[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 192 (Thursday, December 17, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E3024-E3025]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 3288, CONSOLIDATED APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2010

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. SOLOMON P. ORTIZ

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 10, 2009

  Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3288, the 
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2010. This bill provides the necessary 
funding to sustain our agencies covered by six regular appropriations 
bills and incorporates many key projects that directly benefit our 
communities nationwide.
  I am very supportive of providing resources to ensure that quality 
programs and projects continue to receive assistance to improve 
infrastructure, expand education programs, retain jobs, and provide 
adequate equipment and service to our military personnel and veterans. 
I would like to thank my colleagues for their leadership on this bill 
and their support of projects in South Texas.
  I am happy to note that within this agreement I was able to secure 
funding for several projects benefiting my district. Through these 
appropriations, new jobs and innovative developments will continue to 
advance our community as well as contribute to the future of our 
country. Some of these projects include: $500,000 for facilities and 
equipment at the University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost 
College, $250,000 for the Texas

[[Page E3025]]

A&M Corpus Christi Adjudicated Youth Program, $150,000 for Global 
Marketing and Logistics Certification Program at the University of 
Texas at Brownsville, $300,000 for street improvements at the Robstown 
Inland Port, $500,000 for the Corpus Christi and Robstown Regional 
Intermodal Transit Facility, $700,000 for Shrimp Industry Fishing 
Effort Research Continuation in the Gulf of Mexico and throughout the 
country, $19,764,000 for Corpus Christi Naval Air Station Operational 
Facilities to support T-6 planes, $4,470,000 for the Solar Panel Array 
at Kingsville Naval Air Station, $10,200,000 for the Robstown Tactical 
Equipment Maintenance Facility, and $200,000 for the Brownsville and 
Corpus Christi Independent School Districts' joint South Texas Library 
Literacy Project.
  I want to make clear that my vote for this bill reflects solely my 
support for the aforementioned priorities. I have consistently voted 
against using federal funds to support abortion services and am pleased 
that this bill upholds those limitations so that my constituents' tax 
dollars are not used in a way inconsistent with their moral beliefs.
  My vote in favor of H.R. 3288 reflects my commitment to fund this 
nation's economic priorities and help our South Texas communities, 
educational facilities, and small businesses in the midst of a deep 
recession.

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