Ron Paul: In the Know

United States Congress

News Release
Thursday, April 19, 2007

Ron Paul has completed making appropriations requests for the next congressional funding cycle (fiscal year 2008). During the appropriations process, congressional committees consider thousands of funding requests from various entities.

Several agencies and groups from District 14 have requested funding for projects, including schools, ports, cities, and hospitals. Congressman Paul worked closely with these entities to ensure their requests were included this year. The funding requests include, but are not limited to, assistance with roadway projects, help with port dredging, funding for medical programs, and other similar projects.

Each project is considered for funding based on its own merit. Ultimately, factors such as local community support for projects, the cost and benefits for taxpayers, and federal budget priorities are considered.

Oftentimes, community leaders will submit letters or meet with Congressman Paul to discuss the importance of each project. This interaction helps Congressman Paul convey the importance of specific requests.

Some counties have more appropriations requests than others in District 14, which is due to size/population of the county and the need expressed. The following is a list of project funding requests received by Congressman Paul:

Galveston County
Additional funds for Sabine Pass to Galveston Bay study (U.S. Army Corps of Engineering)
UTMB (University of Texas Medical Branch) Distance Nursing Education program
UTMB – Funds for the Asthma Project
Port of Galveston- operations and maintenance funds
Port of Texas City- operations and maintenance funds
Funds to replace buses and transportation facilities in Galveston
Funds to improve the Galveston trolley
Funds for the Space Alliance Technology Outreach Program (NASA related)
Channel to Port Bolivar operations and maintenance funds (U.S. Army Corps of Engineering)

Brazoria County
Funds to help re-open the mouth of the San Bernard River
Brazoria County Health Foundation- Cancer Center funds
Funds for the S. Highway 36 road project
Port Freeport funds (maintenance or new project?)
Fund for maintenance/dredging of Chocolate Bayou (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)
Funds for the Children’s Identification and Location Database (CHILD) (Brazoria County Sheriff’s Department project)
Brazoria County Shore Protection Study funds (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)

Victoria County
Funds to replace buses and transportation facilities of the Golden Crescent Regional Planning Commission
Funds for the GIWW Victoria Channel operations and maintenance (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)

Chambers County
Funds for Trinity River/Tributaries and Wallisville Lake (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)
Funds for the Cedar Bayou Project (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)

Jackson County
Funds for Theater and Depot project (request from Mayor of Edna, Texas Department of Transportation project)

Matagorda County
Funds for improvements at the Mouth of the Colorado River (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers))
Funds for the Matagorda Episcopal Health Opportunities Program
Study funds for Mitchell’s Cut/Sargeant, Texas

Calhoun County
Funds for operations and maintenance at the Port of Lavaca/Point Comfort

Wharton County
Funds for the LCRA flood study on the San Bernard River in Wharton County

Ft Bend County
Funds for the Clear Creek project

Aransas County
Funds for the Wild American Shrimp Marketing project

Final funding decisions typically are made (and enacted into law) after the August congressional recess. Congress has not yet completed its work on the 2008 appropriations.

Ron Paul began serving in Congress during the late 1970s and early 1980s. In 1984, he voluntarily relinquished his House seat and returned to his medical practice as a specialist in obstetrics/gynecology. He returned to Congress in 1997 to represent the 14th Congressional district of Texas. He serves on the House Financial Services Committee, the Foreign Affairs committee, and the Joint Economic Committee. For more information on Ron Paul and how he voted on a particular piece of legislation, please go to http://www.house.gov/paul/.