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Local lawmakers claim hundreds of millions for military, local projects
03/15/22
San Diego’s Congressional delegation and other lawmakers secured $107 million for local community projects and $127 million for local military and veteran projects as part of the massive federal spending bill federal lawmakers passed last week, officials announced.
The $1.5 trillion appropriations bill, which authorizes federal spending through October, averts a shutdown and directs $13.6 billion in aid to Ukraine and $15.6 billion to the national pandemic response. The bill passed the House Wednesday, and President Joe Biden is expected to sign it this week.
Some of its biggest San Diego-area investments are military, such as the $63.6 million for an aircraft maintenance hangar at Naval Base Coronado for the new CMV-22B Osprey aircraft, $21.7 million for an air traffic control operations support facility there, and $12 million for a naval special warfare group’s support facility.
“Our Congressional delegation fought for San Diego’s fair share of federal funding, and our communities are the winners,” said Nathan Fletcher, chair of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, in a statement. “Working families will now have more access to childcare, our transportation systems will be enhanced and significant infrastructure needs will be addressed.”
Another $2.25 million will cover a 50-bed homeless shelter at a former high school in Oceanside. The shelter will enable participants to stay onsite during the day to receive assistance with permanent housing, income and healthcare.
Rep. Juan Vargas brought in a suite of road improvements including $3.3 million for bikeway connections to the 24th Street Trolley Station and $2.15 million for the Barrio Logan Section of the Bayshore Bikeway to connect downtown San Diego to the convention center.
Rep. Sara Jacobs gained funding for arts and education improvements, with $1 million each to expand child care in the San Diego area and to upgrade the City Heights Multimedia IDEA Lab and Performance Annex.