Oberstar includes Minnesota projects in
National Spending Bill
Washington DC
- Money to put Minnesota forest land into conservation and help Grand Rapids
build a new wastewater treatment plant, was included in a $27 billion spending
bill that passed the U.S. House today. The Interior and Environmental
Appropriations Bill funds the nation's public parks, lands and environmental
program; the Minnesota
appropriations in the bill were included at the request of Congressman Jim
Oberstar.
The fiscal year 2008 Interior
Appropriations bill provides a $1 million grant to Grand Rapids to help with the construction of
a new wastewater treatment plant. The city's current plant is at the end
of its useful life and needs to be reconstructed. "Clean water is
important to everyone," said Oberstar. "Grand
Rapids is near the headwaters of the Mississippi
River, so everyone who lives downstream, benefits from a good
wastewater treatment plant in that city. This is a good investment."
The Koochiching Forest Legacy Project
will receive $1.75 million to help purchase forest land adjacent to the Superior National Forest
near International
Falls. "This
is an important conservation project that ensures public access for outdoor
recreational uses for generations to come," said Oberstar. The
project will also ensure that habitat is
protected for animals like the Canadian lynx, the bald eagle and the timber
wolf.
On the national level, the Interior
Appropriations bill reverses years of neglect by the Bush administration when
it comes to funding for pollution control programs. Since 2001, funding
for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been cut by 29 percent in
inflation-adjusted terms. This bill begins to reverse that decline by
increasing EPA funding by nearly five percent over last year's levels.
Funding for national parks will increase by 9 percent and the U.S. Forest
Service will get a 10 percent increase in funding.
"Congress
is under new leadership. We understand that we have to invest in a
clean environment for our children and grandchildren," said Oberstar.
