Bill Passage To Aid SCV

The House of Representatives gave final approval today for the Consolidated Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2004, which includes $4.5 million in funding for the Santa Clarita Valley...     “The passage of today’s omnibus bill marks a tremendous victory for the 25th Congressional District,” McKeon, R-Santa Clarita, said in a statement. “This measure will significantly enhance the quality of life of the working men, women and families of our community.”
    The appropriations bill contains funding for some of Santa Clarita’s most important projects, including $3 million for the cross valley connector — the 8.5 mile stretch of road that will link Interstate 5 and state Route 14.
    The bill also provides $800,000 for the Environmental Protection Agency and State and Tribal Assistance Grants for the second phase of the Castaic Lake Water Agency’s reclaimed water program. The funds will be used for the construction of pumping stations, pipelines and other aspects of the reclaimed water program.
    The program was designed to ensure clean and affordable water for the residents and small businesses of the Santa Clarita. CLWA has completed the first phase of the project, and the next phase will move beyond study and design, into actual construction of the equipment.
    College of the Canyons received $400,000 to purchase equipment for its University Center, as well as $100,000 for its Public Safety Academy.
    The COC University Center is a state-of-the-art facility where local residents have the opportunity to earn bachelor and graduate degrees from contracted four-year institutions.
    The Public Safety Academy will bring together existing law enforcement training programs with training for industry and other public facilities under one roof. The academy will build on a foundation consisting of existing curricula, partnerships between local law enforcement, business and industry, and higher education and public agencies who have experience with a broad range of security issues.
    California Institute of the Arts’ Integrated Media Program will receive $200,000 for an interdisciplinary laboratory that combines art, science and technology with the aim of developing new creative strategies, techniques and tools to support artists and the industries they serve.
    The funds will be used to design and develop or purchase state-of-the-art hardware and software to support training and experimentation in animation, art, graphic design and digital media development, film editing and projection, music recording and production, and lighting, and set and sound design.
    “As a member of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, I am delighted that funding has been set aside for our community’s top postsecondary institutions,” McKeon said.
    The bill will now go to the Senate for consideration and if approved there, will head to the president’s desk to be signed into law.