will be used to support several research programs at the Baylor Research Institute. In particular, BRI is developing vaccines based on targeting antigens to human dendritic cells (DC) via monoclonal antibodies directed against DC cell surface receptors.

The funds will be able to add and improve equipment and infrastructure to support the research, as well as, produce improved clinical therapies and ground-breaking findings that will ultimately provide a cure for sickle cell disease.

Martin Luther King Family Center in Dallas: $250,000

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Family Clinic of Dallas has been serving the Dallas County community since 1985. This service area has been designated as a Medically Underserved Area and as a Health Professional Shortage Area. The clinic provides services such as pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, internal medicine, immunizations, pharmacy, laboratory, radiology, social services, family planning, WIC, HIV/AIDS testing and counseling, dental, health education, nutrition counseling, and transportation assistance.

The purpose of this request is to assist the Martin Luther King, Jr. Family Clinic of Dallas to expand its current services so that it can better serve the community of Dallas. If approved, these appropriations will increase the capacity of the Center to implement additional services and augment our competitive edge in obtaining external support.

Dallas Police Technology $94,000

In an effort to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of public safety and allow for coordination within the department, regionally and nationally, the City of Dallas will use these funds to purchase needed e-citation equipment and systems.  The City of Dallas has purchased approximately 600 e-citation systems that are placed in each police vehicle.  The remaining equipment and/or complete systems would equip all squad cars, the motorcycle division and the mounted patrol.