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Pallone: Congress Approves $240,000 for New Brunswick Children's Hospital

November 22, 2004

Washington, D.C. --- U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) said today that the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate approved a giant funding bill for Fiscal Year (FY) 2005 this weekend that included $240,000 in funding for the expansion of the Bristol-Myers Squibb Childrens Hospital (BMSCH) at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) in New Brunswick. Pallone requested the funds earlier this year in a letter to the members of the House Labor and Heath and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee.

BMSCH is New Jerseys only freestanding, state-designated, acute care childrens hospital and is uniquely qualified to handle the most life-threatening illnesses or injuries. Pallone says the $240,000 in funds will allow BMSCH to integrate and expand existing services and to offer new programs, such as pediatric neurosurgery, cardiac and transplant programs. Additionally, one floor will be dedicated to the treatment of childhood diseases, specifically tertiary services such as oncology, cardiovascular and transplant services.

"The Bristol-Myers Squibb Children's Hospital serves as an anchor for an array of children's services that are unique to New Jersey, allowing children to receive advanced care and therapies in state," the New Jersey congressman said. "These funds will allow the hospital to expand to meet increased demand, as well as to better integrate current healthcare services."

The funds were included in a giant $388 billion spending bill that combines nine appropriations bills into one omnibus bill funding domestic programs and foreign operations for FY 2005, which officially began on October 1, 2004. The legislation now awaits the president's signature.