VIRGINIA BEACH, VA – Last week, Rep. Elaine Luria (D-VA), delivered for Coastal Virginia by securing more than $18.5 million for seven community funded projects, fighting to expand access to global markets for Virginia’s seafood processors, and announcing $52 million in American Rescue Plan funding for transportation projects.
On Wednesday, Rep. Luria announced more than $18.5 million in funding for seven community projects throughout Coastal Virginia. Funded through the government funding package passed by the House of Representatives, which also provides military and humanitarian assistance for Ukraine, the community projects respond directly to the most pressing needs in Coastal Virginia.
The projects support first responders and improve public safety, invest in infrastructure and public transportation, develop affordable housing, and expand education opportunities to spur economic development and growth in the region.
More information on the seven community projects can be found here.
Rep. Luria also secured more than $52 million in American Rescue Plan funding for transportation priorities in Coastal Virginia. The funding will directly support transportation systems and workers throughout Hampton Roads.
Disbursed by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to the Transportation District Commission of Hampton Roads, this funding is provided by the $2.2 billion in American Rescue Plan FTA Additional Assistance grants supplementing previous transit assistance for communities across the country.
On Friday, Rep. Luria urged the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to expand access to global markets for Virginia’s seafood processors. In a letter, Rep. Luria called on the FDA to work with the Commonwealth of Virginia and Interstate Shellfish Sanitation Conference to allow the Virginia shellfish industry to make shipments to countries in the European Union (EU) during November through April, opening new economic opportunities for the industry.
In February, the United States and EU ended a 10-year trade dispute and will now resume oyster and mussel trading. The Commonwealth of Virginia was not included in the recent agreement due to a case of Vibrio vulnificus (V. vulnificus) last year and was put on a V. Vulnificus Control Plan.
More information on Rep. Luria’s letter to the FDA can be found here.
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