CONGRESS PLANS FUNDING LOCAL PROJECTS RECEIVE BUDGET SUPPORT.

Byline: Krystn Shrieve Staff Writer

Hoping to secure funding for local projects - from $252 million for National Guard aircraft at Channel to $300,000 for a fire engine in Santa Paula - local congressmen saw early returns last week as the federal budget began to take shape.

Rep. Elton Gallegly, R-Oxnard, gained House approval for $10.2 million to construct a new ship defense combat engineering facility at the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Port Hueneme, and $12.6 million to expand and renovate the Point Mugu Range Operations Center.

Meanwhile, Rep. Brad Sherman, D-Woodland Hills, received House approval for $1 million to expand the smart shuttle bus system in Calabasas, and appropriations committee approval for $1.34 million to acquire land in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreations Area.

But lawmakers are bracing for the long haul at the beginning stages of a budget process that is expected to run through September.

``Any time on the first one out of the box, you can get $23 million and everything you've worked hard for, it feels good,'' Gallegly said. ``These naval issues have been on my plate since before I was elected to Congress.''

Sherman had hoped to secure more federal money for the trails in the Santa Monica Mountains, but took the support for a smaller amount in stride.

``We were only modestly successful in getting money for the Santa Monica Mountains,'' Sherman said. ``The House bill contains $1.34 million, but we had asked for $4.4 million. What you ask for is not always what you expect to get. Half or a bit more than half would have been nice.''

Sherman was shot down in his efforts to get $252 million for four C-130J aircraft for the National Guard station at Channel Islands.

``In peacetime these planes are outstanding for firefighting,'' Sherman said. ``But we didn't get them. But at least I laid a foundation and will try again to get it next year.''

Once budget requests get through the House, they must also pass through the Senate and get a final nod from the president to become law.

In coming weeks, other budget requests that will go through various appropriations committees include Gallegly's proposals for $5.5 million for continued earthquake safety work on Lake Casitas Dam; $500,000 to complete the gymnasium and community center at El Rio High School in Oxnard; and $16.9 million for an electronic system that detects incoming artillery, mortars and rockets.

``We just take them one a time,'' Gallegly said. ``I'm always reluctant to make a commitment that we think any of these are done deals.''

Sherman said all members of Congress are fighting for an already small piece of the pie.

``The thing is, 99 percent of the federal budget is not earmarked for individual projects,'' Sherman said. ``But as long as 1 percent of budget is available, I'm going to be pushing for solid projects from my district.''

Among those on his list are $2.75 million for a Newbury Park day care facility, $2 million for the new Las Virgenes Library in Agoura Hills, $3 million for Thousand Oaks Library improvements and $700,000 for the Las Virgenes Municipal Water District's wastewater diversion plan.

U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., also has requested that the $2 million for the Agoura Hills regional library be approved.

``I came into this cycle believing the only thing I thought we'd get money for was the Santa Monica Mountains,'' Sherman said. ``Everything else was a series of pretty long shots.

``I'll keep fighting for them, but none of them is better than a long shot from the top of the key. And I'm not talking about a shot by Kobe Bryant, I'm talking about a shot by a fan from the stands - perhaps a balding congressman.''

LOCAL PROJECTS

Here are some of the projects successfully pushed through the House of Representatives by local congressmen:

Congressman Elton Gallegly, R-Oxnard

$22.8 million for two naval projects.

$16.9 million for a Shortstop Electrical Protection System which detects incoming artillery, mortars and rockets.

$5.5 for earthquake safety work on Casitas Dam.

$3 million for sand replenishment in the Channel Islands Harbor.

$2.24 for maintaining and dredging the Ventura Harbor.

$2 million to integrate the information systems of law enforcement agencies in Ventura County.

$300,000 for a new fire engine in Santa Paula.

Congressman Brad Sherman, D-Woodland Hills

$252 million for four C-130J aircraft for the Channel Islands National Guard station at Channel Islands.

$4.4 million for projects in the Santa Monica Mountains.

$3 million for improvements to the Thousand Oaks library.

$2.5 million for a new child care center in Newbury Park.

$2 million for the Las Virgenes Library in Agoura Hills.

$1 million for the Calabasas Smart Shuttle program.

$1 million to complete the Agoura Bike Lane Gap Closure, which will connect bike lanes in Agoura Hills with other existing lanes to the west.

$700,000 for a planned bus terminal and park-and-ride facility in Thousand Oaks.

CAPTION(S):

box

Box: Loca Projects (see text)