Congressman Turner
Announces Federal Funding

"I am pleased that we were able to assist SHSU in securing this funding so that they can continue to develop programs that benefit not only the students attending the university, but also people throughout the state of Texas, the nation, and in some cases, the world," said Turner.

The funding included $723 000 for the creation of the Texas Academic Learning Center at SHSU under the U. S. Department of Education's Fund for the Improvement of Education. The Center, in collaboration with independent school districts, community colleges, community organizations, nonprofit organizations and education service centers, will facilitate the development of after school programs for the academic success and retention of underachievers in our rural public schools.

The National Institute for Victim Studies at SHSU, a collaborative effort with Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), was appropriated $500,000 under a Justice Department program. The money will be used to continue development of this innovative partnership between SHSU and MADD, which was created to focus resources on assisting victims of drunk driving, school violence, and other tragedies that are especially traumatic for young people.

The Sam Houston Memorial Museum, owned and managed by SHSU, received $250,000 under the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Economic Development initiative grant program. The money will be used to develop a simulation-based interactive children's education and history initiative as part of the ongoing master plan to expand tourism at the museum.

The Fiscal Year 2001 Defense Appropriations bill, which was signed into law by president Clinton in August, contained $2 million in funding for the SHSU Texas Research Institute for Environmental Studies (TRIES).

SHSU-TRIES has recently become one of the charter members of a new International Consortium for the Environment at Brooks Air Force Base in San Antonio.

This newly-formed consortium of university partners, operating in cooperation with Brooks, will address international environmental issues and public health concerns, with initial focus on the border region of Texas. Congessman Turner worked with Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, who serves on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, to secure funding for this important program.

Bobby K. Marks, president of SHSU, said he appreciated the efforts of Turner and the opportunity for SHSU to have an impact on state, national and international problems.

"While we appreciate that the state of Texas funds SHSU at levels that allow us to develop academic programs that benefit the students and faculty at the university and the community as a whole, we must also have federal assistance to bring many of these programs to fruition. We appreciate very much Congressman Turner's assistance to SHSU and to these educational endeavors. He has always been committed to working hard in Washington to bring federal dollars to the university."

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SHSU Media Contact: Frank Krystyniak
Dec. 22, 2000
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