Comprehensive Health Care Reform Act of 2009

Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding Member priority requests I received as part of H.R. 1105, the ``Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009.''

Requesting Member: Congressman Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon

Bill Number: H.R. 1105, Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009

Account: Department of Justice, Juvenile Justice Programs

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: The City of Victorville

Address of Requesting Entity: 14343 Civic Drive, PO Box 5001, Victorville, CA 92393

Description of Request: I requested and received a Member priority request totaling $82,500 to assist with the Uturn Gang Prevention Program evaluation and assessment component. Uturn Gang Prevention Program will focus on elementary school age at-risk youth, along with their immediate families. The focal point will be three areas of accountability: home, school and community. The Uturn program aims to work with at-risk families willing to make a two-year commitment to involvement in services. The goal is to develop at risk children's full personal potential so that they will not be attracted to gang involvement.

The City of Victorville will contract evaluation and assessment services through California State University San Bernardino, College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Department of Social Work. Evaluation and assessment services will track participants' behavioral changes, school attendance, communication skills, academic trends, family involvement, and communication skill sets.

Ultimately this program will evaluate and assess the individual and collective development of the youth and families. This program will enhance the family structure and strengthen values. The progress of the program participants will be tracked every 6 months for a two year period insuring behavioral, emotional and family stability. The success of the program insuring gang life will be less attractive and irrelevant to the youth.

Requesting Member: Congressman Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon

Bill Number: H.R. 1105, Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009

Account: Department of Justice, Law Enforcement and Interoperable Program (COPS Technology)

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: City of Palmdale, California

Address of Requesting Entity: 38300 Sierra Highway, Palmdale, CA 93550

Description of Request: I requested and received a Member priority request totaling $100,000 for the City of Palmdale's Technology Acquisition for Joint Law Enforcement Emergency Operations Center. The City of Palmdale is vulnerable to earthquake and fire disasters, which have been identified in the City's local hazard mitigation plan. While the City has an emergency operations center, it is currently inadequate to accommodate a full-scale deployment of staffing to respond to a catastrophic event.

Additionally, the City's contract law enforcement agency, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, does not currently have a departmental operations center that is adequate to service their needs in a disaster. The new site will allow the City flexibility in its response, a larger facility to accommodate joint operations between the City of Palmdale, the Los Angeles County Fire Department and Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. This project will allow the City of Palmdale to better respond to natural or man-made disasters. It will provide an alternate facility to be jointly used by the City, law, and fire branches.

Requesting Member: Congressman Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon

Bill Number: H.R. 1105, Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009 Account: Department of Justice, Juvenile Justice

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: CASA of Los Angeles County

Address of Requesting Entity: CASA of Los Angeles County, Lancaster office, 1040 West Avenue J, Room 1130 Lancaster, CA 93534-3329

Description of Request: I requested and received a Member priority request totaling $300,000 for the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Los Angeles County Lancaster program. The funding is specifically to recruit and train additional CASA volunteers to provide advocacy services to 120 additional abused and neglected foster children in the Antelope Valley area. CASA of Los Angeles County will provide any required match for this program.

CASA of Los Angeles services the needs of abused and neglected children in the foster care system through the recruitment, training, supervision and support of community volunteers who investigate the circumstances of each child, facilitate the provisions of services, monitor compliance with the orders of the court and advocate for the best interests of the child.

Requesting Member: Congressman Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon

Bill Number: H.R. 1105, Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009

Account: Environmental Protection Agency, State and Tribal Assistance Grants

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: The City of Barstow

Address of Requesting Entity: 220 East Mountain View Street, Suite A, Barstow, CA 92311

Description of Request: I requested and received a Member priority request totaling $500,000 to assist with the City of Barstow Sewer Master Plan Implementation, Phase II. This project involves constructing de-nitrification facilities at the City's wastewater reclamation facility (WRF) to reduce effluent nitrate levels and expand and upgrade the WRF from a secondary to a tertiary treatment facility. This project is critical to reducing the amount of nitrate pollution generated by the City's WRF and mitigating the overdraft of the Mojave River basin, the Southern California High Desert Region's sole natural source of water. In FY08, the City of Barstow received $500,000 to partially fund the de-nitrification facility construction. The FY09 funding will be used to fund the balance of the construction of the de- nitrification facility. The City of Barstow will provide a minimum of a 50/50 cost share for the remaining funding.

Requesting Member: Congressman Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon

Bill Number: H.R. 1105, Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009

Account: USDA Forest Service, Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF)

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Pacific Crest Trail Association

Address of Requesting Entity: 5325 Elkhorn Blvd., PMB 256, Sacramento, CA 95842

Description of Request: I requested and received a Member priority request totaling $500,000 to assist the Pacific Crest Trail Association (PCTA) with land acquisition to protect public access to the The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). Land acquisition would occur in the following areas: Agua Dulce/Soledad Canyon, CA to relocate the trail off dangerous roadway, Pilot Rock, OR to aquire privately owned parcels from willing sellers within the Cascade Siskiyou National Monument that include the PCT, Plum Creek Timberlands, WA to protect the trail corridor from development pressures, Tejon Ranch, CA to reroute the trail from the temporary Mojave Desert route to the originally proposed crest route, and for program administration.

The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) is the western treasure of America's scenic trails, spanning 2,650 miles from Mexico to Canada through California, Oregon and Washington. Thousands of hikers and equestrians enjoy this national treasure each year. The need for federal assistance is apparent as the PCT crosses or is near 26 National Forests, 7 National Parks, 5 State Parks, 4 Bureau of Land Management resource areas, and several state and county parks and has been a part of the National Trail System since October 2, 1968.

Requesting Member: Congressman Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon

Bill Number: H.R. 1105, Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009

Account: Department of Health and Human Services, Healthcare Resources Service Agency

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital

Address of Requesting Entity: 23845 McBean Parkway, Valencia, CA 91355

Description of Request: I requested and received a Member priority request totaling $333,000 to assist Henry Mayo Hospital with the design and construction of a helipad at the hospital necessary to provide emergency care for over 680 square miles of the diverse geography of north Los Angeles County, which is one of the fastest growing communities in the nation. Funding will allow the hospital to maintain its relationship with L.A. County trauma system also assist with flight safety and efficiency upgrades to existing infrastructure.

Requesting Member: Congressman Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon

Bill Number: H.R. 1105, Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009

Account: Department of Education, Higher Education Account (FIPSE)

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: College of the Canyons

Address of Requesting Entity: 26455 Rockwell Canyon Road, Santa Clarita, CA 91355, USA

Description of Request: I requested and received a Member priority request totaling $238,000 to increase access to higher education and advanced training through The College of the Canyons University Center Consortium. The Consortium will support economic development by providing advanced education and training for the local work force, making the State of California a more competitive and stable area. Single parents and working adults who must commute to other areas in which universities are located, often experience barriers to pursuing education including childcare, work schedules and geographic barriers.

The University Center Consortium was created to create model programs to remove these barriers. The consortium is requesting funding to increase the number of bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs available in participating communities by 50 within 3 years, increase the number of students pursuing their higher education degree to more than 1,000 annually within 3 years, disseminate specific information on the University Center model including evaluation of best practices to at least 100 colleges annually, further development of University Centers at College of the Canyons, Canada College, and Shasta College, develop model agreements, handbooks, and planning documents that can be shared with any interested college statewide and nationally, evaluate characteristics of successful university centers within the context of local community needs and disseminate information about successful practices through the Web, an annual conference for colleges with existing programs as well as colleges interested in developing new programs, and University Center Briefs highlighting challenges, experiences and best practices.

Requesting Member: Congressman Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon

Bill Number: H.R. 1105, Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009

Account: Department of Health and Human Services, Healthcare Resources Service Agency

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Victor Valley Community Hospital

Address of Requesting Entity: 15248 11th St. Victorville, CA 92395

Description of Request: I requested and received a Member priority request totaling $143,000 to assist Victor Valley Community Hospital with a Healthcare Modernization and Technical Advancements program. Specifically funding will purchase MRI Equipment, CT Scan equipment, and help cover Integration and Implementation, personnel, and training costs. Furthermore, the funding would be used for advanced services such as arthritis care, behavioral health and counseling, community wellness programs, poison control, and senior health services.

The hospital would like to improve access to state-of-the art healthcare for members of the community. As such, modernization and advancement is required to ensure the residents of the Victor Valley receive quality medical treatment in a timely fashion.

Requesting Member: Congressman Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon

Bill Number: H.R. 1105, Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009

Account: Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Surface Transportation Projects

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: City of Palmdale, California

Address of Requesting Entity: 38300 Sierra Highway, Palmdale, CA 93550

Description of Request: I requested and received a Member priority request totaling $475,000 to help the City of Palmdale, CA complete Phase I of the Rancho Vista Boulevard (Avenue P) project, which is a regionally

significant transportation corridor that provides primary access to Palmdale Regional Airport and U.S. Air Force Plant 42. The City of Palmdale will use the federal funds for construction to increase safety and capacity of a 2.7-mile section of Rancho Vista Boulevard between SR-14 and 20th Street East; specifically the highly congested \3/4\- mile section between 3rd Street East and 10th Street East. Project is in the RTIP/FTIP. Federal funds have been used in design, and additional Federal funds, in the amount of $2.8 million (SAFETEA-LU), have already been secured for construction of Phase One. In addition, Phase I local funds include approximately $240,000 in Local funds and approximately $343,000 in STP-L (State Transportation Program--Local federal-aid funds), from FFY 2002-03 through FFY 2006-07, with additional $400,000 programmed in FFY 07-08, will be expended in design, environmental documentation, right-of-way acquisition, utility relocation and railroad coordination.

Requesting Member: Congressman Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon

Bill Number: H.R. 1105, Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009

Account: Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Transportation and Community and Systems Preservation

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: The City of Barstow

Address of Requesting Entity: 220 East Mountain View Street, Suite A, Barstow, CA 92311

Description of Request: I requested and received a Member priority request totaling $237,500 to assist with the City of Barstow Lenwood Road Grade Separation Project. This $23 million multi-year project involves the design and construction of a grade-separated railroad crossing to eliminate time delays experienced by vehicular traffic. The Lenwood Road Grade Separation project is a key component of the Alameda Corridor East Grade Separation Project, a national goods movement plan for the movement of goods from the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. The funding received in FY09 will be used to start up the preliminary engineering and environmental assessment components of the project, totaling $1.6 million. The City of Barstow will provide a minimum of a 50/50 cost share for the remaining $23 million, and this funding will come directly from the City, San Bernardino County, and other local government agencies.

Requesting Member: Congressman Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon

Bill Number: H.R. 1105, Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009

Account: Department of Transportation, Federal Transit Administration, Bus and Bus Facilities

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: City of Palmdale, California

Address of Requesting Entity: 38300 Sierra Highway, Palmdale, CA 93550

Description of Request: I requested and received a Member priority request totaling $380,000 for the City of Palmdale's Transportation Center to expand the train platform to accommodate the need for additional Metrolink train cars. The project provides for an extension of the existing Metrolink platform by 170 feet, from 510 feet to 680 feet, to conform to current Metrolink standards, which were adopted after construction of the center. Construction of 170 feet of platform would also include shelters, lighting, signage and drainage. Since 2005, the number of visitors has increased dramatically, especially Metrolink train riders. It is estimated that the train riders occupy 80% of the available parking spaces at the Center (approximately 600 of the 730 spaces).

Metrolink estimates that there are 6,100 riders during the weekday and that number is anticipated to grow 6-8% each year, necessitating additional train cars. Currently the train platform can only accommodate 6 Metrolink train cars (which is the current configuration for this line), while the latest standards call for a train platform to accommodate 8 train cars (the platform was constructed to Metrolink's standards in effect at the time). Local funding for the project includes: $5.64 million from Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro); $320,000 from Antelope Valley Air Quality District; $208,000 from Antelope Valley Transit Authority; $200,000 from Los Angeles County; and $129,000 from Antelope Valley Union High School District.

Requesting Member: Congressman Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon

Bill Number: H.R. 1105, Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009

Account: Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, Training and Employment Services

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: City of Palmdale, California

Address of Requesting Entity: 38300 Sierra Highway, Palmdale, CA 93550

Description of Request: I requested and received a Member priority request totaling $238,000 for the City of Palmdale and the South Valley WorkSource Center (SVWC) to further develop and fully implement the second year of the Business Resource Network. In early 2008, the City of Palmdale was notified of being awarded $147,000 ($360,000 was requested) toward the first year start-up of this program. It is an economic development support program that will connect area small businesses to organized public and private business resources offered by the South Valley WorkSource, Business Advisory Board, private sector partners, business and economic development organizations, educational institutions, City Government Business Outreach Department, and Department of Rehabilitation. This project will address the need to increase and augment business recruitment and retention of small businesses (1 to 25 employees) in the City of Palmdale and surrounding areas. The project will enhance connections between area firms and available public and private business resources, which are designed to increase worker skills preparedness, reduce the potential for employee lay-offs and business closures, and promote continuing local economic development and growth.

Requesting Member: Congressman Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon

Bill Number: H.R. 1105, Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009

Account: Department of the Interior, Environmental Protection Agency, State and Tribal Assistant Grants, Training and Employment Services

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: County of Los Angeles Department of Public Works

Address of Requesting Entity: 900 South Fremont Avenue, Alhambra, CA 91803-1331

Description of Request: I requested and received a Member priority request totaling $900,000 for the County of Los Angeles Department of Public Works consisting to construct Phase 1B of the North Los Angeles County Regional Recycled Water Project (Regional Project). Approximately 8.5 miles of 24-inch-diameter recycled water pipeline, a 1.5 million-gallon storage reservoir, and a pump station will be constructed to add to Phase lA of the Regional Project that was previously constructed cooperatively by the City of Lancaster and Los Angeles County Waterworks District No. 40, Antelope Valley (District). Phase 1B will add a recycled water pipeline that runs along Division Street to Avenue K, along Sierra Highway to Rancho Vista Boulevard, and along Rancho Vista Boulevard to 10th Street West. The storage reservoir will be constructed at an existing tank site near Rancho Vista Boulevard and 10th Street West, and the pump station will be constructed near Avenue E and Division Street.

Phase 1B represents a critical component of the estimated $120 million Regional Project to construct a recycled water backbone distribution system to serve the cities of Lancaster, Palmdale, and surrounding unincorporated communities in the Antelope Valley. Phase 1B includes the necessary infrastructure to serve recycled water to customers with identified uses for 2 billion gallons of recycled water per year. The beneficial use of recycled water will increase the reliability of the Antelope Valley's limited water supplies, decrease reliance on imported water and local groundwater supplies, and provide a viable means for reusing treated wastewater.

The County's request for the project will be matched by $17.5 million in non-Federal funds.

Requesting Member: Congressman Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon

Bill Number: H.R. 1105, Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009

Account: Army Corps of Engineers, Construction

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Castaic Lake Water Agency (CLWA)

Address of Requesting Entity: 27234 Bouquet Canyon Road, Santa Clarita, CA 91350

Description of Request: I requested and received a Member priority request totaling $1.148 million to implement the cleanup of perchlorate groundwater contamination at the former Whittaker-Bermite site in the City of Santa Clarita. Characterization studies and treatment system design have been completes by December 2008 and commencement of operations to clean up the contaminated groundwater from the wells is anticipated to start by January 2009. CLWA will provide in-kind services amounting to at least $2,156,000. This project was authorized as part of H.R. 1495, the Water Resources Development Act of 2007, and has received a total of $10,651,000 from FY 2001-FY 2008.

Requesting Member: Congressman Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon

Bill Number: H.R. 1105, Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009

Account: Army Corps of Engineers, Investigations

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: The City of Santa Clarita

Address of Requesting Entity: 23920 Valencia Blvd. #300 Santa Clarita, CA 91355

Description of Request: I requested and received a Member priority request totaling

$239,000 to continue with the initial Project Management Plan component of the Feasibility Phase of the Santa Clara River Study being conducted with the Army Corps of Engineers. Work being funded would include a groundwater characterization study, public outreach and partnership formation with key community groups, development of baseline data, and environmental studies. In November 2002, the Army Corps of Engineers approved the Santa Clara River Reconnaissance Study. The study's focus includes potential habitat restoration, flood protection and ancillary recreation opportunities for the Santa Clara River, located in Southern California.

Requesting Member: Congressman Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon

Bill Number: H.R. 1105, Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009

Account: Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Transportation and Community and Systems Preservation

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: The City of Santa Clarita

Address of Requesting Entity: 23920 Valencia Blvd. #300 Santa Clarita, CA 91355

Description of Request: I requested and received a Member priority request totaling $570,000 to complete the last remaining section of the Cross Valley Connector. The last portion of this vital highway project consists of an 1100-foot bridge over the Santa Clara River. The bridge recently completed an environmental review and construction commenced in the fall of 2008 with completion expected in early 2010. This request is consistent with the intended purposes and authorization of the Federal highway Administration as it fulfills local transportation planning. The project will provide much needed regional congestive relief as well as provide additional capacity.

Requesting Member: Congressman Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon

Bill Number: H.R. 1105, Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009

Account: Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Transportation and Community and Systems Preservation

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: The Autry National Center for the American West

Address of Requesting Entity: 23920 Valencia Blvd. #300 Santa Clarita, CA 91355

Description of Request: I requested and received a Member priority request totaling $167,000 for the Autry National Center for the American West. This funding would assist with the construction of a new Southwest Museum facility at the Museum's Griffith Park campus.

Support will allow the design and creation of new facilities along with planning, design, and public programming of educational immersion environments and visible collections storage. These interactive spaces will allow the Autry to teach local, national, and international visitors about the many diverse cultures who have shaped the American West.

Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of H.R. 3183--Energy and Water Appropriations Act, 2010.

Requested by Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen

Bill number: H.R. 3183

Account: Army Corps of Engineers, Construction

Amount: $500,000

Project: Florida Keys Wastewater Improvement Project

Requested by: City of Key West, City of Marathon, Key Largo Wastewater Treatment District

Federal funding of this project is needed to continue moving forward with the initiative outlined in The Florida Keys Water Quality Improvements Act, which authorized $100 million

for water quality improvements in the Keys. For several years there has been growing concern that the near-shore waters of the Florida Keys have been deteriorating due to inadequate wastewater and storm water facilities. These are the waters of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and home to the only living coral reef in the continental United States.

Requested by Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen

Bill number: H.R. 3183

Account: Army Corps of Engineers, Operation and Maintenance

Amount: $4,500,000

Project: Intracoastal Waterway, Jacksonville to Miami, FL

Requested by: Florida Inland Navigation District

The Intracoastal Waterway (IWW) is a critical part of Florida's eastern-shore economy and therefore its timely dredging is of serious importance. The Waterway annually: transports over 1 million tons of commercial cargo and over 500,000 recreational vessels; increases property values by $38.4 billion; and provides $7.9 billion in economic output which includes $2.6 billion in personal wages and 124,857 jobs. Studies by FIND, the local sponsor of the IWW, have shown that these benefits would be reduced by 50 percent if the Waterway were not properly maintained.

Requested by Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen

Bill number: H.R. 3183

Account: Department of Energy, EERE Account

Amount: $1,000,000

Project: Going Green Initiative

Requested by: Miami Children's Museum

This project will allow the Museum to preserve and protect the world's natural resources using environmentally advanced, sustainable, and renewable and/or recyclable materials and systems in the building. In addition, it will allow the Museum to educate its audience about its environmentally friendly building and high-performance features through a variety of hands-on programs and project based activities for classroom and home continued learning.

Requested by Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen

Bill number: H.R. 3183

Account: Army Corps of Engineers, Construction

Amount: $600,000

Project: Miami Harbor Channel Dredging

Requested by: Miami-Dade County, Florida

This funding request is for the General Reevaluation Report Implementation, Preconstruction, Engineering, and Design for the dredging of Miami Harbor. The funding was authorized via 2007 (H.R. 1495) for preconstruction, engineering, and design of the recommended project. This will address the federal share at 100% of the anticipated costs for plans and specifications preparation.

Requested by Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen

Bill number: H.R. 3183

Account: Army Corps of Engineers, Operation and Maintenance

Amount: $777,000

Project: Miami River Dredging

Requested by: Miami-Dade County, Florida

This request is for the final phase of the Miami River Dredging Project to restore authorized depth and width to the navigation channel. This project, funded by the Army Corps of Engineers with a coalition of local sponsors led by Miami-Dade County, removes contaminated sediments from the Miami River--Florida's 4th largest port with an economic value of $4 billion. Since it was improved for navigation in the 1930s, the river has never received comprehensive maintenance dredging. Sediments have accumulated in the margins of the federal channel making it narrower and shallower, thereby limiting activities of freighters that utilize ship terminals along the river. Dredging and disposal of the contaminated sediments is expected to improve navigation and enhance the environmental quality of the River and downstream portions of Biscayne Bay.

Pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information for publication in the Congressional Record regarding earmarks I received as part of H.R. 3283--Department of Education Appropriations, 2010.

Requested by Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen

Bill number: H.R. 3283

Account: HHS-HRSA

Amount: $500,000

Project: Construction of a new behavioral health facility for the homeless

Requested by: Camillus House

Camillus House, Inc. is requesting support of costs to relocate and expand its main center of operations located in downtown Miami. This funding would supplement funds already provided through HRSA for design and architecture services for this project. The requested will be used entirely for construction costs. Camillus House, Inc. services include basic emergency services such as food and shelter, substance abuse and mental health treatment, primary health care, housing, and career development at 15 sites around Miami-Dade County.

Requested by Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen

Bill number: H.R. 3283

Account: HHS-HRSA

Amount: $500,000

Project: Information Technology Infrastructure

Requested by: Jackson Health System

Jackson is a fully integrated health care system with 3 major hospitals, 12 primary care centers, 16 school-based clinics, a mental health facility, 2 mobile health vans and a major health plan. Jackson is the primary safety net provider in Miami-Dade County and one of the busiest emergency rooms in the Nation. Jackson's Advanced Clinical Knowledge System (JACKS) has been implemented at Jackson Memorial Hospital and helps with patient scheduling improving efficiencies and reducing redundancies in the delivery of care. The Public Health Trust, the board that governs Jackson Health System, has approved expansion of this system to our other 2 hospitals in opposite ends of the county, Jackson South Community Hospital and Jackson North Medical Center. The expansion will ensure continuity throughout all of their hospitals.

Requested by Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen

Bill number: H.R. 3283

Account: Department of Education, FIE

Amount: $300,000

Project: United Way Center for Excellence in Education

Requested by: United Way of Miami-Dade

The Center for Excellence in Early Education improves the quality of early care and education by modeling and providing best practices in early care and education and collaborates with local, state and federal agencies to ensure sustainability of its work. Through its unique composition, the Center offers informative, applicable training on early education and pilots effective programs that help teachers educate, parents understand and providers/owners care for our youngest citizens, locally, regionally and nationwide.

Requested by Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen

Bill number: H.R. 3283

Account: HHS-HRSA

Amount: $200,000

Project: Health Center Equipment Upgrades

Requested by: Miami Beach Community Health Center

To expand children's comprehensive health services including health care. To provide preventive and comprehensive primary care to all adult patients including health care. To provide comprehensive primary care and referrals for specialty care for patients with HIV/AIDS including health care. To continue to provide comprehensive total quality management program for all clinical programs. To update and implement recruitment and retention protocol for staff and for the replacement of a roof.

Requested by Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen

Bill number: H.R. 3283

Account: Department of Education, FIPSE

Amount: $300,000

Project: Science and Computer Advancement Center for Elementary Education

Requested by: St. Thomas University

To extend its outreach to the community by offering a professional development program to advance the teaching of science and technology in elementary schools in Miami-Dade County. St. Thomas University will partner with Title I elementary school teachers and other schools in northwest Miami-Dade in the vicinity of the STU campus to raise level of quality, student success and student enjoyment of science and computer learning in elementary schools. They will involve elementary school teachers from these schools in science and computers to improve teaching effectiveness through continuously offered workshops, seminars, college credit courses and online courses. Improve existing science and computer curriculum at the elementary level to result in raising the level of science teaching in the middle and high schools.

Pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information for publication in the Congressional Record regarding earmarks I received as part of H.R. 3326--Department of Defense Appropriations, 2010.

Requested by Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen

Bill number: H.R. 3326

Account: RDT&E--Navy

Amount: $2,800,000

Project: Instrumented Underwater Training Systems

Requested by: Florida Keys Community College

The Instrumented Underwater Training Systems (IUTS) program benefits the Department of Defense by providing mission critical training to the Navy and other agencies responsible for securing personnel and assets in maritime domains. In response to the persistent threat to forward- deployed service personnel and assets, and the continued threat of attack on critical infrastructure and ports, the IUTS program ensures effective techniques are used by divers to identify and mitigate potential threats and hazards and ensures the safety of response divers and personnel. A

fully implemented IUTS program will protect personnel, assets, and critical infrastructure at both domestic and forward-deployed locations.

Requested by Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen

Bill number: H.R. 3326

Account: RDT&E--Defense Wide

Amount: $4,500,000

Project: Transformer Technology for Combat Submersibles

Requested by: STIDD Systems

This request will enable USSOCOM to conduct a formal technology design, development, documentation and demonstration of the TTCS. One prototype craft will be designed, fabricated, tested and evaluated for technology transition into either the USSOCOM SDV or SWCS programs of record.

Requested by Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen

Bill number: H.R. 3326

Account: RDT&E--Army

Amount: $1,500,000

Project: Minority Student Neuroscience Research Consortium

Requested by: St. Thomas University

The Department of Veterans Affairs spends over $320 million annually on direct costs for SCI. Other related costs for medications and rehabilitation may run in the billions of dollars. The lifetime costs for an injured person can run up to more than 1.5 million dollars. The goal of this program is to develop treatments for SCI repair through axon regeneration and functional recovery for our injured veterans.

Requested by Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen

Bill number: H.R. 3326

Account: RDT&E--Army

Amount: $3,000,000

Project: Center for Ophthalmic Innovation

Requested by: University of Miami

Severe ocular injuries from combat encountered in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan represent a significant and frequent source of lifetime visual disability and is of immediate concern to the DOD. Approximately 10-17% of war casualties are due to eye trauma. The Center for Ophthalmic Innovation is successfully working to lessen the morbidity of traumatic ocular injuries in military operations, as well as to explore newer modalities to assist in the visual restoration of the injured personnel.

Pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information for publication in the Congressional Record regarding earmarks I received as part of H.R. 3170--Financial Services Appropriations, 2010.

Requested by Rep. Ros-Lehtinen

Bill number: H.R. 3170

Account: Small Business Administration

Amount: $100,000

Project: Institute for Community and Economic Development

Requested by: Barry University

The Barry University Institute for Community and Economic Development must continue to expand its reach and leverage its new Entrepreneurial Institute, dedicated to poverty elimination through the development of entrepreneurial skills in the community. The Institute delivers research-based education and training to minority and women-owned business enterprises and those providing leadership in the non-profit sector in South Florida. Expansion of the Institute will offer more small businesses, family businesses and community-based/non-profit organizations to meet the challenges related to the present economic downturn.

Requested by Rep. Ros-Lehtinen

Bill number: H.R. 3170

Account: Small Business Administration

Amount: $300,000

Project: Institute for Intermodal Transportation

Requested by: Miami-Dade College

The Intermodal Transportation Training Center allows MDC to effectively meet the training requirements of all forms of transportation, and transportation related activities. The planned location of the Intermodal Transportation Center is at the Miami International Airport (MIA), which would situate the School in close proximity to the Miami Intermodal Center (MIC) currently under construction. This location would serve as a benefit to both the MIC and the school as a trained and skilled workforce is developed by the School to meet the ongoing employment needs at the MIC. Courses at MIA are set to begin January 2010.

Miami Dade College is uniquely positioned to provide this training through an Institute for Intermodal Transportation (IIT). MDC has a foundation for the coursework and training through its various departments and schools. A number of the educational programs are in aviation under its Eig-Watson School of Aviation. Additional related programs which would support the IIT are Miami Dade College currently offers 3 baccalaureate programs with numerous tracks. Over 200 associate degrees and career training certificates are available and could have application to the Intermodal Institute.

Pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information for publication in the Congressional Record regarding earmarks I received as part of H.R. 3288--Transportation Appropriations, 2010.

Requested by Rep. Ros-Lehtinen

Bill number: H.R. 3288

Account: DOT, Bus and Bus Facilities

Amount: $1,000,000

Project: Transit Facility and Bus Passenger Access Lane Construction along US 1

Requested by: City of Key West, FL

Key West needs to construct a new full scale transit facility to house their buses and bus equipment. The city also needs to construct bus apron access to as many as 44 bus stops along US 1, which have been part of the JARC shuttle services in operation since August 2005.

Requested by Rep. Ros-Lehtinen

Bill number: H.R. 3288

Account: DOT, Bus and Bus Facilities

Amount: $250,000

Project: Bus Shelter Replacement

Requested by: Bal Harbour, FL

Many elderly and working age citizens utilize public transit to travel to and/or from Bal Harbour Village. The bus shelters currently in place are deteriorating and do not provide adequate shelter from the elements. As the economy declines, more people depend upon public transportation. Replacing the current shelters/benches will provide more adequate facilities for those waiting for public transportation in the hot sun, wind and rain.

Madam Speaker, I submit the following:

Requesting Member: Representative Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-25)

Bill Number: H.R. 3183

Account: Construction

Name of Requesting Entity: South Florida Water Management District

Address of Requesting Entity: 3301 Gun Club Road, West Palm Beach, FL 33406

Description of Request: I have secured $210,239,000 for the South Florida Everglades Ecosystem restoration, FL: Central and Southern FL (C&SF) Project: Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan, FL. This funding will be used for the South Florida Everglades Ecostem Restoration: Six projects which are vital to ongoing Everglades Restoration efforts: Picayune Strand--The project involves the restoration of natural water flows across 85-square miles in western Collier County that were previously cleared for a residential community. The project includes construction of three pump stations with spreader canals, the plugging of 40-miles of canals and the removal of 227-miles of roads. Levees will be installed, as required, to provide flood protection for adjacent private properties that would be impacted by the project. ($56 million) Indian River Lagoon--The project will include a 3,400-acres above-ground reservoir to capture local basin runoff with 6,300-acres of storm water Treatment Areas. The project will decrease the excessive water flows into the St. Lucie Estuary, improve the water quality by treating the water entering the Estuary and provide water supplies for the environmental and human needs of the area. ($75 million) Site 1 Impoundment--This project involves construction of an approximately 1,600-acre impoundment where water will be pumped from the Hillsboro Canal. The project will capture and store the excess surface water runoff from the Hillsboro Watershed as well as releases from the Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge and Lake Okeechobee. The project will allow more natural, desirable and consistent water levels within the Refuge as well as benefit estuaries downstream ($27 million) C-111 Spreader Canal--This project is located adjacent to Everglades National Park and is part of the South Dade County portion of the Central and Southern Florida (C&SF). The project goal is to create a hydrologic ridge between Everglades National Park and areas east that are mostly in agricultural production. The project is intended to maintain existing

flood protection while restoring natural hydrologic conditions in the eastern panhandle of Everglades National Park ($20 million) C-51 design--The project will provide water quality benefits to the surrounding areas along with Storm water Treatment Area lE ($16 million) CERP design--Includes design project agreements, Project Implementation Reports, detailed project design and RECOVER which are all essential to ongoing Everglades Restoration efforts ($64 million) The funding would be used for six projects which are vital to ongoing efforts to restore the historic South Florida ecosystem including the Florida Everglades. The Florida Everglades are a unique ecosystem that must be preserved for future generations.

Requesting Member: Representative Mario Diaz-Balart (FC-25)

Bill Number: H.R. 3183

Account: Science

Name of Requesting Entity: Florida International University

Address of Requesting Entity: 11200 SW 8th St, Miami, FL 33199

Description of Request: I have secured $1,000,000 for the state-of- the-Art Large-Scale Testing for Wind to Enhance Infrastructure Resiliency and Develop Energy-Efficient Buildings. This funding will be used for a full-scale testing in the WoW facility, supported by the enhanced capabilities, will lead to major improvements in the performance of infrastructure and life-line elements, including electrical utility and power distribution systems, safer nuclear power plants in hurricane-prone regions, and increased community resilience under Category 3 and 4 hurricanes. In addition, by virtue of its unprecedented capabilities to simulate natural, turbulent winds, the FIU full-scale testing facility will test innovative building envelopes capable of massively reducing energy consumption in buildings, reducing GHGs, and improving IEQ. The impact of the facility would be enormous. Losses that may remain inadequately insured because of the excessively large risks they entail could be massively reduced by further developing the requisite scientific knowledge through full-scale experiments conducted in the more powerful and equipt WOW. Thus the requested funding would transform WoW the only facility in the world capable of testing a wide variety of types of structure to promote significant mitigation of the vast losses due to hurricanes and contribute massively to improving energy performance of buildings and reducing GHGs. The new capabilities would be a breakthrough in enabling quick results and affordable solutions, thereby making major scientific advancements beneficial to the State and the Nation. The research activities will significantly enhance the economic and societal well- being of the general population and businesses--thus promoting hurricane resilient sustainable communities. Hurricanes caused more than $100 billion in losses in 2005 alone and caused more than 1,400 fatalities in 2004-05. Infrastructure damage and lifeline disruption are severe problems to hurricane prone coastal communities. In 2004 and 2005, seven hurricanes struck the coast of Florida causing severe damage to electrical infrastructure. A record 3.2 million FPL customers were left without electric service as Hurricane Wilma's (2005) winds damaged street lighting, transformers, transmission lines, and substations. Wind is also a significant factor affecting building energy consumption through air leakage, while wind accompanied by rain can affect indoor environment quality (IEQ). Buildings use about one- third of the world's energy. In the United States today, the buildings sector accounts for 40% of the primary energy use. The use of electric power and heat in the buildings sector also accounts for about 40% of the U.S. greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs). Buildings present one of the best opportunities to reduce energy consumption and limit GHGs. Florida International University (FIU) has developed a one-of-a-kind large- scale Wall of Wind (WoW) facility simulating atmospheric turbulent flows and hurricane force winds. Currently the focus of WoW research is mitigation of damage to residential buildings. However, the WoW design allows its use for multiple testing of other infrastructural and life- line elements. Unfortunately such variety of testing is not feasible owing to the lack of the instrumentation for measuring aerodynamic, aeroelastic, and thermal effects. For this reason this large, expensive, and unique facility is severely under-used. The proposed funding would allow such WoW instrumentation to achieve a transformative testing capability not available anywhere else in the world.

Requesting Member: Representative Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-25)

Bill Number: H.R. 3183

Account: EERE-Building Technologies

Name of Requesting Entity: City of Homestead, FL

Address of Requesting Entity: 790 N. Homestead Blvd, Homestead, FL, 33030

Description of Request: I have secured $500,000 for the City Hall Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Certification. This funding will be used for the City of Homestead is in the process of replacing its aging and inadequate City Hall building with a new structurally hardened, energy efficient, low carbon emission, and environmentally friendly building. This new building, in addition to housing all City departments, will also encompass Homestead's new Emergency Operations Center. The City has requested that the designers include features in the design that will result in a LEED Silver Certificate. The design is complete and procurement for construction will start by the end of February 2009. The total cost of the City Hall project, which will employ approximately 60 persons, is $30 million of which $1 million is estimated for the improvements needed to meet the requirements for LEED Silver Certification. Without this funding assistance, Homestead's LEED certification efforts may not be fully realized. This project follows Congress' and the Administration's stated goals in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act in areas such as: providing immediate job creation, utilization of green construction technologies, and providing energy efficiency cost savings. Designed to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) silver standards, the new City Hall will serve as a premier example of green construction and energy efficiency technology in the community.

Requesting Member: Representative Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-25)

Bill Number: H.R. 3183

Account: Construction

Name of Requesting Entity: Miami-Dade County, FL

Address of Requesting Entity: 111 NW 1st St., Suite 1032, Miami, FL 33128

Description of Request: I have secured $600,000 for the Miami Harbor Channel Dredging. This funding will be used for the General Reevaluation Report Implementation, Preconstruction, Engineering, and Design for the dredging of Miami Harbor. This funding was authorized via WRDA 2007 (H.R. 1495) for preconstruction, engineering, and design of the recommended project. This will address the federal share at 100% of the anticipated costs for plans and specifications preparation. The Army Corps of Engineers Chief of Engineers has recommended the deepening project to 50-52 feet and Congress has authorized the project (Title I, Water Resources Development Act of 2007). It is essential that the Planning, Engineering, and Design (PED) begin as soon as possible. Extended delay in the proposed dredging improvements could be detrimental to the economy of South Florida and the nation. Cargo growth at the Port of Miami has been phenomenally strong. However, the industry standard container ship is becoming larger, and the Port cannot handle the newer ships without deeper channels. In addition, the Port has been facing increasing competition from foreign ports with existing significantly deeper channels and faces the real threat of losing business to foreign ports (such as Freeport). The targeted population includes the ships/commerce currently utilizing the Port of Miami and future business which will be generated as a consequence of larger vessels being able to utilize the Port of Miami. Port of Miami growth will benefit the citizens of Miami-Dade County, South Florida and the nation. Miami Harbor is a major economic force for the County, South Florida and the nation. The Port of Miami is one of the nation's strongest economic engines, accounting for over 98,000 jobs and $12 billion in annual economic impact. It is the State of Florida's top container port and one of the largest in the nation

Requesting Member: Representative Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-25)

Bill Number: H.R. 3183

Account: O&M

Name of Requesting Entity: Miami-Dade County, FL

Address of Requesting Entity: 111 NW 1st St., Suite 1032, Miami, FL 33128

Description of Request: I have secured $777,000 for the Miami River Dredging. This funding will be used for the final phase of the Miami River Dredging Project to restore authorized depth and width to the navigation channel. This project, funded by the US Army Corps of Engineers with a coalition of local sponsors led by Miami-Dade County, removes contaminated sediments from the Miami River, Florida's 4th largest port with an economic value of $4 billion. Since it was improved for navigation in the 1930s, the river has never received comprehensive maintenance dredging. Sediments have accumulated in the federal channel making it narrower and shallower, thereby limiting activities of freighters that utilize ship terminals along the river. The sediments do not meet federal criteria for ocean disposal, so they must be disposed of at an upland site. Dredging and disposal of the contaminated dredged materials improve navigation and enhance the environmental quality of the river and downstream portions of Biscayne Bay, an outstanding Florida water body. Sediments have accumulated in the margins of the federal channel making it narrower and

shallower, thereby limiting activities of freighters that utilize ship terminals along the river. Dredging and disposal of the contaminated sediments is expected to improve navigation and enhance the environmental quality of the Miami River and downstream portions of Biscayne Bay. The target population includes those who use the Miami River for navigational purposes. Additionally, the positive environmental effects from the dredging will be beneficial to all of Miami-Dade County's residents. This project benefits the environment of South Florida because it removes contaminated sediment from the Miami River before those contaminates enter the Bay. Completion of the project will also permit larger commercial vessels to call on the River, thus increasing commerce. Completion of the project will also allow the marine related industry to expand along the River. For example, Merrill Stevens, a local boat yard, is planning on adding over 100 new skilled jobs and a training center to teach local people the skills required to work on large ocean going vessels. This project has the support of the Miami-Dade County Board of County Commissioners, the Mayor of Miami-Dade County, and the Director of the County's Department of Environmental Resources Management.

Madam Speaker, today I am introducing the Coercion is Not Health Care Act. This legislation forbids the Federal Government from forcing any American to purchase health insurance, and from conditioning participation in any Federal program, or receipt of any Federal benefit, on the purchase of health insurance.

While often marketed as a ``moderate'' compromise between nationalized health care and a free market solution, forcing every American to purchase a government-approved health insurance plan is a back door approach to creating a government-controlled health care system.

If Congress requires individuals to purchase insurance, Congress must define what insurance policies satisfy the government mandate. Thus, Congress will decide what is and is not covered in the mandatory insurance policy. Does anyone seriously doubt that what conditions and treatments are covered will be determined by who has the most effective lobby. Or that Congress will be incapable of writing a mandatory insurance policy that will fit the unique needs of every individual in the United States?

The experience of States that allow their legislatures to mandate what benefits health insurance plans must cover has shown that politicizing health insurance inevitably makes health insurance more expensive. As the cost of government-mandated health insurance rises, Congress will likely create yet another fiscally unsustainable entitlement program to help cover the cost of insurance.

When the cost of government-mandated insurance proves to be an unsustainable burden on individuals and small employers, and the government, Congress will likely impose price controls on medical treatments, and even go so far as to limit what procedures and treatments will be reimbursed by the mandatory insurance. The result will be an increasing number of providers turning to ``cash only'' practices, thus making it difficult for those relying on the government-mandated insurance to find health care. Anyone who doubts that result should consider the increasing number of physicians who are withdrawing from the Medicare program because of the low reimbursement and constant bureaucratic harassment

from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Madam Speaker, the key to effective health care reform lies not in increasing government control, but in increasing the American people's ability to make their own health care decisions. Thus, instead of forcing Americans to purchase government-approved health insurance, Congress should put the American people back in charge of health care by expanding health care tax credits and deductions, as well as increasing access to Health Savings Accounts. Therefore, I have introduced legislation, the Comprehensive Health Care Reform Act (H.R. 1495), which provides a series of health care tax credits and deductions designed to empower patients. I urge my colleagues to reject the big government-knows-best approach to health care by cosponsoring my Coercion is Not Health Care Act and Comprehensive Health Care Reform Act.