Tuesday, May 8, 2007
Contact: Jessica Robinson, 573-751-0290
Blunt Applauds General Assembly for Funding Lewis & Clark Initiative, Doubling Scholarships, Supporting Community Health Centers
JEFFERSON CITY–Gov. Matt Blunt today applauded the Missouri General Assembly for passing the budget bill that funds the Lewis & Clark Discovery Initiative, doubles needs based scholarships for students and supports Federally Qualified Health Centers.
“The responsible funding approved today holds long term benefits for our state, including investments in health care, scholarships, campuses and Missouri innovation,” Blunt said. “This bill supports historic higher education legislation and provides much needed funding for important projects across our state with benefits that impact Missourians’ health, education and opportunity.”
House Bill 16 provides:
- $289 million for new state-of-the-art learning centers for Missouri students
- $15 million for the Missouri Technology Corporation, which will work to recognize and utilize innovative research already being conducted in our state and to attract and retain technology based companies
- $60 million for Federally Qualified Healthcare Centers, which already serve as a Health Care Home to 300,000 Missourians, to expand and upgrade health care facilities
- $25 million for needs based scholarships, which contributes to more than doubling state funding and makes scholarships more available to thousands of Missouri families
- $3.4 million for scholarship programs to encourage Missouri students to pursue health and care related careers
After all budget bills are passed and submitted to the governor, the governor’s office will conduct a full review of the state’s budget to ensure it remains balanced and accountable to taxpayers before taking any action on the bills.