Sen. Patrick Leahy has secured $3 million to complete construction of the Lake Champlain Basin Science Center on Burlington’s waterfront.

Leahy included the funds in the bill containing the annual budgets of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). HUD will provide $2 million to the center and EPA, $1 million. Congress now has sent the bill to President Bush, and Leahy said he will sign it any day.

Half of the cost of the new $13 million facility is being federally supplied through this and earlier funds secured by Leahy, and the other half comes from private contributions. Leahy also earlier obtained another million-dollar grant to help with construction of the UVM Rubenstein Ecosystem Science Laboratory, which is co-located as part of science center. The Center will focus on the public education and interpretation of the wide range of issues affecting Lake Champlain with its science museum, hands-on research and multi-faceted programming.

"Lake Champlain is the jewel of New England, and the Science Center will be its showcase," said Leahy. "Vermonters and visitors and scientists and students will all use the center to study and appreciate the lake in all its aspects. The center will also be important as a gateway attraction that will draw visitors to Burlington’s waterfront."

The Lake Champlain Basin Science Center opened in 1995 with the support of the City of

Burlington and the University of Vermont and through Leahy’s commitment to the project. It originally occupied the former Naval Reserve Center –– "the blue box" –– at the base of College Street. With its hands-on learning stations and accessible interpretation of scientific research, the center has become a popular attraction for area students, educators and families while also becoming an increasingly popular visitors attraction.

Sarah Muyskens, Board Chair of the Center for Lake Champlain, said, "Senator Leahy has been a staunch supporter of the Center from day one. This project would not be here without him and is a wonderful example of his long commitment to the protection and enhancement of Lake Champlain."

Leahy is a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and of its subcommittee that oversees the budgets of HUD, EPA and several other agencies.

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Nov. 21-23, 2001