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For Immediate Release |
Contact: Michael Eagle |
Congresswoman Richardson Announces $5.6 Million in Federal Appropriations-Bill includes funding for three additional C-17 aircraft-
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Washington, DC—Congresswoman Richardson announced today that she has secured $5.6 million in federal House appropriations in the Defense Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2010. Included in the bill is $674 million for the production of three Boeing C-17 aircrafts. With this new funding, Congresswoman Richardson’s efforts have helped to secure over $2.8 billion for the production of 11 new C-17’s this year. “While I am pleased at the inclusion of C-17 funding by the Appropriations Committee, I will work with my colleagues in the House and Senate to implement a multi-year acquisition strategy for the greatest cargo aircraft this nation has ever produced,” Congresswoman Richardson said. In addition to the C-17 funding, the programs being funded in the Defense Appropriations Act of 2010 include the California State University Strategic Language Initiative and the Women in Military Service for America Memorial in Arlington, Virginia. California State University Strategic Language Initiative The California State University Strategic Language Initiative is a statewide consortium of five California State Universities, including CSU Long Beach, which strives to graduate more professionals with language and cultural knowledge and skills for an increasingly interdependent global world. The appropriations secured by the Congresswoman would help to expand the Strategic Language Initiative and provide more Californians the opportunities this program presents. In 2008, Congresswoman Richardson helped to secure $1,600,000 for the program in FY09. To repeat this programs inclusion for two years in a row and more than double its allocation is phenomenal. “The global war on terrorism and the even greater need for diplomacy has highlighted the critical necessity for strategic, multilingual skills and diplomatic expertise in our 21st century,” Congresswoman Richardson stated. The California State University Strategic Language Initiative is an eighteen month program that includes three development phases. The first is a summer intensive six week residential or extended day program that integrates language and culture courses of study. The second phase is an intensive academic year-long program that is designed to further advance language proficiency of students with a faculty mentor from within their field of study and is a native speaker of the targeted language. The final phase is a five to seven week long summer study abroad program, designed to advance students’ language proficiency and broaden their cross-cultural experience. “In our community, twenty-four students are currently studying the Mandarin language in the CSU Long Beach program,” Congresswoman Richardson noted. “Twelve are currently studying together at CSU Long Beach and the other twelve are studying abroad in Sri Lanka. To offer this strategic language program gives our students the opportunity to compete for rarely heard of jobs in the state department, CIA, FBI and other government agencies.” For eligibility criteria and for more information, students are encouraged to visit http://www.calstate.edu/acadprog/sli/AppInfo.shtml or call Congresswoman Richardson’s district office at (562) 436-3828. Women in Military Service for America Memorial Foundation In early March, Congresswoman Richardson joined First Lady Michelle Obama where they celebrated Women’s History Month and learned the vital role played by the Women in Military Service for America Memorial Foundation. The Memorial is responsible for the only national Memorial and Education Center paying tribute to all women who have ever served in our armed forces beginning with the American Revolution as well as those who now serve. Further, the Memorial serves as a recruitment and evacuation site and is also designated as a safe zone. Currently if the need should arise, the Department of Homeland Security could setup a command post at the Memorial in the event of a terrorist attack or another catastrophic event. “Former Congresswoman Juanita Millender-McDonald strongly supported the Women’s Memorial, so when I arrived, General Vaught had high expectations and passed the torch to me,” Congresswoman Richardson stated. “I met with appropriate decision makers and staff and I am grateful for the role we played in maintaining this memorial for its history and current planning usefulness.” “The names and records of service of over 100 women from our district are included in the Memorial Register for recognition and tribute,” Congresswoman Richardson stated. “With over 52,000 veterans from the 37th Congressional District, there are undoubtedly many more women who are eligible to be registered at the Memorial.” Female veterans and current soldiers should contact Congresswoman Richardson’s district office at (562) 436-3828 to learn how they can register at the Memorial. On another positive note for the 37th Congressional District, Congresswoman Richardson announced today that City of Long Beach is eligible for over $55 million for two types of recovery zone bonds ($22 million in Economic Development Bonds and $33 million in Facility Bonds) created through the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act and administered through the Treasury Department. Recovery Zone Bonds are targeted to areas particularly affected by job loss and will help local governments obtain financing for much needed economic development projects, such as public infrastructure development, at lower borrowing costs. Specifically, Recovery Zone Facility Bonds are a type of traditional tax-exempt private activity bond that may be used by private businesses in designated recovery zones to finance a broad range of depreciable capital projects. Recovery Zone Economic Development Bonds are another type of taxable Build America Bond that allow state and local governments to obtain lower borrowing costs through a new direct federal payment subsidy, for 45 percent of the interest, to finance a broad range of qualified economic development projects, such as job training and educational programs. Conclusion: To date, Congresswoman Richardson has secured over $8 million in appropriations and the 37th Congressional District has received over $66 million in Recovery Act funding. ### |
