Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Bud Cramer (Ala.-05) announced that the House Appropriations Committee approved the Fiscal Year 2008 Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations bill today.  Representative Cramer, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, announced that he included funding for statewide and local programs in this year’s bill.

Representative Cramer secured $500,000 in the CJS bill for the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) to help continue operations of its Nano and Micro Devices Laboratory.  Representative Cramer also provided $500,000 for the laboratory in the FY 2005 Omnibus Appropriations Act.

"This funding is an investment in training the next generation of engineers that will be needed by NASA and the space industry," said Cramer.  "It will enable UAH's students and researchers to focus on engineering nano and micro sensors that can operate reliably in the harsh environments experienced by launch vehicles.”

Representative Cramer also secured $250,000 for the National Children Advocacy Center (NCAC) to support comprehensive services for child abuse victims in North Alabama. “This funding will enhance the work the NCAC already does to provide their services to the children in our community that need it the most,” said Cramer.

Representative Cramer also included $250,000 for the Alabama Statewide GIS Mapping Initiative.  This funding will support the state’s efforts to produce a high resolution and large scale geospatial database of Alabama.  Representative Cramer also secured funding for the GIS Mapping Initiative in the FY 2006 Science, State, Justice, and Commerce Appropriations bill.  Cramer said, “Having a clear picture of Alabama’s geography and landscape will enable us to better prepare for severe weather and other emergencies.”

In addition to the funding Cramer included for North Alabama, the CJS Appropriations Bill also provides funding for national initiatives that benefit North Alabama programs.  This year, the Committee approved $3.2 billion for the Department of Justice for assistance to State and local law enforcement.  This total included funding to support law enforcement technologies and interoperability upgrades, efforts to combat Meth, and efforts to reduce gang violence.  The legislation also appropriated $376.9 million for Juvenile Justice Programs, which included $15 million for the Victims of Child Abuse Act that provides funding for Children’s Advocacy programs nationwide.

The CJS Appropriations bill also provided $105 million for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) program.  The MEP program funds organizations, such as the Alabama Technology Network (ATN), that provide manufacturing companies with critical technical and business assistance.  There are sixteen ATNs in Alabama, including one at Northeast Alabama Community College in Rainsville, one at Northwest-Shoals Community College in Muscle Shoals, and one at the University of Alabama in Huntsville.

The FY 2008 Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations bill now moves to the full House for consideration.