Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Bud Cramer (Ala.-05), a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, announced that the U.S. House of Representatives approved on Monday the conference agreement for the Fiscal Year 2008 Consolidated Appropriations Act.

“As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, I have fought to ensure that Congress supports North Alabama’s funding priorities and allows for its continued growth,” said Cramer.  “This funding will help ensure that North Alabama remains a great place to live, work, and raise a family.”

The following are North Alabama projects in the Agriculture Appropriations section of the Fiscal Year 2008 Consolidated Appropriations Act:

• $600 million of drought relief funding for farmers in North Alabama and across the country who were adversely affected by the 2007 drought.
• $449,000 for the Precision Agriculture Alabama project.
• $445,000 for precision agriculture research at the Tennessee Valley Research Center in Belle Mina.

“Most of North Alabama continues to suffer through one of the worst droughts in history,” said Cramer.  “While I am pleased that we are able to extend federal relief efforts, more work must be done to help Alabama farmers.  I will continue to point out to my House colleagues and Administration officials the hardships North Alabama farmers are facing and I will continue to push for further relief.”

The following are North Alabama projects in the Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations section of the Fiscal Year 2008 Consolidated Appropriations Act:

• $42 million for NASA's Lunar Precursor and Robotic Program (LPRP) for the Lunar Lander mission.  The LPRP is based at Marshall.
• $20 million for NASA's Lunar Precursor and Robotic Program (LPRP) program management office based at Marshall.
• $1.175 million for materials development, testing and safety improvements to the Space Shuttle and Ares launch systems.  Representative Cramer secured this funding with Senator Richard Shelby.
• $611,000 for the University of Alabama in Huntsville to help continue operations of its Nano and Micro Devices Laboratory.
• $564,000 for the Advanced Space Propulsion Materials Research Center at the Alabama A&M University Research Institute.  Representative Cramer secured this funding with Senator Richard Shelby.

Cramer said, "This year, NASA has taken giant steps towards realizing its space exploration vision.  This agreement provides funding to help Marshall and the entire North Alabama space community continue to play a critical role in NASA's space plans."

Also included in the Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations section of the Fiscal Year 2008 Consolidated Appropriations Act:

• $423,000 for the Alabama Statewide Mapping and Height Modernization project.  Representative Cramer secured this funding with Senator Richard Shelby.
• $423,000 for the National Children’s Advocacy Center to support comprehensive services for child abuse victims in North Alabama.

The following are North Alabama projects in the Energy and Water Appropriations section of the Fiscal Year 2008 Consolidated Appropriations Act:

• $984,000 to support the University of North Alabama’s efforts to employ new energy conservation and efficiency measures.  Representative Cramer secured this funding with Representative Robert Aderholt.
• $747,302 to support flood control efforts and other improvements along Pinhook Creek in downtown Huntsville.
• $492,000 for the Alabama A&M University Research Institute’s Integrated Environment Research and Services program.

The following are North Alabama projects in the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations section of the Fiscal Year 2008 Consolidated Appropriations Act:

• $282,000 for the HudsonAlpha Institute of Biotechnology.  Representative Cramer also secured $316,000 for HudsonAlpha in the Labor-HHS Appropriations section of the Fiscal Year 2008 Consolidated Appropriations Act.
• $200,000 for the Alabama A&M Research Institute for Small Business Training and Development.  Representative Cramer secured this funding with Senator Richard Shelby.
• $175,000 for robotics training equipment for John C. Calhoun Community College.  Representative Cramer secured this funding with Representative Robert Aderholt.

The following are North Alabama projects in the Interior Appropriations Section of the Fiscal Year 2008 Consolidated Appropriations Act:

• $492,200 for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements in the City of Muscle Shoals.
• $129,940 for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements at the Jackson County Industrial park.
• $94,440 for renovations to Ivy Green in Tuscumbia.  Representative Cramer also secured $98,000 for Ivy Green in the Transportation-HUD section of the Fiscal Year 2008 Consolidated Appropriations Act.

The following are North Alabama projects in the Labor-HHS Appropriations section of the Fiscal Year 2008 Consolidated Appropriations Act:

• $316,000 for the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology.  Representative Cramer also secured $282,000 for HudsonAlpha in the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations section of the Fiscal Year 2008 Consolidated Appropriations Act.
• $243,000 for construction of a Health and Science Building at the University of North Alabama.
• $195,000 for construction of a pedestrian bridge at Huntsville Hospital.
  $73,000 for renovations and expansion of the Limestone Community Care Medical Clinic.
• $73,000 for construction of a new HEALS Dental Clinic.

The following are North Alabama projects in the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations section of the Fiscal Year 2008 Consolidated Appropriations Act:

• $20 million for Phase II construction of a Systems Software Engineering Annex at Redstone Arsenal.  Representative Cramer secured this funding with Senator Richard Shelby.
• $2 million for construction of the Child Care Development Center at Redstone Arsenal.

The following are BRAC 2005 related projects at Redstone in the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations section of the Fiscal Year 2008 Consolidated Appropriations Act:

• $73.6 million for construction of the Von Braun III Complex at Redstone Arsenal.
• $30 million for construction of the Army Material Command Headquarters at Redstone Arsenal.

“This agreement helps ensure that Redstone will be ready for the arrival of its new commands as well as demonstrates our further commitment to our military’s families,” said Cramer.

The following are North Alabama projects in the Transportation-HUD Appropriations section of the Fiscal Year 2008 Consolidated Appropriations Act.  Representative Cramer secured funding for each of these projects with Senator Richard Shelby:

• $1.225 million for the Multimodal Downtown Parking/Dallas Branch Greenway Development project.
• $980,000 for construction of the Church Street Overpass in Huntsville.
• $735,000 for Winchester Road improvements in Madison County.
• $539,000 for improvements to the Scottsboro Municipal Airport.
• $490,000 for improvements to Wall Triana Highway in Madison County.
  $294,000 for the National Children’s Advocacy Center.
• $196,000 for improvements at the Huntsville Museum of Art.
• $98,000 for renovations to Ivy Green in Tuscumbia.  Representative Cramer also secured $94,440 for Ivy Green in the Interior Appropriations section of the Fiscal Year 2008 Consolidated Appropriations Act.

Representative Cramer has served on the House Appropriations Committee since 1998.  He is a member of the House Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Defense; the Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development; and the Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government.

The conference agreement for the FY 2008 Consolidated Appropriations Act will provide funding for the entire federal government, except the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD).  Funding for DoD was signed into law in November. 

The FY 2008 Consolidated Appropriations Act now moves to the Senate for consideration.