Senate passes funding bills

WASHINGTON — The Senate has approved an appropriations bill containing $500,000 requested by Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., for the Pascagoula beach park promenade. The funding was contained in the FY 2010 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development funding bill, which passed yesterday by a vote of 73-25.

Wicker noted that before the bill can be signed into law, the measure must now be reconciled with the House-passed version of the bill.

Funding in the bill would go toward the installation of a promenade south of the existing Beach Boulevard to provide a path for pedestrian use. The funds would also provide lighting and the necessary supporting pile structure.

In a separate item, the Senate has approved an appropriations bill containing $1 million requested by Wicker for upgrades to U.S. 78 to bring the highway to interstate standards.

“Senate approval of this bill brings the U.S. Highway 78 project one step closer to receiving an additional one million dollars,” Wicker said. “Once completed, I-22 will increase Mississippi’s interstate highway system by 118 miles, increasing safety for travelers and providing better infrastructure for economic development initiatives in northern Mississippi.”

Wicker noted that before the bill can be signed into law, the measure must now be reconciled with the House-passed version of the bill.

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