August 23 , 2007 issue
Foxx Takes Credit for Funding She Voted Against
Story by Kathleen McFadden
U.S. Representative Virginia Foxx has sent press releases in recent weeks announcing that federal funding had been awarded to Wake Forest University and the Statesville airport.
The headline from the August 9 release is “Foxx secures $500,000 for Wake Forest medical research,” while the headline from the July 25 release is “House Approves $1 Million in Federal Funding for Statesville Regional Airport – Reps. McHenry and Foxx Shepherd Funding Through House to Improve Airport’s Infrastructure.”
Foxx and McHenry voted against both of the bills that provided the funding. Neither release points out that the representatives voted against the bills.
HR 2641, The Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2008, provides $500,000 in funding for the Wake Forest University Health Sciences alternatives to transplantation program.
“These funds will support the life-changing research being done right now at Wake Forest,” Foxx said in the release. “The experts at the Institute for Regenerative Medicine are engaged in pioneering tissue research that may soon provide an alternative to organ transplantation that will change the face of modern medicine.”
The release includes a quote from Dr. Anthony Atala, director of Wake Forest University’s Institute for Regenerative Medicine: “We are very excited to receive this funding and are extremely grateful to Congresswoman Foxx for her invaluable help throughout the process.”
HR 3074, The Departments of Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies Appropriations for FY 2008, includes the appropriation for the Statesville airport.
According to the release, “Representatives Patrick McHenry and Virginia Foxx… secured $1 million in federal funding for the Statesville Regional Airport….”
McHenry is quoted in the release as saying, “One million dollars goes a long way in strengthening the Statesville Regional Airport’s infrastructure, which will provide for greater regional travel and commerce. It is always a great experience working with Congresswoman Foxx – and especially now because Statesville will see the results of our concerted effort.”
Foxx added, “I am delighted that Congressman McHenry and I were able to work together to secure these vital funds. Helping the Statesville Airport move forward will encourage economic development by bringing new jobs to Iredell County and adding to the tax base.”
Foxx’s Press Secretary Aaron Groen explained that Foxx submitted the funding requests to the subcommittees working on the appropriations bills. “If she hadn’t requested it, it wouldn’t have happened,” Groen said.
Foxx voted against the bills, Groen said, “because they were so much larger than she expected. She didn’t think the bills were fiscally responsible.”
Community Interest
News & Notes
Events
Arts & Entertainment
BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
