A local member of Congress is pushing hard to tap into the $800-billion stimulus package expected to be passed when President-elect Barack Obama takes office.

Democratic Rep. Nita Lowey, who represents parts of Westchester and Rockland counties such as Mamaroneck, is calling on Obama and Congress to include $14 billion for work on sewage plants and other water infrastructure projects.

"These funds would create an estimated [500,000] water infrastructure jobs," Lowey says.

Lowey is a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee and is prodding the committee's chairman to include the water projects in the stimulus package.