Congress Values Community approach to Chronic Medical Conditions
November 24, 2004 by admin
In the local paper: See bullet # 6.
Of course Pursuing Perfection in Whatcom County is a collaborative effort of several organizations in addition to the hospital–in fact that is what makes it a unique and powerful agent of change. See these two links: one page summary and detailed overview.
Funding bill has millions for county
APPROPRIATIONS: Transportation projects are big-ticket items in federal bill.
Aubrey Cohen, The Bellingham Herald
A massive new federal spending bill includes $1 million to help prosecute cases stemming from the Canadian border in Washington, and millions more for Whatcom County.
The $388 billion appropriations bill, approved over the weekend, covers most domestic programs for the budget year that began Oct. 1. The measure is one of the leanest in years and includes a nearly 1 percent across-the-board cut in most line items.
Mike Spahn, spokesman for U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., said Murray sought the border prosecution money in light of lobbying by Whatcom County prosecutors and police, who have said costs to jail, prosecute and defend suspects arrested at the border have increased dramatically since Sept. 11, 2001.
Murray is a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and the highest-ranking Democrat on the Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee. She announced millions in transportation funding, including:
• $1 million to build San Juan Boulevard between Yew Street and Samish Way.
• $1 million to help establish a border policy research institute at Western Washington University for the study of transportation, mobility and border security.
• $3.314 million for improvements to Interstate 5 south of the border in Blaine and to rebuild the Peace Portal Drive exit, which will be displaced by expansion of the border crossing.
• $1 million for improvements to Western Washington University's Lincoln Creek Transportation Center.
U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Lake Stevens, also announced funding for several projects, including:
• $121,250 to enhance Mount Baker Theatre's sound system as improvements are made to the building.
• $500,000 to continue and expand St. Joseph Hospital's Pursuing Perfection Program, which is working to implement a nationally recognized chronic care model by coordinating efforts and resources across the county.
• $634,000 to help ease congestion at the Blaine truck crossing.
Reach Aubrey Cohen at aubrey.cohen@bellinghamherald.com or 715-2289. The Associated Press contributed to this story. 
