More funding for a proposed environmental research center in Syracuse may be on the way, if it can clear roadblocks in the U.S. Senate.

Nearly $9 million allocated for the New York State Center for Excellence is included in an omnibus bill that the U.S. House of Representatives has passed but the Senate has yet to vote on.

The bill includes seven of the 13 subcommittees for the annual budget. Prior to Congress’ Christmas break, the House passed all 13 subcommittees separately while the Senate passed just six.

‘It was a big disappointment that the Senate did not vote before Christmas break,’ said Daniel Gage, spokesman for Congressman James Walsh, R-N.Y.

While the Center for Excellence is not dependent on the passing of this bill, it would be a great help, Gage said. Walsh has already secured $10.9 million in federal money, and most of this will be used for the construction of the inside of the Center for Excellence. The $8.7 million, if passed, would be used to help in the construction of the building and fund programming.

‘Construction of the Center of Excellence is not contingent on federal money,’ Gage said.

Gage said that the biggest negative if the bill is not passed is that all of the money in the bill disappears. Walsh would then have to spend more time attempting to secure more money for the center, along with the other requests that are included in the bill.

As of now, there has been no public commitment for or against the bill taken by either Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., or Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.

Gage said that the vote is even more so about politics because of the upcoming presidential election.

‘Folks who are on the very far right are against any extra spending,’ Gage said.

Democrats are put in a bind because, while they may feel it is right to vote for the bill, it could have a negative effect on the upcoming presidential race because of the nation’s budget deficit, he added.

‘We have quietly suggested to both senators that they should pass the bill,’ Gage said.

Now that a location has been selected for the center in downtown Syracuse, plans for building can begin.

The center will not be built where many wanted, in the research park on SU’s South Campus, but Edward Bogucz, director of the center and former dean of the L.C. Smith College of Engineering and Computer Science, was not disappointed.

‘This is really a very good site for the program,’ Bogucz said. ‘A lot of people say ‘on campus’ but South Campus is really not part of the main campus.’

Bogucz said that both locations have issues for student and faculty transportation, but the selected site is actually closer to main campus than South Campus.

Bogucz felt that passing the bill would be crucial to the center’s success.

‘[The bill] is very important to the Center of Excellence,’ Bogucz said. ‘$8.7 million will give very significant help for the projects within the building.’

Published on January 14, 2004 at 12:00 pm