Administration Priorities Funded in Omnibus Appropriations Bill
Posted by Jean Greaux on March 11, 2009 at 5:03 PM AST

President Barack Obama today signed an omnibus appropriations bill, which provides almost $8 million dollars in funding for special projects in the Territory. The bill includes funding for the new 911 emergency communications system in the Virgin Islands, federal dollars for the solid waste system, highway constructions funds and monies for mass transit as well as land acquisition for the National Park System.

Following the bill signing, the Governor de Jongh said:

“I am gratified by the actions of Congress to fund some of my Administration’s top priorities. These projects will go a long way in creating a better and safer Virgin Islands for all our people.”

“These projects have been important priorities of my Administration and I would to thank not only our friends in the House and U.S. Senate who supported our funding requests, but, in particular, I want to acknowledge the effective leadership of Delegate Donna Christensen, who coordinated the appropriations effort with my office to include our projects in this spending bill.”

There is also funding in the bill for the territory’s healthcare facilities, shoreline protection for the St. Thomas waterfront, and wildlife conservation. Additionally, the bill funds a flood control project to protect the town of Frederiksted, and a comprehensive engineering study of practical ways to connect the electricity grids between all four islands and to reduce utility bills for Virgin Islands consumers. 

The FY 2009 omnibus appropriations bill includes $600,000 in funding targeted for the overhaul of the territory’s 911 system, which is currently underway. The bill also provides additional funding in the amount of $380,000 for continued highway improvement projects in St. Croix and on St. Thomas. There is also additional funding of $475,000 for the purchase of new buses. The bill will also provide more than $2 million for improvements to the Territory’s solid waste system, $2.5 million for land acquisition at the St. John National Park and $160,000 for wildlife conservation. $571,000 is being provided to the Department of Health to upgrade health facilities and purchase equipment, including funds for a new mental health facility. Some of the funding will be utilized for the expansion of the Eldra Schulterbrandt long-term care facility.

There is also funding contained in the bill to allow the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to finalize engineering design plans for channel improvements, a new levee, and an interior drainage canal for the town of Frederiksted. In the works since the late 1990s, the grant funding will allow the Army Corps of Engineers to modify and complete outdated plans and to proceed to construction of the $4 million project in the following year. In addition, the bill provides funding for the Corps of Engineers to conduct a shoreline protection study of the St. Thomas waterfront. 

The bill also includes $500,000 for an engineering study to connect the electricity grids on all three islands through underwater cables which Governor de Jongh said "would allow WAPA to become more efficient, reduce duplication of costly generation equipment and lead to lower electricity bills for all V.I. residents."