Christmas might be a week away, but Congress plans to deliver some gifts to the region a few days early.

The U.S. House passed an omnibus spending bill Monday night, a measure that included $1 million for water projects in St. Joseph and $352,500 for drug-fighting efforts in Northwest Missouri.

The catch-all legislation, needed because Congress failed to pass appropriations bills individually, topped $515 billion in allocations and included spending for federal departments ranging from agriculture to veterans.

Department of Homeland Security money got assigned to St. Joseph for infrastructure improvements that will handle storm water and waste water runoff. The $1 million is listed in the congressional documents as “FEMA Predisaster Mitigation.”

“It has been a difficult year for St. Joseph in terms of dealing with Mother Nature,” said U.S. Rep. Sam Graves, referring to May’s flooding. “This funding will help St. Joseph prepare for future floods.”

Mr. Graves, a Republican from Tarkio, Mo., and U.S. Sen. Christopher Bond, R-Mo., also got authorization for Blacksnake Creek work through the Energy and Water Development section. Though there was no money attached to the project, Mr. Graves said its inclusion ensures eligibility for eventual federal assistance.

The Northwest Missouri Interagency Team Response Operation, shorthanded as NITRO, fights drugs and violent crime in a 16-county region. Mr. Graves helped get $352,500 for that multi-jurisdictional task force through the Department of Justice.

Full Story: http://www.sjnp.net/news/2007/dec/19/northwest-missouri-projects-included-massive-spend/?local