Domenici, who is a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, requested the funds within the FY2009 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill, which the subcommittee is expected to begin deliberating soon.
 
Domenici requested $5 million to support construction of UNM’s planned 129,100 square-foot Health Sciences Center Education Building.  He is seeking an additional $4 million on behalf of a new Neuroimaging Facility at the Mind Research Network (MRN), also located at UNM.
 
“I believe these projects will improve New Mexico’s community of cutting-edge medical and scientific research,” said Domenici.  “I plan to do all I can to ensure both projects receive federal funds as the FY2009 appropriations process takes its course.”
 
UNM’s Health Sciences Center Education Building is expected to replace current facilities that average over 30 years old, and accommodate nearly 9,100 student, faculty, and staff across 26 programs.  Domenici successfully secured $3.66 million for the project as part of the final FY2008 Omnibus Appropriations Bill.
 
The Mind Research Network, also located at UNM, would use the federal funds for a 10,000 square-foot-expansion to make more space available to 60 of its neuroscience researchers, staff and equipment.
 
Domenici also noted his support of $23.8 million nationwide for the Safe Schools and Citizenship Education/Character Counts program, which reflects the President’s FY2009 budget request.  The Character Counts program, which began when Domenici and former Senator Sam Nunn (D-Ga.) introduced a bipartisan congressional resolution calling for National Character Counts Week in 1994, has since grown into a national initiative that teaches young people the six pillars of good character—Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring and Citizenship.