WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama today signed into law the Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009, a bill that includes $63 million in projects benefitting Southwest Louisiana secured by United States Senator Mary Landrieu, D-La. The legislation funds a wide variety of programs in Southwest Louisiana -- from housing development to agriculture research-- as well as approximately $55 million in Army Corps of Engineers projects that benefit the region . "I am proud to use my seniority and appropriations committee seat to ensure that the federal government meets the needs of Louisiana," Sen. Landrieu said. "This bill funds essential programs that will save jobs and foster much-needed economic development in Southwest Louisiana, while investing in our universities and agriculture research. While Southwest Louisiana has not felt the job loss experienced in other parts of the United States, it is critical that Congress funds initiatives to strengthen our local economies and help families struggling to make ends meet."

To address Southwest Louisiana's housing challenges, Sen. Landrieu secured $712,500 for the Acadiana Outreach Center in Lafayette to build a mixed-income housing development. The Center is a faith-based nonprofit that serves more than 3,000 low-income people annually.

"The Acadiana Outreach Center is providing innovative solutions to Southwest Louisiana's housing challenges," Sen. Landrieu said. "The Center's work has helped thousands of working families find good homes, and the funding in this appropriations bill will allow the organization to continue its important mission."

"We're so thankful for Senator Landrieu's efforts in securing these critically-needed funds. She saw first-hand the need for affordable housing in Southwest Louisiana and worked hard to ensure this funding for mixed-income housing would be available to catalyze economic development," said Valerie Keller, CEO of the Acadiana Outreach Center. "Stable workforce housing leads to a direct reduction in social service spending by government so we know there will be a significant return for taxpayers with this development."

Senator Landrieu also ensured Congress funded critical Army Corps of Engineers projects in Southwest Louisiana. This includes $956,000 for hurricane protection and storm damage reduction in Southwest Coastal Louisiana and $8.6 million for ecosystem restoration for Louisiana's coast.

Below is a comprehensive list of projects that benefit Southwest Louisiana for which Sen. Landrieu secured funding in the omnibus appropriations act. This list does not include formula funding or grants for national programs that will also impact Southwest Louisiana.

ARMY CORPS PROJECTS: $55,059,000

• $574,000 for fiscal year 2009 work on the Calcasieu Lock.

• $155,000 to reduce shipping delays in the Calcasieu River and Pass.

• $75,000 to investigate flood control and environmental enhancements for the Calcasieu River Basin.

• $8,604,000 for Louisiana coastal area ecosystem restoration.

• $956,000 for Southwest Coastal Louisiana hurricane protection and storm damage reduction.

• $13,894,000 to operate and maintain the Calcasieu River and Pass and the channel.

• $16,494,000 for dredging and repairs along the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway.

• $1,828,000 for repairs and maintenance along the Mermentau River.

• $8,619,000 for operations and maintenance along the Atchafalaya Basin

• $2,073,000 for the floodway system at Atchafalaya Basin

• $1,787,000 for Inspection of Completed Works in LA, AR, IL, KY, MS, MO and TN

NON-CORP PROJECTS: $7,633,500

• $469,000 for biomaterials for sugar cane

• $467,000 to train and certify agriculture producers in Louisiana through a Master Farmer program

• $235,000 for the Chenier Plain Sustainability Initiative for McNeese State University These funds will restore the wetland hydrology and ecotype marshes of Chenier Plain in Southwest Louisiana

• $188,000 for improving Louisiana's diverse aquaculture industry, with a focus on enhancing populations of crawfish, cultured finfish, and catfish, as well as protecting aquatic species from disease and improving water quality and waste by-products

• $188,000 for genetic improvements to establish wetland plant species over large areas of threatened wetlands

• $188,000 for tillage, siviculture and waste management

• $94,000 to stop blackbird depredation of rice seedlings

• $69,000 for the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries for West Nile Virus Disease prevention

• $1,903,000 for the Clean Power Energy Research Consortium

• $190,000 for McNeese State University in Lake Charles, La., to provide professional development to improve student writing

• $285,000 to Miles Perret Cancer Services in Lafayette, La., for the purchase and equipping of a mobile unit for use in rural areas

• $380,000 for Louisiana statewide buses and bus facilities

• $712,500 for the Acadiana Outreach Center in Lafayette, La., to build a mixed-income housing development

• $237,500 for the Lake Charles Riverfront Development Plan

• $237,500 for the city of Lake Charles to build a wetlands center

• $190,000 for the Center for Planning Excellence for Louisiana's Smart Growth initiative

• $400,000 for Long Term Estuary Assessments Group

• $800,000 for the Louisiana District Attorney's Association to support an early-intervention program for at-risk elementary students

• $200,000 for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Louisiana to increase programming for at-risk children in Southwest Louisiana

• $200,000 for the Lafayette Police Department for interoperable communication