Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor U.S. Navy Captain John C. Scorby, Jr., the Commanding Officer of Naval Air Station Jacksonville in Florida, one of the nation's largest naval installations. Captain Scorby exemplifies the values of a committed naval officer and, I believe, you will agree when you hear his exceptional performance on a variety of levels.

NAS Jacksonville hosts over 117 tenant commands, 25,000 personnel and their families. As Commanding Officer, it was Captain Scorby's duty to provide oversight and to make sure everything ran like clockwork. For three years, Capt. Scorby was a dedicated leader to this key Navy installation.

A P-3 Orion pilot by trade, Jack Scorby has always seen the big picture. But like the radar on the P-3 Orion, he has the ability to zero in on the details that needed fine tuning and, thus, Jack made a great installation even better.

Captain Scorby set the highest standards for excellence and then led by example to reach and surpass those goals. Using his personality, skill, resourcefulness and the ability to manage and juggle priorities to meet the support needs of the fleet, the war fighter, and the family, Captain Scorby has upheld the highest traditions of the United States Navy. He was the catalyst behind NAS Jacksonville winning a plethora of awards including the Meritorious Unit Commendation, the Secretary of the Navy's and the Chief of Naval Operations' Safety Ashore awards for two consecutive years, and the Commander Navy Region Southeast's 2009 nominee for the Installation Excellence Award.

Under his watch, NAS Jacksonville underwent $350 million of facility construction and upgrades. Captain Scorby oversaw the management of that endeavor and also was instrumental in the smooth relocation of five P-3 Orion squadrons and their families from Maine to Florida.

Jack Scorby cultivated an Individual Augmentee (IA) Support Program that helped sustain the families of IAs who were deployed and then honored them with a luncheon upon their return. This model program is now being replicated at bases worldwide.

NAS Jacksonville earned the reputation as the Airfield of Choice under Jack's command as personnel worked round the clock in providing services to a variety of operations including Army helicopter deployments, Pine Castle Range use, and the initial stand-up training and outfitting of the Navy Expeditionary Guard Battalion for Guantanamo Bay. Captain Scorby and his team at NAS Jacksonville provided support and facilities to the Federal Emergency Management Agency during the hurricane season as well as during the earthquake that devastated Haiti.

A recognized naval ambassador in the City, Captain Scorby hosted two Air Shows, a Presidential visit, and over 90 other ceremonies and special events. I was pleased to work with him on two veteran ceremonies at which we recognized over 250 grateful Vietnam Veterans. Jack and his sailors made sure all veterans were treated as special guests and honored for their service. He partnered with the Florida Department of Labor to host a Disabled Veteran Outreach Program that provided services to veterans and their families and a Tri-Base Job Fair that brought in 155 employers and over 800 job seekers. Each of these events cemented the relationship between the City of Jacksonville and the United States Navy.

Always a strong supporter of Navy personnel and their families whether on base or deployed across the globe fulfilling missions, Jack Scorby also ensured that our fallen heroes returned with honor and a proper homecoming. No matter the time or the day, when a soldier, sailor, marine or airman returned on his final flight, Captain Scorby had police, firefighters, Patriot Guard and hundreds of civilians and naval personnel line the runway and roads. Families of the fallen were moved and grateful.

And on behalf of the City of Jacksonville and the 4th Congressional District, it is my privilege to recognize the dedication, caring and leadership that makes Captain John C. Scorby, Jr., worthy of receiving the Legion of Merit.

Mr. Speaker, the argument has been made by my colleagues on the other side of the aisle that the government must take over our health care system to help control costs. Against the will of the American people and in the dark of the night later on this evening, the Democrat Majority is forcing a vote on a bill that will cost American taxpayers nearly a trillion dollars.

The Democrat Majority plans to pay for their plan by cutting half a trillion dollars in Medicare and raising taxes on American families by over $400 billion. By taking a step back and reviewing the historical involvement of the government in health care, we can draw two relevant lessons.

First, government involvement in health care raises the cost of health care. Prior to the creation of Medicare and Medicaid in 1965, health-care inflation ran slightly faster than overall inflation. In the years since, medical inflation has climbed 2.3 times faster than cost increases elsewhere in the economy.

Second, more often than not, government programs exceed their expected cost. When initially considered, the House Ways and Means Committee estimated Medicaid's first year costs at approximately $238 million. The actual cost? Over $1 billion. Today, even after you adjust for inflation, Medicaid costs 37 times more than it did when it was launched.

What about Medicare? In 1965, Congressional budgeters said that it would cost $12 billion in 1990. Its actual cost that year was $90 billion. The rate of increase in Medicare spending has outpaced overall inflation in nearly every year (up 9.8% in 2009), so a program that began at $4 billion now costs $428 billion.

We must take to heart that Congress historically grossly underestimates the cost of an entitlement program. And now we are faced with one of the newest/biggest entitlement programs in the history of our great nation.

Any Member who votes in favor of this bill, casts a vote in favor of increasing our national debt and inflicting higher taxes on our children and grandchildren. That is why I will vote against H.R. 3590 and will do everything in my power to repeal and replace it with commonsense reforms that will lower health care costs, increase access, maintain Medicare benefits, end lawsuit abuse, and preserve the doctor/ patient relationship without raising taxes.

Madam Speaker, the National Forest Service does a fantastic job of managing our Nation's natural resources. They manage them in Florida as well as all across the Nation, and they deserve to have the tools that they need to give them the flexibility to efficiently accomplish this job.

So that's why I've joined with my fellow colleagues from Florida, Allen Boyd and Jeff Miller, to introduce the bipartisan Florida National Forest Land Adjustment Act, and I strongly urge its passage. Each of us has focused on a portion of this bill to ensure this comprehensive measure represents a strong public policy which will enable the Forest Service to embolden its mission.

Now, in Leon County, that's the capital of Florida, there's a 114- acre parcel known as W-1979. And it's evolved--it's a tract of land that has evolved into a kind of unmanageable problem for the Apalachicola National Forest, which is right outside Tallahassee. Because of its configuration and because of the commercial development around it, the vegetation can't be managed very well. They can't use prescribed fire, and so although it's very important from a commercial standpoint and a developmental standpoint, it has really lost its national forest character.

And so in an effort to provide the Forest Service with a method to manage this land, my provision of our joint bill would simply add this tract of land to the list that the Secretary of Agriculture is empowered to sell. And any proceeds from that prospective sale would allow the Forest Service to purchase other lands within the forest; and they'd be more manageable, and that would enhance the national forest.

So, Madam Speaker, this is the kind of flexibility that we think the National Forest Service ought to have. They can manage our Nation's precious resources, not only for us, but for generations to come. And so I am grateful for the work that my colleagues have put in on this and urge its adoption.

Madam Speaker, I think most of you all know that the movie ``Alice in Wonderland'' opened in a theater near you just this last week. It's in three dimensions. And it obviously has inspired our Democratic friends in an effort to explain what is going on in this make-believe world they have created up here. There is an exchange in that ``Through the Looking Glass'' where Humpty Dumpty is talking to Alice. And Humpty Dumpty says, When I use a word, it means exactly what I choose it to mean, neither more nor less. But Alice asks the insightful question, Well, can you really make words mean so many different things?

And I think that is the question the American people are asking. Alice figured out that Humpty Dumpty was just making words mean what he wanted them to mean. And I think the American people are figuring out that the Democrats are just making up words like ``vote'' and then giving it a different meaning. People are smarter

than that. And I think there's a better way.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to submit documentation consistent with the Republican Earmark Standards.

Requesting Member: Congressman Ander Crenshaw

Bill Number: H.R. 3326--Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2010

Account: RDTE, A

Legal Name of Receiving Entity: Florida State University (FSU)

Address of Receiving Entity: 109 Westcott Building Tallahassee, FL 32306

Description of Request: I have secured $3,200,000 in funding in H.R. 3326 in the RDTE, A Account for the Nanotubes Optimized for Lightweight Exceptional Strength (NOLES) Composite Materials.

It is my understanding that the funding would be used to develop effective personnel protection and a lighter, stronger fleet of fighting vehicles through diminutive nanotubes.

This is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because the U.S. Army's objective of developing effective personnel protection and a lighter, stronger fleet of fighting vehicles may be achieved through the diminutive nanotubes that (1) are the strongest fiber known, (2) have a thermal conductivity two times higher than pure diamond, and (3) have unique electrical conductivity properties and an ultrahigh current carrying capacity.

There are no matching funds required for this project.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the career of Deborah K. Crawford of Jacksonville, Florida who has dedicated over 35 years of her professional career towards the protection of individual rights and reducing the administrative burden on taxpayers.

Deborah Crawford began her career as a Collection Representative for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) working in Jacksonville, Fl representing many low-income individuals who needed help accessing benefits that they may have been entitled to under the law.

Deborah later moved onto the Problem Resolution Program (PRP), as a collection technician. Her positive attitude and willingness to go the extra mile was extremely beneficial to the citizens of North Florida which earned her the selection as the Congressional Liaison in the PRP.

When the PRP was displaced by the Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) Deborah continued on in her role as the Congressional Liaison. TAS is an independent organization within the IRS whose employees assist taxpayers who are experiencing economic hardships, who are seeking help in resolving problems with the IRS, or who believe that an IRS system or procedure is not working as it should.

Deborah also works with the Low Income Taxpayer Clinics to assure that the clinics operate within the guidelines and to provide representation to low income taxpayers with tax matters before the Internal Revenue Service.

Deborah continues her service to North Florida during her personal time with activities that include volunteer work with the animal shelter, zoo, and church. I commend and congratulate the impressive career history of Deborah K. Crawford and her devoted service to the taxpayers of North Florida.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2711, the FBI Families of Fallen Heroes Act. This legislation would ensure the families of our FBI Fallen Heroes are properly cared for and that the final remains of the fallen heroes are treated with the honor and respect they are due. The government would fully fund the transportation and relocation expenses of the immediate family members of FBI employees who have given their lives in the line of duty. This will allow the family members to relocate from their

spouse's last FBI assignment location to their hometown. In addition, the expenses of preparing and transporting the remains of the deceased to their final places of interment will be provided by the federal government.

For over a century the FBI's primary goal has been to protect and defend the United States against terrorist and foreign intelligence threats, to uphold and enforce the criminal laws of the United States, and to provide leadership and criminal justice services to federal, state, municipal, and international agencies and partners.

To accomplish these goals, the FBI has 56 field offices, 400 satellite offices, 62 international offices, and 14 legal attache offices. With investigative programs including counterterrorism, cybercrime, civil rights, and organized crime, the FBI must continually update their techniques, strategies, and programs. FBI Special Agents and Professional Staff are rotated through these many offices to continue their training and to fill the FBI's staffing needs and investigative priorities.

Proof of their success is clearly shown in the 2006 indictment, arrest, and conviction of Fadl Mohamad Maatouk, a resident of Orange Park, Florida who was convicted of conspiracy to provide material support to Hezbollah. The FBI has also been instrumental in the investigations of the Oklahoma City bombing, multiple World Trade Center attacks, the assault on the USS Cole, and the attacks of 9/11.

These successes come at a price beyond the dangers in the field. FBI families, like military families, are under a great deal of stress. When a person chooses to serve in the FBI, every family member is affected. Every person experiences not just the benefits but also the downsides--the relocations, the long periods of separation, the not knowing if your spouse, dad or mom is in danger. Spouses and children must make new friends, enter new schools, find new employment, and try to adjust to new environs almost every three years. They do this while always knowing that their loved one, who has chosen to help defend the country, could be in the line of fire--maybe not today, but maybe tomorrow. It is a burden the family shoulders. I believe this legislation will in some small way lighten that load.

FBI agents and other employees make a choice to engage in a career that is vital to our national security. They understand that there are dangers, but still they make the choice to do their part to defend our country. My colleagues and I in the House unanimously agreed to this legislation because I believe we must honor those who have served and paid the ultimate price.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to submit documentation consistent with the Republican earmark standards.

Requesting Member: Congressman Ander Crenshaw

Bill Number: H.R. 3288--Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2010

Account: Employment and Training Administration (ETA)--Training and Employment Services

Legal Name of Receiving Entity: Florida Manufacturing Extension Partnership (Florida MEP)

Address of Receiving Entity: 1180 Celebration Blvd., Suite 103, Celebration, FL 34747

Description of Request: I have secured $100,000 in funding in H.R. 3228, in the Employment and Training Administration (ETA)--Training and Employment Services account for Florida Manufacturing Extension Partnership in Celebration, FL.

The purpose of this funding is to deploy the proven Mobile Outreach Skills Training (M.O.S.T.) program in Florida. The program is a three- phase rapid training and job placement initiative in which nearly 100 percent of trainees who successfully complete the 2-week Phase I receive job offers from the participating manufacturers.

This is a valuable use of taxpayer funding because the program provides skills to veterans, the disadvantaged, and TANF families that lead to jobs and medical coverage, a capability that does not exist in current training programs.

There are no matching funds required or allowed for this project.

Requesting Member: Congressman Ander Crenshaw

Bill Number: H.R. 3288--Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2010

Account: HRSA--Health Facilities Construction and Equipment

Legal Name of Receiving Entity: Shands HealthCare

Address of Receiving Entity: 720 SW 2nd Avenue, Suite 360A, Gainesville, FL 32601

Description of Request: I have secured $100,000 in funding in H.R. 3228, in the Health Facilities Construction and Equipment account for the purchase of equipment.

The purpose of this funding is to purchase a biplane angiography system at Shands Jacksonville to continue to maintain the expert quality of care for its Level One trauma center and its JCAHO Accredited Stroke Service. This biplane angiography system will improve patient care, enhance operational efficiency, and replace outdated equipment.

This is a valuable use of taxpayer funding because funding will help purchase a biplane angiography system that will allow physicians to accurately visualize clots or other vascular abnormalities. This will reduce diagnostic and procedure time while helping to avoid more invasive procedures.

There are no matching funds required or allowed for this project.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3667. As has been pointed out, it is a bill to honor Clyde L. Hillhouse by designating the post office at 16555 Springs Street, White Springs, Florida, after this World War II hero who devoted his life to public service.

Clyde Leroy Hillhouse was born on February 11, 1914, in Hamilton County, Florida, a small county halfway between Jacksonville and Tallahassee. On October 10, 1940, when he was only 25 years old, he answered the call to serve his Nation in patriotic service. He enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps.

Mr. Hillhouse was assigned to the 27th Bomb Group and departed with his unit for duty in the Philippines in November of that year. Mr. Hillhouse and his fellow airmen from the 27th Bomb Group were trained as infantry soldiers and fought in defense of Bataan and Corregidor Island from the invading Japanese forces. After the eventual fall of Corregidor Island, Mr. Hillhouse was captured and held as a POW by the Japanese forces and survived the infamous Bataan death march where it is estimated that 30 percent of all of the prisoners were brutally killed by their captors.

For over 2 years, Mr. Hillhouse was assigned to slave labor unloading ships in Manila. In July 1944, he was sent to Japan on a freighter where he was kept as a prisoner until his release at the end of the war.

Like so many people in his generation, Mr. Hillhouse returned to his life and family after the war in White Springs with little discussion about the torture and the atrocities that he had endured and witnessed as a prisoner of war for 3\1/2\ years. In fact, Mr. Hillhouse continued his public service and became an employee of the United States Postal Service.

Both he and his wife, Sarah, worked at the White Springs Post Office from July 14, 1947, until his retirement on January 19, 1973.

Mr. Speaker, I believe as elected Members of Congress we have an obligation and duty to honor and protect the veterans of our Nation. Those who put their lives on the line so we as Americans can have the security and freedom that we enjoy in this great country deserve the utmost recognition, and I believe the designation of this post office is a fitting tribute to a man who valiantly served in the armed services, survived slave labor and POW camps, and continued to serve his Nation as postmaster. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, a lot of the men and women that I represent in northeast Florida are members of the military, and we've been working for 15 years to make sure they have adequate health care. They deserve it. They defend us every day.

They asked me, How is this new Democratic plan going to affect my TRICARE and my TRICARE for life? The answer is nobody really knows what this slippery slope with the public option is going to do to existing coverage. If you take this Democratic plan, you will see it's complicated, 2,000 pages long. It's unproven. It's untested. It's filled with uncertainty.

At the end of the day, this Democratic plan is a dangerous experiment on the backs of the American people without their consent. If this were the medical field, that would be unethical. It would be malpractice. There is a better way, Mr. Speaker. There is a better way.

Mr. Speaker, it has been pointed out that our Democratic colleagues have been drafting this health care plan behind closed doors, in the darkness of night; but yesterday, one of them emerged in the Senate--the majority leader--and he announced the best way to proceed with this plan is to have a government option with an opt-out provision for the States.

What does that mean? Nobody knows. How do you opt out? Nobody knows. How long do you have to be in before you opt out? Nobody knows. What if all of the States decide to opt out? Nobody knows.

We do know a couple of things: Number one, we do know under this Democratic plan your taxes are going to go up. We do know under this Democratic plan your Medicare benefits are going to go down. We do know under this Democratic plan there are going to be more bureaucrats controlling your health care.

So they're trying to keep us in the dark, but we know enough to know this: This is a bad plan and there is a better way.

Madam Speaker, I submit documentation consistent with the Republican Earmark Standards.

Requesting Member: Congressman Ander Crenshaw

Bill Number: H.R. 3326--Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2010

Account: RDTE, N

Legal Name of Receiving Entity: Orion Solutions, LLC

Address of Receiving Entity: 7545 Centurion Parkway, Suite 403, Jacksonville, FL 32256

Description of Request: I have secured $2,000,000 in funding in H.R. 3326 in the RDTE, N Account for the Low Frequency Active Towed Sonar System (LFATS) Organic ASW Capability.

The purpose of this funding would be used to support the purchase of a Low Frequency Active Towed Sonar System (LFATS) to complete demonstration of critical Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) advancements and improvements.

This is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) has stated that Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) is his number one priority. ASW is critical to defend the sea base and assure access to and within the littorals in the face of the proliferation of quiet, technologically advanced submarines in the hands of nations that might choose to deny us freedom of the seas. This program provides the potential for key advancements in the area of ASW and works towards the CNO's highest priority.

There are no matching funds required for this project.

Requesting Member: Congressman Ander Crenshaw

Bill Number: H.R. 3326--Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2010

Account: RDTE, N

Legal Name of Receiving Entity: Goodrich Engineered Polymer Products

Address of Receiving Entity: 6061 Goodrich Boulevard, Jacksonville,

Mr. Speaker, we all know that America's got the best health care of any nation in the world. But when some people can't afford it and some people don't have access to it, then that is a crisis and we need some reform. But we need the right kind of reform. We don't need this Democratic plan that's being rushed through the House.

I've been talking to my constituents back home and they say, We want to make sure that we have the right to choose our own doctor. They say, We want to have the right to get the treatment we need when we need it.

And that's what the Republican reform does.

That's not what the Democratic reform does. In fact, stop and think about this: Democrats will tell you health care is expensive, but we're going to provide more health care to more people, and it's not going to cost anybody any money except maybe a few millionaires. Those numbers don't add up.

You better think about it because somebody's got to pay the bill. It might just be you.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to submit documentation consistent with the Republican Earmark Standards.

Requesting Member: Congressman Ander Crenshaw

Bill Number: H.R. 3293--Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010

Account: Elementary & Secondary Education (includes FIE)

Legal Name of Receiving Entity: Best Buddies Florida

Address of Receiving Entity: 124-A East Colonial Drive, Orlando, FL 32801

Description of Request: I have secured $250,000 in funding in H.R. 3293 in the Elementary & Secondary Education Account for Best Buddies, FL, Orlando, FL for mentoring programs in the 4th Congressional District for elementary and secondary school students with disabilities.

The purpose of this funding is to enhance the lives of those with intellectual disabilities by facilitating interpersonal communication through the pairing of those with and without intellectual disabilities into long-term one-on-one mentoring friendships.

This is a valuable use of taxpayer funding because it would organize and rigorously oversee volunteer-run Best Buddies chapters in middle schools, high schools, and colleges across Florida, including 24 in the 4th district.

There are no matching funds required for this project.

Requesting Member: Congressman Ander Crenshaw

Bill Number: H.R. 3293--Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010

Account: Elementary & Secondary Education (includes FIE)

Legal Name of Receiving Entity: ChildHelp

Address of Receiving Entity: 15757 N. 78th Street, Scottsdale, AZ 85260

Description of Request: I have secured $250,000 in funding in H.R. 3293 in the Elementary & Secondary Education Account for Childhelp, Inc, Scottsdale, AZ to develop a comprehensive update to the Good Touch Bad Touch curriculum.

The purpose of this funding is to give the first comprehensive update of Good Touch Bad Touch curriculum in over 20 years.

This is a valuable use of taxpayer funding because Childhelp, in collaboration with the Monique Burr Foundation, is the only provider of child abuse education in North Florida schools.

There are no matching funds required for this project.

Requesting Member: Congressman Ander Crenshaw

Bill Number: H.R. 3293--Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010

Account: Elementary & Secondary Education (includes FIE)

Legal Name of Receiving Entity: University of North Florida

Address of Receiving Entity: 1 UNF Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32224

Description of Request: I have secured $250,000 in funding in H.R. 3293 in the Elementary & Secondary Education Account for the University of North Florida, Jacksonville, FL for the Virtual School Readiness Incubator.

The purpose of this funding is to continue the 3rd year of a 5-year study that field-tests tools and strategies needed to accelerate the quality, growth, and success rates of early care and learning programs resulting in improved readiness outcomes for the children, particularly for children living in low-income neighborhoods.

This is a valuable use of taxpayer funding because improving high- quality early care and learning experiences has a high return on investment and is the single best investment for improving achievement, especially for children from low-income families.

There are no matching funds required for this project.

Requesting Member: Congressman Ander Crenshaw

Bill Number: H.R. 3293--Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010

Account: Higher Education (includes FIPSE)

Legal Name of Receiving Entity: Tallahassee Community College, Tallahassee, FL

Address of Receiving Entity: 444 Appleyard Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32304

Description of Request: I have secured $200,000 in funding in H.R. 3293 in the Higher Education Account for the purchase of equipment at Tallahassee Community College in Tallahassee, FL.

The purpose of this funding is to support STEM education by allowing the purchase of equipment for organic chemistry, the payment of salaries of science faculty members and interns, and the purchase of supplies.

This is a valuable use of taxpayer funding because increasing the number of students obtaining post secondary degrees in STEM fields will provide a workforce that is prepared to ensure a healthy economy, respond to national security needs, and enhance quality of life through technological advancements.

There are no matching funds required for this project.

Requesting Member: Congressman Ander Crenshaw

Bill Number: H.R. 3293--Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010

Account: Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)--Health Facilities and Services

Legal Name of Receiving Entity: Daniel Memorial, Inc

Address of Receiving Entity: 4203 Southpoint Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32216

Description of Request: I have secured $500,000 in funding in H.R. 3293 in the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)--Health Facilities and Services Account for facilities and equipment at Daniel Memorial, Inc in Jacksonville, FL.

The purpose of this funding is to build the Mental Health Residential Treatment Center.

This is a valuable use of taxpayer funding because the Daniel Memorial is the oldest not-for-profit child-serving agency in Florida, but has not had any major renovations at its Belfort campus in 40 years. The 7,722 square-foot facility would serve as central facility for psychiatric and medical assessments; psychiatric and mental health counseling; group

therapy; and vocational, educational, recreational and other therapeutic activities.

There are no matching funds required for this project.

Requesting Member: Congressman Ander Crenshaw

Bill Number: H.R. 3293--Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010

Account: Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)--Health Facilities and Services

Legal Name of Receiving Entity: Florida Community College at Jacksonville, FL

Address of Receiving Entity: 501 W. State Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202

Description of Request: I have secured $250,000 in funding in H.R. 3293 in the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)--Health Facilities and Services Account for facilities and equipment at Florida Community College in Jacksonville, FL.

The purpose of this funding is to purchase a clinical simulation laboratory to train nurses.

This is a valuable use of taxpayer funding because while there is an 8% position vacancy rate in nurses in the state of Florida, 52% of qualified applicants were turned away because nursing schools do not have the resources to train new nurses.

There are no matching funds required for this project.

Requesting Member: Congressman Ander Crenshaw

Bill Number: H.R. 3293--Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010

Account: Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)--Health Facilities and Services

Legal Name of Receiving Entity: Jacksonville University

Address of Receiving Entity: 2800 University Boulevard North, Jacksonville, FL 32211

Description of Request: I have secured $250,000 in funding in H.R. 3293 in the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)--Health Facilities and Services Account for facilities and equipment at Jacksonville University in Jacksonville, FL.

The purpose of this funding is to purchase clinical simulators and software to train medical students and hospital staff how to use electronic medical records.

This is a valuable use of taxpayer funding because the widespread adoption of health information technology has the potential to save millions of dollars and improve the quality of health care, but nurses and other hospital staff still lack the training to become competent in health information technologies.

There are no matching funds required for this project.

Requesting Member: Congressman Ander Crenshaw

Bill Number: H.R. 3293--Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010

Account: Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)--Health Facilities and Services

Legal Name of Receiving Entity: Lake City Community College

Address of Receiving Entity: 149 SE College Place, Lake City, FL 32025

Description of Request: I have secured $250,000 in funding in H.R. 3293 in the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)--Health Facilities and Services Account for purchase of mobile clinical training laboratories at Lake City Community College in Lake City, FL.

The purpose of this funding is to create 2 mobile labs with patient simulators to provide clinical training to 130 nursing students.

This is a valuable use of taxpayer funding because despite rising unemployment, there are numerous high wage nursing jobs in north central Florida that remain vacant due to insufficient training resources. Associate degree jobs that start at more than $20/hour provide one of the few reliable high wage occupations in the region. Jobs like these are critical to recovery from the economic crisis for residents of north central Florida.

There are no matching funds required for this project.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Chairman, as a member of this committee, I certainly want to commend Chairman Obey and Ranking Member Tiahrt for bringing this bill to the floor today.

Like a lot of legislation, there are some good things in this bill, and there are some things that are not so good. One of the best things, I believe, is the money that we are appropriating to the National Institutes of Health, some $31 billion, which is about a 3 percent increase over last year. I think the research that they do is efficient. It's cost-effective. They find cures for disease. They help prevent disease. I think we'd all agree that the money we spend today can save us billions of dollars tomorrow.

One of the areas to which this money is going is the area called ``inflammatory bowel disease.'' You don't hear much about it. It's a terrible disease. It affects about 1.5 million people in America today. About 10 percent of them are young people. We don't know what causes it, and we don't know how to cure it, but the money that is part of this NIH today is going to really make some major breakthroughs because so little is known.

It is one of the most exciting areas in scientific research, so it's my hope, as this money continues to go to this area, that one day we will be able to find a cure and will be able to beat this terrible disease.