Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, at this time, I would like to yield such time as he might consume to my colleague from Pennsylvania (Mr. Dent).

I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

At this time, I would like to yield such time as he might consume to my colleague from Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson).

Mr. Speaker, it is an honor for me to rise today in support of House Resolution 754, which honors the citizen-soldiers of the Pennsylvania National Guard, including the 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, on its return to the United States from a deployment in Iraq. I am proud to have authored this resolution with my colleague, Mr. Holden from Pennsylvania. It is an honor, as I said, to speak in favor of this resolution and to have the support and cosponsorship of the entire Pennsylvania delegation.

The men and women being honored today are not only brave soldiers; they are also our neighbors, friends, and relatives. Their mission in Iraq was vital to our national security, and they served with honor and distinction.

In November of last year, I was joined by my colleagues, Mr. Holden, Mr. Gerlach and Mr. Dent, to visit the members of the 56th Stryker Brigade when they were training at Camp Shelby in Mississippi and at Fort Polk in Louisiana in preparation for their deployment.

In June of this year, Mr. Holden and I, along with Mr. Dent and Mrs. Dahlkemper, visited Iraq to meet with our deployed troops from Pennsylvania to thank them for their service. We also met with troops at Camp Liberty outside of Baghdad, and in Taji. While there, we also were able to meet with General Odierno, the commander of the Multinational Force in Iraq. And General Odierno spoke in glowing terms of the Pennsylvania Guard and told us that our soldiers are doing an outstanding job bringing security to Iraq.

I also had the opportunity to meet with many of my constituents, and there were dozens and dozens. And they truly are citizen-soldiers. I just want to highlight three of them. Lieutenant Colonel Sam Hayes, who is a native of Tyrone, Pennsylvania. His father also happened to be the former Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary. Sergeant Buchannan, a resident of Altoona, Pennsylvania, and is employed by McAleers Plumbing and Heating. He is my plumber and spent time in my basement trying to fix leaky plumbing. So it is good to have Sergeant Buchannan home. And, finally, Sergeant Gibbons, another neighbor, a friend. His son plays on the Hollysburgh High School soccer team with my son. In fact, I will be on the sidelines tonight talking to Sergeant Gibbons.

I also wanted to thank and to remember Chad Edmundson, one of my constituents who gave the ultimate sacrifice. Our thoughts and our prayers continue to go out to his family and, again, to thank him for his service and his sacrifice to this Nation.

The text of this resolution speaks for itself. It is my pleasure to express our gratitude and commend our soldiers on their most recent deployment and recognize their achievements. I hope to be participating on November 8 in a major parade in Tyrone, Pennsylvania, welcoming home our soldiers.

I would also like to thank my staff for their work on this resolution, in particular my Army fellow, Lieutenant Colonel Eric Estep, for his great work and late hours in putting this together.

I urge all Members of the House to support this important resolution.

With that, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, at this time, I would like to yield to my colleague from Texas, who served as a naval aviator, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Olson), for as much time as he may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 445, which was introduced by my friend from Texas (Mr. Olson). As I added earlier, he served as a naval aviator. We appreciate his service.

This resolution recognizes 100 years of military aviation and expresses continued support for our military aviators in the United States Armed Forces.

As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I am proud to speak in strong support of this resolution that honors the service, sacrifices, professionalism, and commitment of all those who have served as aviators.

For the last 100 years, the fact of the matter is that whether in times of peace or war, whether in Iraq or Afghanistan or somewhere else in the world, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week military aviators are always engaged, putting their lives at risk to protect our country. So I am honored to speak in favor of this resolution, and I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of H. Res. 445.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support and as a cosponsor of House Resolution 627, which does recognize the service and sacrifices of members of the 81st Brigade Combat Team, Washington Army National Guard, during the unit's recent tour of duty in Iraq.

I want to commend Representative Smith for putting forth this legislation. The 81st Brigade came home in August, having successfully completed its second overseas rotation. While in Iraq, its men and women performed admirably in a range of missions that included convoy security, force protection, provincial reconstruction, and base operations support.

The 3,500 remarkable men and women who comprised the brigade combat team came not only from the Washington State Army National Guard but from around the country, which is so typical of our Guard units today. That so many citizen soldiers came from so many different locations and different walks of life and operated so successfully is a tribute not only to the patriotism and to the commitment of those men and women but also to their professionalism, adaptability and leadership.

I urge all of my colleagues to support this resolution that expresses the House's gratitude to the 81st Brigade Combat Team for their service to our Nation. It commends them upon the completion of their most recent deployment, and it recognizes their achievements.

With that, I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise in support of H.R. 701 that has been offered by my colleague from Virginia (Mr. Moran). Fifty years ago, Congress designated Dyke Marsh, a section of the Potomac River shore in northern Virginia, as a wildlife preserve. It is appropriate that we take time today to recognize the 50th anniversary of that act because the marsh provides not only a great recreational setting for joggers, bike riders and birders, but also a place where people from a largely urban background can experience close up this example of the dynamic and resilient natural shoreline marshes provide.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

The gentlelady from Guam has sufficiently explained the resolution, supporting the goals of National Estuaries Day. As we all know, estuaries are an important component to many species of birds, fish, and mammals. They rely on the estuaries for food, spawning, and other lifecycle needs. Estuaries also provide many people with recreational opportunities, from bird-watching to fishing and many boating activities. Finally, estuaries provide us with critical flood control, protecting coastal communities during severe storms. I support the resolution and urge my colleagues to pass it.

Having no further speakers, I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I thank the gentlelady from Guam for her support on resolution 795. On the morning of September 11, 2001, United Airlines Flight 93 was hijacked

by al Qaeda terrorists, but their evil plan was heroically derailed when the brave passengers and crew aboard that flight performed the first counterattack in the war on terror. They fought back. They sacrificed their lives so that others could live.

Madam Speaker, today we have a pretty good idea of what the terrorists intended to use Flight 93 for, an attack on Washington, D.C., and most likely the Capitol Building itself. The fact that the passengers and the crew ultimately crashed Flight 93 in Shanksville saved the lives of hundreds, if not thousands, of tourists, staff and Members of Congress who were in the building on that day. I was in the Capitol Complex that morning, and I know many of my colleagues serving today were here and are grateful for the passengers and crew of Flight 93.

The complete sacrifice made by those brave men and women who did an extraordinary thing in the face of an extraordinary circumstance deserves to be remembered and honored. Since that fateful day 8 years ago, the hallowed ground of the crash site has been visited by thousands of Americans from across the country to pay tribute to the memory of those extraordinary Americans.

Since the attacks, the people of Shanksville and Somerset County have come together to protect the crash site and welcome visitors to their community. Along with the Flight 93 ambassadors, tremendous progress has been made toward establishing a permanent memorial at the crash site, ensuring that their heroic story lives on and inspires current and future generations of Americans.

Eight years have passed since the 9/11 attacks, and we are encouraged by the progress that has been made towards completing the official national memorial to Flight 93. I am proud to sponsor this resolution which calls on the Secretary of the Interior to complete the congressionally authorized memorial in Shanksville by the 10th anniversary of 9/11.

While we will never be able to repay the heroes of that infamous day, it is our hope that with this memorial, their sacrifice will be permanently recorded, and the site of their passing will forever be guarded for all to pay tribute.

I appreciate the opportunity to offer this resolution, and again, I thank my colleagues for their support.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Having no further speakers, I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 125th Anniversary of the Salvation Army's presence in Altoona, Pennsylvania. The Salvation Army has had a long and cherished history assisting the community with essential services like utility assistance, food banking, emergency shelter, clothing, Christmas help, and many other services critical to the lives of families in need.

The exact date of the founding of the Salvation Army in Altoona remains unclear after all of these years. However, their ministry was one of action, not of chronicle. In the beginning the ministry of the Salvation Army in Altoona, like many others, was primarily a ministry of the street, a ministry that took its message and its critical services directly to the people.

Over the past 125 years, the Salvation Army in Altoona has occupied about 15 different locations. On December 5, 1976, the Salvation Army built their permanent location after a successful capital fund drive.

At different holidays the Salvation Army provides gifts to the nursing homes, VA hospitals, and anywhere individuals might not receive necessary needs at any time. The Salvation Army in Altoona does not discriminate against anyone based on their race, color, creed, or religion. The Salvation Army in Altoona maintains a presence in the community to assist and love and to meet the needs of all those who need it.

Historically, the Salvation Army has provided programs for children to help with their self esteem and caring for others, women and men programs, and older adult programs. The Salvation Army in Altoona still provides these services and will carry on its tradition of social and worship services in the community for many years to come. I congratulate them on this wonderful milestone.

Madam Speaker, consistent with the Republican Leadership's policy on earmarks, I am submitting this statement.

Requesting Member: Congressman Bill Shuster (PA-9)

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

Defense Appropriations Projects

Project Name: Cadmium Emissions Reduction--Letterkenny Army Depot

Account: RDTE, A

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Mountain Research, LLC

Address of Requesting Entity: 825 25th Street, Altoona, PA 16601

Description of Request/Justification of Federal Funding: $1,000,000 for Cadmium Emissions Reduction--Letterkenny Army Depot

This project is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because this work will help Letterkenny Army Depot conduct environmental management activities in an environmentally and fiscally sound, sustainable manner.

Letterkenny's unique mission, which includes manufacturing, depot level maintenance, and demilitarization, presents significant challenges to maintaining operations while achieving aggressive sustainability targets and goals. Specifically, this project will assist in addressing federal and state regulatory issues associated with the reduction of cadmium levels in waste water affluent outflows. This technology implementation will also serve as a demonstration site to facilitate horizontal technology transfer to surrounding Pennsylvania military installations, other Army depots, and installations across the Department of Defense.

Project Name: Defense Support for Civil Authorities for Key Resource Protection

Account: RDTE, A

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: L. Robert Kimball & Associates

Address of Requesting Entity: 615 West Highland Avenue, Ebensburg, PA 15931

Description of Request/Justification of Federal Funding: $1,000,000 for Defense Support for Civil Authorities for Key Resource Protection

The Defense Support for Civil Authorities (DSCA) for Key Resource Protection--South Central, PA project is part of efforts led by U.S. Army ARDEC at Picatinny, New Jersey combing and harmonizing a number of Homeland Defense and Homeland Security programs under the umbrella of Project National Shield (PNS). The National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP) mandates a coordinated approach to Critical Infrastructure and Key Resources (CIKR) protection roles and responsibilities for federal, state, local, tribal, and private sector security partners. The ability to sense, detect and respond to threats to CIKR will require regional communication and information sharing capabilities. The fundamental geospatial data needed to manage CIKR risk and establish the framework for assessing consequences, vulnerability, and threat information is available in jurisdictions across the country. Not available, however, are Enterprise Geographic Information Systems (EGIS) that span political jurisdictions, regions or states and can produce the comprehensive, systematic, and rational assessment of national or sector risk.

South Central Pennsylvania houses a major freight transportation hub (CSX railway) and Army weapons depot (Letterkenny) within miles of each other. This proposal will establish EGIS in South Central PA to advance NIPP objectives. Response-specific intelligence will provide emergency responders and homeland defense personnel with essential situational awareness information required to protect critical infrastructure.

This project is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because it meets a critical Army need to improve Homeland Defense and Civil Support missions while also providing enhanced capabilities to local constituencies in the communications and networking side of emergency response. Specifically, the program represents the actual full deployment of a critical network that will allow local Emergency Management personnel and first responders to communicate as well as provide for a tie in to the Army's Emergency Operations Center at Picatinny Arsenal.

Project Name: Nurse Education Center of Excellent for Remote and Medically Underserved Populations

Account: RDTE, A

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Saint Francis University

Address of Requesting Entity: 117 Evergreen Drive, Loretto, PA 15940

Description of Request/Justification of Federal Funding:

$2,000,000 for Nurse Education Center of Excellence for Remote and Medically Underserved Populations (CERMUSA)

This project will allow CERMUSA to collaborate with clinical partners and other key Army stakeholders to develop and implement a multi- pronged strategy to address the core issues impacting the military's ability to maintain the supply of active duty registered nurses.

This project is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because these strategies will serve to address the shortages of registered nurses as well as nurse educators and will, as a final outcome, function as a core strategy for recruitment and retention.

Currently, the Army has approximately 59,000 enlisted personnel serving as medics in a variety of theatres, including Iraq and Afghanistan. These medics are promising nursing students because of their affinity for treating and managing injured warriors. Despite the formal training supplied by the Army and the vast life support skills they acquire, they possess no diploma or certification to practice healthcare in civilian institutions. Many medics pursue a career in healthcare once leaving active duty. On the sheer basis of volume alone,

this group of active duty personnel presents a very clear opportunity upon which to build a source of bachelors prepared registered nurses to meet the ongoing recruitment needs of the Army. In addition, this group has already had some preparation and has demonstrated affinity for the type of work which Army nurses are prepared to address. In light of this opportunity, an online Bachelor of Science curriculum will be developed with the intent of allowing progression of the Army medic toward degree completion. The ultimate goal of this project will be qualification for, and entry into, the Army Nurse Corps. Following development of the initial program, additional educational tracks could be developed. Areas for consideration would include a nurse practitioner program with a concentration in neurology/mental health or a Clinical Nurse Specialist program with an emphasis in TBI/PTSD. Both options would result in the preparation of advanced practice nurses who would help meet the needs of returning warriors.

Project Name: Rural Health Center of Excellence for Remote and Medically Underserved Populations

Account: RDTE, A

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Saint Francis University

Address of Requesting Entity: 117 Evergreen Drive, Loretto, PA 15940

Description of Request/Justification of Federal Funding:

$2,000,000 for Rural Health Center of Excellence for Remote and Medically Underserved Populations (CERMUSA)

CERMUSA performs applied military research in telehealth, distance learning, and telerehabilitation to benefit individuals, healthcare facilities, and educational entities in rural and remote regions. This research is carried out at minimal cost via strategic partnerships with military, healthcare, business, and other governmental areas. All of CERMUSA's research efforts are conducted using commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) technologies, making these projects both sustainable and replicable in a cost-effective manner. CERMUSA disseminates the results of this research via publication, presentation, and live demonstrations of technology solutions in action. CERMUSA, under the direction of the U.S. Army, serves as a technology test bed readily available to the Armed Forces for test and evaluation of both military-spec and commercially available hardware and software.

This project is a valuable use of taxpayer dollars because, as an asset of the United States Army Medical Research and Materiel Command, CERMUSA provides direct service to DOD by performing constant analysis of current trends in computing and communications. CERMUSA's main area of operations, central Pennsylvania, strongly approximates many of the same communications and technology difficulties experienced by America's Armed Services throughout the world, including difficult terrain, extreme weather conditions, and a lack of reliable communications architectures. By overcoming these difficulties with readily-available commodity technologies, often combined in unique or novel ways, CERMUSA provides viable alternatives to often costly (and proprietary) military-spec hardware and software.

Project Name: Voice Recognition and Cross Platform Speech Interface

System

Account: RDTE, A

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Szanca Solutions, Inc.

Address of Requesting Entity: 100 East Pitt Street, Bedford, PA 15522

Description of Request/Justification of Federal Funding:

$2,500,000 for Voice Recognition and Cross Platform Speech Interface System

It is my understanding that this project will provide voice activation to legacy command and control systems to improve the ease of use, accuracy, and timeliness of the systems. The project will continue the work done to bring speech controlled operations and in addition provide a cross-platform solution that can be integrated to a wide variety of military systems. Doing so will dramatically increase the functionality and useful life of legacy systems while decreasing training costs and increasing operational speed.

This project is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because many of the Army's current command and control systems require a series of complicated keyboard entries to operate, making the systems slower to operate and prone to errors in stressful environments. This can result in delays providing commanders with critical information and in executing mission critical fire missions. This program will focus on solutions to those issues, allow quicker access to tactical information, and increase the speed in which targets can be fired.

Project Name: ALC Logistics Integration Environment

Account: RDTE, AF

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: IS2 Technologies, Inc.

Address of Requesting Entity: 3018 Pleasant Valley Blvd., Altoona, PA 16602

Description of Request/Justification of Federal Funding:

$1,000,000 for ALC Logistics Integration Environment

It is my understanding that this project will develop a Logistics Integration Environment using COTS software that facilitates pulling together teams of people to optimize battlefield readiness and improve the availability of aircraft and associated subsystems.

This project is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because the Air Force Logistics Centers lack an integrated data environment for service, repair, and overall logistics.

Development and deployment of the Logistics Information Environment would:

Develop and implement a collaborative logistics management solution that would provide a single source of data for the maintainers, supply and battlefield environments

Provide optimized predictive logistics modeling for critical supportability factors such as spare parts, maintenance schedules, and survivability under fire

Capture aircraft performance information that may be used to drive further improvements in survivability

Allow for real-time collaboration across the R&D, acquisition, logistics, and warfighter communities

Reduce costs by reducing the time required to research and collect the engineering and logistics data necessary to support unplanned/ unscheduled depot-level maintenance requirements

Benefits to our warfighting capability would be:

Mission readiness: Improve the readiness of rapidly deployed aircraft

Cost Avoidance: Minimize the cost and complexity of the aircraft logistics footprint

Innovation: Allow for accelerated innovation to aircraft and subsystems, continuously improving their operational performance and survivability

Additional benefits would include composite data that can be used to formalize and distribute Interactive Electric Technical Manuals (IETM) and dynamic work cards for maintenance planning and instructions.

Mr. Speaker, the Obama administration and congressional Democrats promised us that the trillion dollar stimulus that they passed and put into law would create jobs immediately. Well, last month alone we lost almost a half-million jobs, unemployment stands at 9.5 percent and going higher. It's clear that the stimulus package didn't work.

And their response has been, first, they passed an energy tax that's going to make America less competitive and drive American jobs offshore.

They're now in the process of increasing spending in the appropriations process by 12 percent.

And now this week they're trying to ram down a health care plan that's going to raise taxes on American business, cost jobs, and force people into a government-run, rationed health care plan.

All one has to do is look at this chart to understand the complexities and the inefficiencies they're going to put into this system. I might add this is a chart that they won't allow Republicans to mail out to our constituents to try to explain the complexities that they're going to put into health care.

The height of hypocrisy, though, was when in committee Republicans offered an amendment that would force all Members of Congress to participate in their health care plan, and what did they do? They voted it down. They won't allow the Congress to be in the health care plan that they're trying to pass.

Madam Speaker, consistent with the Republican Leadership's policy on earmarks, I submit the following.

Requesting Member: Congressman Bill Shuster (PA-9)

Bill Number: H.R. 3288--Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, FY2010

Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies

Appropriations Projects

Project Name: Building acquisition, renovation, and redevelopment of Lower Fairview

Account: Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Economic Development Initiatives (EDI)

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: The Nehemiah Project

Address of Requesting Entity: 800 Valley View Boulevard, Altoona, PA 16602

Description of Request/Justification of Federal Funding: $100,000 for building acquisition, renovation, and redevelopment of Lower Fairview

It is my understanding that funding for this project would be used for the acquisition, renovation, and redevelopment of buildings in the Lower Fairview neighborhood in Altoona, Pennsylvania.

This project is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because it will focus on blight elimination and reconstruction efforts to improve the quality of life for residents living in the Lower Fairview area and to spur economic development.

Project Name: Coalport Borough streetscape project

Account: Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Economic Development Initiatives (EDI)

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Coalport Borough Council

Address of Requesting Entity: 961 Forest Street, Coalport, PA 16627

Description of Request/Justification of Federal Funding: $150,000 for Coalport Borough streetscape project

It is my understanding that funding for this project would be used for streetscape improvements in Coalport Borough, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania.

This project is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because it will focus on downtown revitalization efforts within the Borough's historic and central business districts to improve the quality of life for residents and spur economic development.

Project Name: Bedford County business park development

Account: Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Economic Development Initiatives (EDI)

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Bedford County Development Association

Address of Requesting Entity: One Corporate Drive, Suite 101, Bedford, PA 15222

Description of Request/Justification of Federal Funding: $250,000 for Bedford County business park development

It is my understanding that funding for this project would be used for the development of a business park in Bedford County, Pennsylvania to facilitate regional economic growth and development. The project is expected to focus on the creation of high tech, light industrial, office, and warehouse distribution.

This project is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because it is estimated that completion of this project would create approximately 500 new jobs.

Project Name: Improvements to 1-81, Franklin County, PA

Account: Federal Highway Administration, Interstate Maintenance Discretionary

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Township of Antrim

Address of Requesting Entity: 10655 Antrim Church Road, Greencastle,

Madam Speaker, consistent with the Republican Leadership's policy on earmarks. I would like to submit the following:

Requesting Member: Congressman Bill Shuster (PA-9)

Bill Number: H.R. 3293--Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, FY2010

Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Projects

Project Name: Pennsylvania State University--Altoona, PA for facilities and equipment

Account: Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)--Health Facilities and Services

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Pennsylvania State University-- Altoona

Address of Requesting Entity: 3000 Ivyside Park, Altoona, PA 16601

Description of Request/Justification of Federal Funding: $320,000 for Pennsylvania State University--Altoona, PA for facilities and equipment

It is my understanding that funding for this project would be used for the expansion and renovations of the Pennsylvania State University--Altoona nursing lab and to purchase equipment to provide simulated clinical experiences.

This project is a valuable use of taxpayer dollars because simulation provides improved training for nurses and the opportunity to expand training programs to meet the critical demand for clinically trained nurses in Blair County, Pennsylvania and surrounding areas.

Project Name: Indiana Regional Medical Center, Indiana, PA for an electronic medical records initiative

Account: Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)--Health Facilities and Services

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Indiana Regional Medical Center

Address of Requesting Entity: 835 Hospital Road, Indiana, PA 15701

Description of Request/Justification of Federal Funding: $350,000 for Indiana Regional Medical Center, Indiana, PA for an electronic medical records initiative

It is my understanding that funding for this project would be used by the Indiana Regional Medical Center in Indiana County, Pennsylvania to purchase equipment to increase patient safety, enhance efficiency, and reduce operational costs. Specifically, funding is expected to be used to implement an Electronic Medical Records system. These technology upgrades will greatly benefit residents of the Indiana County, Pennsylvania area.

This project is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because the use of Electronic Medical Records is a national priority and is necessary to improve service for patients.

Project Name: J.C. Blair Memorial Hospital, Huntingdon, PA for facilities and equipment

Account: Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)--Health Facilities and Services

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: J.C. Blair Memorial Hospital

Address of Requesting Entity: 1225 Warm Springs Avenue, Huntingdon,

Mr. Speaker, the American people are hurting and they're asking, Where are the jobs? The Obama administration and congressional Democrats promised that the stimulus--the trillion-dollar stimulus-- would create jobs immediately. Last month alone, we lost almost half a million jobs and unemployment now stands at 9.5 percent.

It's clear the Democrats' trillion-dollar stimulus package isn't working, and their response is to increase spending in the appropriations process by 12 percent, pass a national energy tax that's going to result in increased energy costs, less competitiveness for American jobs, and drive jobs from American shores.

Now they're trying to ram down a health care plan that's going to raise taxes on American business, cost jobs, and force people into a government-run health care plan.

We need to focus on creating jobs--and you do that by holding the line on taxes, controlling spending, and reforming health care. Let's focus on creating jobs and answering the American people's cry for, Where are the jobs?

Madam Speaker, consistent with the Republican Leadership's policy on earmarks, I submit the following:

Requesting Member: Congressman Bill Shuster (PA-9)

Bill Number: H.R. 3170--Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, FY2010

Financial Services and General Government Projects

Project Name: For the I-99 Entrepreneurial Institute

Account: Small Business Administration (SBA), Salaries and Expenses

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Altoona-Blair County Development Corporation

Address of Requesting Entity: 3900 Industrial Park Drive, Altoona, PA 16602

Description of Request/Justification of Federal Funding: $100,000 for the I-99 Entrepreneurial Institute

It is my understanding that funding for this project would be used for the I-99 Entrepreneurial Institute. The I-99 Entrepreneurial Institute is a partnership program between Pennsylvania State University--Altoona and the Altoona-Blair County Development Corporation. The Institute serves as a formal bridge linking entrepreneurial learning and academic research with real-world business applications and experiences. Funding for this project would enhance programs and opportunities already in place to foster economic development and support startups and the expansion of small businesses. This project is

one piece of a comprehensive effort to promote economic development in the I-99 corridor.

This project is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because supporting job creation and entrepreneurial development are critically important in our current economy. Federal funding that is utilized to directly impact job creation and to support entrepreneurship and small businesses yields a sustainable and justified investment for communities and our country.

Madam Speaker, consistent with the Republican Leadership's policy on earmarks, I submit the following.

Requesting Member: Congressman Bill Shuster (PA-9)

Bill Number: H.R. 3183--Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, FY2010

Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Projects

Project Name: Raystown Lake, PA

Account: Corps of Engineers, O&M

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Raystown Lake

Address of Requesting Entity: 6145 Seven Points Road, Hesston, PA

Description of Request/Justification of Federal Funding:

$3,847,000 for O&M, Raystown Lake, PA

It is my understanding that funding for this project would be used for operations and maintenance at Raystown Lake, operated and maintained by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District. Raystown Lake, located in the Alleghenies of central Pennsylvania, is the Commonwealth's largest manmade lake and a major driver of the local economy.

Funding for this project is a valuable use of taxpayer dollars because funding is necessary to offer adequate services, keep recreation areas open, maintain seasonal staffing levels, and provide for general maintenance and cleanliness of facilities. Raystown Lake has substantial economic impact in central Pennsylvania and yields a sustainable and justified investment.

Project Name: Juniata Hybrid Locomotive

Account: Department of Energy, EERE

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Pennsylvania State University

Address of Requesting Entity: 117 Old Main, University Park, PA 16802

Description of Request/Justification of Federal Funding:

$1,000,000 for Juniata Hybrid Locomotive

It is my understanding that funding for this project would be used to assess and develop technological alternatives to diesel locomotives and to develop a more energy efficient and environmentally friendly locomotive for yard, local, and main line applications. Associated with this research effort is the development of the energy management and control technologies required to maximize the energy efficiency of hybrid locomotives. Converting the existing fleet to new technologies would reduce both emissions and our dependence on foreign oil.

This project is a valuable use to taxpayer funds because it fits the Department of Energy's mission with a focus on developing more energy efficient and environmentally friendly transportation technology that will enable America to use less petroleum and reduce impacts on the environment. Protecting the environment and ensuring our national security through reduced dependence on foreign oil are critical issues facing the federal government.

Project Name: South Central Pennsylvania Environmental Improvement,

Madam Speaker, consistent with the Republican Leadership's policy on earmarks, I am placing the following:

Requesting Member: Congressman Bill Shuster (PA-9)

Bill Number: H.R. 2997--Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, FY2010

Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and

Related Agencies Projects

Project Name: Sustainable Agriculture and Natural Resources, PA

Account: National Institute of Food and Agriculture/SRG

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Pennsylvania State University

Address of Requesting Entity: 117 Old Main, University Park, PA 16802

Description of Request/Justification of Federal Funding: $133,000 for Sustainable Agriculture and Natural Resources, PA

It is my understanding that funding for this project will support a collaborative research and education program to assist diverse farm operations better adopt more sustainable farming practices. This project will increase field research and demonstration to increase the exposure of farm advisors and farmers to sustainable cropping system practices. Additionally, the project will support research on specific techniques to infuse environmentally and economically sustainable practices into a wide variety of agricultural production systems.

This project is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because increased farmer understanding and adoption of sustainable farming practices is critical to meeting future agricultural and natural resources challenges in both the United States and worldwide. Sustainability in agricultural production is a national theme that resonates broadly with national targets of sustainability and responsible use of natural resources. Increasing production without causing permanent ecological damage benefits farmers, consumers, and the environment. It is also my understanding that approximately 25 percent of funding will be used to salaries, approximately 25 percent for graduate students, approximately 48 percent for other direct costs, and approximately 2 percent for travel.

Project Name: Milk Safety, PA

Account: National Institute of Food and Agriculture/SRG

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Pennsylvania State University

Address of Requesting Entity: 117 Old Main, University Park, PA 16802

Description of Request/Justification of Federal Funding: $771,000 for Milk Safety, PA

It is my understanding that funding for this project will support research that protects the safety of dairy products for Pennsylvania and the nation. Research will address the continued threat of natural or intentional contamination of the fluid milk supply. The project will focus on continuing to develop more sensitive, accurate, and cost- effective diagnostic tools to identify pathogens and toxins.

Additionally, research will support developing and evaluating alternative preservation techniques that ensure the safety of dairy products while preserving food quality attributes, evaluating the benefits and risks associated with consumer and producer interest in raw milk products, and examining the integrity of the supply chain that moves diary products from the farm gate to the consumer.

This project is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because new technical approaches to solving crucial problems in dairy farming have high impact and are critical given the importance of the dairy production sector and the multiplier effect of dairy-derived income. Current challenges have placed the dairy production sector and related industries at risk. Milk safety funding provides a tool for the federal government to respond quickly to emerging issues within the dairy industry and is necessary to maintain consumer protection and confidence. Improvements can be transferred to producers, processors, distributors, and retailers.

It is also my understanding that approximately 32 percent of funding will be used for salaries, approximately 13 percent for graduate students, approximately 16 percent for wages, approximately 1 percent for travel, approximately 10 percent for equipment, and approximately 28 percent for other direct costs.

Project Name: Improved Dairy Management Practices, PA

Account: National Institute of Food and Agriculture/SRG

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Pennsylvania State University

Address of Requesting Entity: 117 Old Main, University Park, PA 16802

Description of Request/Justification of Federal Funding: $243,000 for Improved Dairy Management Practices, PA

It is my understanding that funding for this project will provide research to address improved dairy management practices and specifically nutrient and emissions management. The project will be focused on addressing issues associated with dairy production by utilizing technology to improve water quality, lowering the impacts of emissions, and supporting efficient energy use.

This project is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because current challenges have placed the dairy production sector and related industries at risk. Evaluating new management tools for their impact on dairy farm profitability and delivering new tools to the industry based on sound scientific study is vital to the future of U.S. dairy production. New technical approaches to solving crucial problems in dairy farming have high impact and are critical given the importance of the dairy production sector and the multiplier effect of dairy-derived income.

It is also my understanding that approximately 24 percent of funding would be used for salaries, approximately 23 percent for graduate students, approximately 22 percent for wages, approximately 2 percent for travel, and approximately 29 percent for other direct costs.

Project Name: Dairy Farm Productivity, PA

Account: National Institute of Food and Agriculture/SRG

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Pennsylvania State University

Address of Requesting Entity: 117 Old Main, University Park, PA 16802

Description of Request/Justification of Federal Funding: $349,000 for Dairy Farm Profitability, PA

It is my understanding that funding for this project will provide assistance to improve dairy farm profitability. This project will provide technological solutions to real-world problems that are reducing the profitability of dairy farms in Pennsylvania and across the nation. Technologies will be validated for their economic impact and delivered as part of a broader economic analysis of individual farms.

This project is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because the local dairy farm is part of a complex system which extends from local issues of decisions regarding nutrient management, animal genetics, and operation diversity to global issues of supply and demand for dairy products. New technical approaches to solving crucial problems in dairy farming have high impact and are critical given the importance of the dairy production sector and the multiplier effect of dairy-derived income.

It is also my understanding that approximately 24 percent of funding would be used for salaries, approximately 15 percent for graduate students, approximately 27 percent for wages, approximately 3 percent for travel, and approximately 31 percent for other direct costs.

Project Name: Agricultural Entrepreneurial Alternatives, PA

Account: National Institute of Food and Agriculture/SRG

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Pennsylvania State University

Address of Requesting Entity: 117 Old Main, University Park, PA 16802

Description of Request/Justification of Federal Funding: $233,000 for Agricultural Entrepreneurial Alternatives, PA

It is my understanding that funding for this project will provide assistance for agricultural entrepreneurship development. This project is important both regionally and nationally because it focuses on education and other support necessary to help farmers make a transition from ``traditional'' types of farming to value-added agricultural enterprises.

This project is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because developing the entrepreneurial skills of agricultural producers assists in providing higher profits on farms, a decline in farm consolidation, and increased opportunities for consumers to obtain products that meet their lifestyles. Growth of entrepreneurial skills strengthens farmers' ability to act on consumer-based opportunities. This strengthens the agricultural industry, local communities, and provides consumers with goods and services they are willing and able to buy. Because of its unique production characteristics and market access, Pennsylvania is an ideal location for this project.

It is also my understanding that approximately 75 percent of funding would be used

for salaries and approximately 25 percent for travel, communications, and program development.