Aderholt Defends Funding For Ft. Payne

Contact: Darrell “DJ” Jordan
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ADERHOLT ANNOUNCES FEDERAL FUNDING FOR THE CITY OF FT. PAYNE, ALABAMA

Rep. Aderholt fights off effort to strip funds

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville) announced that he was able to secure $150,000 in federal funding for the City of Ft. Payne, this after fighting off efforts to strip the funding from the Appropriations bill.

The funding is for the rehabilitation of the historic Fort Payne Coal and Iron Building and is included in the Fiscal Year 2010 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill that passed the House of Representatives today. A final version of the House and Senate bill is expected in July.

The funding will allow Fort Payne to begin the phased rehabilitation of an important landmark. The Coal and Iron Building is located in the Fort Payne Boom Town Historical District and will house a cultural center, which will serve the entire county.

Just before midnight on Thursday, Rep Aderholt fought for Ft. Payne and defended this project against an Amendment that sought to exclude the funding from the overall Interior Appropriations Bill. During a debate on the floor of the House of Representatives, Rep. Aderholt defended the funding as an important project that will preserve a historic American landmark. The Amendment failed by the vote of 114 to 317.

“The Iron and Coal Building is a valuable asset in stimulating tourism and raising awareness of the cultural heritage of Northern Alabama and Southern Appalachia, as well as providing educational opportunities which augment other significant activities in the area,” said Congressman Aderholt. “The restoration and use of the Coal Building will be a significant benefit to northeast Alabama and I am greatly pleased that Fort Payne is receiving this funding.”

The Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill provides funding for the Department of the Interior and the Environmental Protection Agency among other related agencies.

Rep. Aderholt serves on the powerful House Appropriations Committee, as the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Legislative Branch, and a member of the Commerce, Justice and Science Subcommittee.

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Click HERE to see the debate that took place on the floor of the House of Representatives.