Congressman Maurice Hinchey has a proven record of getting results for the communities he represents. Since 1995, he has delivered nearly $4 billion for the 22nd Congressional District, including $59 million for Sullivan County. In the last two years, Hinchey has secured more than $5.5 million for projects in the County.
These federal investments in our region have created jobs, helped communities provide the infrastructure for economic growth, have made low-cost capital available for business startups and expansion, strengthened our schools and health care systems, promoted our tourism industry and lured new businesses to the area.
"In the historic 110th session of Congress we have accomplished a great deal in an effort to create energy independence and economic prosperity for our country," said Hinchey. "We have accomplished a lot, but there is a lot more to get done. We must end the military occupation in Iraq, make greater investments in our nation's infrastructure, and nurse an economy back to health after eight disastrous years of Bush administration economic policies. With the continued support of the people of the 22nd district and President Obama in the White House, we can continue to make great strides in order to restore the American dream and our credibility throughout the world."
Democrats, who won narrow majorities in the House and Senate in 2006, have worked through an unprecedented number of radical initiatives in the 110th Congress in order to pass a number of priorities. Democratic proposals that were enacted into law include, an economic stimulus that put hundreds of dollars into the hands of more than 130 million American families, a raise of the minimum wage, the largest funding increase for veterans medical attention in the history of the Veterans Administration, a new GI bill, and the single largest investment in reducing the cost and increasing the access to college. Hinchey also worked hard to support important local projects throughout the 22nd district.
Highlights from the 110th Congress included:
Economic Development and Infrastructure
Creation of The Solar Energy Consortium (TSEC), a partnership of industry, academia and government designed to make New York a hub for solar energy production and use. Secured $4.66 million in federal funds last year to help bring companies such as Prism Solar Technologies and C9 Corporation into the consortium, which are expected to result in the creation of hundreds of new jobs in the region. Secured an additional $2.9 million for alternative energy initiatives in New York in this year's budget. Additionally, Hinchey helped convince Empire State Development to contribute a $1.5 million grant to attract solar energy companies to TSEC. Subsequently, New York State's budget for this fiscal year includes $6.5 million for TSEC. Last month, TSEC announced its second manufacturing partner, Solar Thin Films, which will create an additional 400 jobs. In total, TSEC has received or will receive almost $16 million this year and next year to grow the solar industry throughout the state. TSEC, working with its partner companies, including Prism Solar Technologies, Solar Thin Films, Globe Specialty Metals, Precision Flow Technologies, and Fala Technologies, is in the process of creating more than 1000 new jobs throughout New York State.
Successfully passed in the House the Washington-Rochambeau Historic Trail bill to mark the journey taken by George Washington and Count Rochambeau when moving to finally defeat the Confederates at Yorktown during the revolutionary war.
Secured funding for drinking and wastewater infrastructure in Saugerties and the Town of Bethel, and obtained House approval for funding for the City of Middletown.
Successful blocked the closing of Sullivan County's Farm Service Agency (FSA) Office in Liberty, which is critical to providing many local farms convenient access to federal agricultural assistance and programs.
Protected and defended the number of available student positions at the Delaware Valley Job Corps when the US Department of Labor considered reducing the number of authorized student slots for the Callicoon-based job training facility.
Helped secure $582,920 in federal funds for Sullivan County International Airport. This grant comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and will be used to construct an aircraft parking apron and taxilane at the airport. Hinchey urged the FAA to reconsider its earlier decision not to fund the grant arguing the agency had incorrectly deemed the project ineligible based on incorrect information.
Helped to obtain more than $3 million in federal grants for the Village of Woodridge in Sullivan County for construction of a new wastewater treatment facility to replace their failing system. The USDA Rural Development has provided $1 million while the US EPA recently indicated that after final approval, it would contribute an additional $2 million.
Environmental Protection
Vigorously opposed at every opportunity the proposal by New York Regional Interconnection (NYRI) to construct a massive 190-mile, high voltage power line from Oneida to Orange County. Hinchey opposed and fought the federal designation of much of New York State as a National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor (NIETC or National Corridor). This designation would allow developers to seek federal approval of transmission line projects if the State did not approve a completed application within one year.
Further, Hinchey opposed NYRI's petition to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for ratepayer subsidies for this ill-conceived project. NYRI sought from the federal agency a guaranteed return on investment of 13.5% for their nearly $2 billion project.
Helped to push the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) to aggressively exert its jurisdictional authority over gas drilling operations that will be seeking permits in the Upper Delaware Basin. DRBC has regulatory powers over water withdrawals and discharges that are significant to the watershed. Hinchey noted that any new gas drilling in the region should come under full scrutiny and careful environmental review to ensure protection of the region and its water resources.
Public Safety
Last year, secured $700,000 in federal funding for the Army Corp of Engineers to conduct flood mitigation studies in the Upper Delaware River Basin. Hinchey obtained this funding, along with Reps. Hall and Gillibrand, to address chronic flooding in the basin, particularly in the Little Beaverkill and Callicoon Creek areas. This year, Hinchey further obtained the House Appropriations Committee's approval of an additional $835,000 for the continuation of a flood mitigation study in the Upper Delaware River Watershed and for the development of a flood alert system for the region. This funding includes $600,000 for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to continue its ongoing comprehensive study in identifying ways to prevent future flooding of the Upper Delaware River Watershed, as well as $235,000 for the Delaware River Enhanced Flood Warning System, which will be used to improve the basin's flood warning system.
