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 $348 million for Tompkins County. In the last two years, Hinchey has secured more than $47.69 million for projects in Ithaca.
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. Some examples of local accomplishments are below.
Highlights from the 110th Congress included:
TSEC
Last December, Hinchey announced that Cornell University had joined The Solar Energy Consortium (TSEC), along with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Clarkson University, Binghamton University, and The State University of New York at New Paltz. TSEC, which is a new industry-driven, non-profit organization that provides leadership, organization, resources, and support for the establishment of a major solar energy industry cluster in New York. TSEC is the first organization of its kind for the photovoltaic industry, encompassing research and development, manufacturing facilities, industry promotion and market development. Earlier this year, TSEC partnered with its first major manufacturing partner, Prism Solar Technologies, which plans to bring more than 400 new jobs to upstate New York within 4-5 years. TSEC has also partnered with six research universities throughout New York to work on the research needed to improve solar technology.
In order to advance TSEC, Hinchey secured $1.476 million in federal funds to help bring companies such as Prism Solar Technologies into the consortium. Hinchey secured final approval of $3.2 million for C9 Corporation to conduct solar research and development in conjunction with TSEC. Additionally, the Congressman convinced Empire State Development to contribute a $1.5 million grant to attract solar energy companies to TSEC. Subsequently, New York State's budget includes $6.5 million for TSEC. 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.
Trail Development
Hinchey secured $1.4 million in earmarked funds in the 2005 highway reauthorization law for trail development in Tompkins County.
Cayuga Waterfront Trail: $960,000 -- the Waterfront Trail is the centerpiece of an emerging regional trail network that is critical to the region's quality of life and tourism promotion efforts.
Buttermilk Falls Trail: $435,200 for the proposed trail, which will fill a critical link in Ithaca's trail system, connecting the urban area of Ithaca to the Buttermilk Falls and Robert H. Treman state parks.
Tompkins County Emergency Communications
Hinchey secured $500,000 in FY 2005 for the Tompkins County Department of Public Safety. This system, which went up this spring, involves a countywide digital public safety communication system. The federal funds will supplement $15.5 million in state and local funds that have been invested in this project.
Tompkins County Area Transit
The newly opened Seneca Street shelter is stunning in its design and was made possible with funds Hinchey secured, which amounted to 90% of the total $1.2 million project.
TCAT's hybrid bus program. TCAT has six hybrid diesel electric buses in service; three of which were purchased with $683,753 funding Hinchey secured.
Clinton House Restoration
Hinchey secured $100,000 in "Save America's Treasures" funding for recently completed structural and cosmetic repairs to the iconic historic building in downtown Ithaca.
Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport
In the 2005 fiscal year's transportation appropriations bill, Hinchey secured a $500,000 earmark for improvements to the Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport. Additionally, in 2005 Hinchey personally appealed to the US Transportation Secretary in a successful effort to persuade USDOT to award the airport a $500,000 Small Communities Air Service grant.
Cornell University Research
For FY 2008 Hinchey helped secure $8 million for the construction of a Grape Genetics Research facility at the New York State Agriculture Experiment Station in Geneva, ongoing apple and grape research programs at Cornell University, and other agricultural research projects at the school. The Grape Genetics Center has now received over $10 million from Congress, due to Hinchey's work.
Hinchey has also secured over $10 million for Cornell's Center for Health-Based Plant Genomics in FYs 2004-06.
