WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Farr on Thursday voted with colleagues to pass a major funding bill that provides money for many key federal agencies as well as several Central Coast programs. The bill approved by a vote of 221-202.

"This bill funds some very important programs right here on the Central Coast, including anti-gang and gang prevention initiatives and a host of projects to boost our local economy," said Rep. Farr, a senior member of the powerful House Appropriations Committee.

Among the local projects in the bill were several anti-violence programs:

Silver Star Gang Prevention and Intervention Program: $1.5 million. Silver Star uses a collaborative approach to prevention and early intervention services to avert and reduce gang association. The program combines probation supervision; educational, vocational and job training; counseling services and truancy abatement, along with mentoring and community outreach strategies, to help decrease gang activity.
Monterey County Joint Gang Task Force: $500,000. The task force is a countywide collaboration targeted at reducing gang violence throughout Monterey County.
YWCA of Monterey County: $250,000. The Integrated Community Collaborative to Prevent Domestic Violence will allow the YWCA to expand its direct services for victims of domestic violence in Salinas. The YWCA will expand its prevention and intervention efforts for youth through classroom-based and other programs.
The Central Coast also saw several economic stimulus initiatives included in the bill:

Monterey County Food Bank: $150,000. These funds will go toward the purchase of equipment and a vehicle.
San Benito County Food Bank: $150,000. Funds will be used to acquire a building.
Agriculture & Land-Based Training Association: $110,000. These funds will be directed toward ALBA's Farmworker to Farmer Business Incubator.
EI Pajaro Community Development Corporation: $90,000. This block of money will go to the CDC's Commercial Kitchen Business Incubator.
"We know that communities across the country are struggling, wading through the worst economic times since the Great Depression," Rep. Farr said. "Families are hurting, businesses are hurting, our local governments are hurting. This bill moves us further in the direction of recovery, supporting our anti-gang and anti-violence programs while supporting pro-business strategies to get our workforce back in the game."

The fiscal year 2010 Consolidated Appropriations Act combines six appropriations bills, including Transportation; Commerce, Justice, Science; Financial Services; Labor-Health-Education; Military Construction, Veterans Affairs; and State and Foreign Operations.

The Senate on Thursday began debate of the bill and is expected to vote on the bill this weekend. Once this omnibus passes the Senate, it will be sent to the president for his signature.