WASHINGTON, D.C. – A comprehensive fiscal year 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Bill approved this week by the U.S. House of Representatives includes $750,000 in funding for extension of water service to the Mingo County Air Transportation Park.

This action honors a request by Rep. Nick J. Rahall, D-W.Va., who said “I am pleased to have successfully inserted funding into this bill for important infrastructure improvements at the Mingo County Air Transportation Park.

“Ensuring that businesses and homes in this area have safe, modern drinking water sources is vital to economic development and community investment,” Rahall stressed.

The Mingo County Commission will use these monies to extend water service into a newly developed 500-acre site where the Air Transportation Park will be located. The business opportunities created in this area will provide affordable new housing, create new jobs and increase tax revenue for the community.

Mike Whitt, executive director of the Mingo County Redevelopment Authority, hailed the announ-cement as “fantastic news. This gives us the seed money we need to get water and sewer services to the Air Transportation Park. I am tickled to death with Congressman Rahall’s good work.”

The Omnibus Bill also contains $3.4 million for West Virginia’s Sheriff’s Association to acquire high-definition digital, full-color, aerial images and software tools of the State to assist local,k regional, state and federal law enforcement and emergency responders tackle the challenges of West Virginia’s rugged terrain in the course of their work.

The Appalachian Service Project, which organizes volunteer home improvement projects throughout Central Appalachia, receiv-ed $665,000 to continue its work of repairing and rebuilding the homes of families in need. Funding for these initiatives was obtained by Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., and supported by Rahall.

“True credit belongs to Senator Byrd,” said Rahall. “Without his strong and vigorous leadership on the Senate Appropriations Committee, we would not have been able to achieve these levels of funding for our domestic needs. I am grateful for his commitment to bringing valuable federal investments to southern West Virginia, and look forward to continuing to work with him to address the issues important to our communities.”

The Omnibus Bill combines nine Fiscal Year 2009 Appropriations bills into one package. Passage of this bill is needed to continue vital government operations that ensure the continuation of necessary services to families in West Virginia and throughout the Nation. The bill now heads to the U.S. Senate for consideration.