Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to an Alaskan Pioneer and father of modern-day Anchorage. Former long-term Anchorage Mayor George Murray Sullivan, 87, died September 23, 2009, surrounded by his family. A lifelong Alaskan, Sullivan was born on March 31, 1922, raised in Valdez, Alaska, where his father Harvey was the U.S. District Marshal and mother Viola was the first woman mayor in Alaska.

Sullivan's life and leadership spanned the territorial days of Alaska through statehood. In the 1920s, the Sullivans lived in Valdez, a busy town in the first two decades of the 20th century that supported a bowling alley, several breweries, a dam and hydroelectric plant, the seat of the Territory of Alaska's Third Judicial District, a public library, hospital, and public school system. George had a wonderful life as a kid in Valdez, playing many sports, engaging in school activities, and helping at the family store.

During World War II, Anchorage's population exploded from around 8,000 to more than 43,000. In July, 1944, George was drafted into the U.S. Army for two years and was stationed at Adak in the Aleutian Islands. He married the love of his life, Margaret Eagan Sullivan, on December 30, 1947, and moved to Nenana. George was the U.S. deputy marshal and Margaret was the U.S. commissioner. Aptly, George would catch the criminals and Margaret would try them. In 1955, he was elected to the Fairbanks City Council. George took a job in management with Consolidated Freightways and in 1959 moved the family to Anchorage, where he lived for the next 50 years. From 1964 to 1965, George served in the Alaska Legislature, after being appointed by Governor Bill Egan to fill a vacancy, and soon after was elected to the Anchorage City Council. In 1967, he ran a successful race to become Anchorage mayor, a position he would hold for 15 years. In 1975, voters approved the unification of Anchorage's city and borough governments and elected George its mayor. The creation of the Municipality of Anchorage was an incredible undertaking. As mayor, George successful merged the duplicative departments, boards, and utilities into one government.

Statehood in 1958 brought change but it was the oil boom that provided the resources for Anchorage to blossom into a modern day city. George and his administration had a vision of what Anchorage could become and were entrusted to direct the streaming State oil revenues toward improving and enhancing the city's quality of life for its residents. George helped secure State funding for the construction of the Egan Civic and Convention Center, Loussac Library, the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts, and the Sullivan Sports Arena. This moved Anchorage into being a modem and vibrant community.

George finished as Mayor of Anchorage in 1982. For the past many years since, George has remained active in the community and state boards up until his illness in 2008. Through the years he was active on the Enstar board, AWWU, state PERS board, Anchorage Senior Center Endowment, TOTE Advisory Board, Military Advisory Board, Anchorage Wellness Court Alumni Group, Alaska Heart Association, Boys and Girls Clubs, and many more. He was always willing to lend a helping hand to make Anchorage a little better for those less fortunate or in need. He had a strong faith in the Roman Catholic Church and often assisted at Mass and in the church's organizations. He was a member of the Elks Club, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Pioneers of Alaska.

George had an incredible love for the community and worked on many projects to enhance the quality of life for all who called Anchorage home. He was a true public servant and visionary who strived to make Anchorage a better community for future generations while he was mayor and during his retirement.

George was a great Alaskan. George was my friend.

Madam Speaker, in adherence to the Republican Earmark Standards for the Coast Guard Authorization, H.R. 3619, I submit the following:

Requesting Member: Congressman Don Young

Bill Number: H.R. 3619

Provision: Section 1307

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: USCG Cutter Storis Museum & Maritime Education Center, LLC

Address of Requesting Entity: 229 4th Street, Juneau, Alaska 99801

Description of Request: The Storis Museum is organized and established for the purpose of obtaining the USCG Cutter Storis from the government of the United States of America and establishing a non- profit museum in Alaska that will maintain the Storis in Alaska when the vessel is declared surplus. It is the intent of the Storis Museum to make the USCG Cutter Storis available to the public as a museum and to work cooperatively with other museums to provide education and memorialize the maritime heritage of the Storis and other maritime activities in Alaska, the Pacific Northwest, the Arctic Ocean and adjacent oceans and seas and such other lawful affairs allowed in Alaska.

Requesting Member: Congressman Don Young

Bill Number: H.R. 3619

Provision: Section 1302

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Stabbert Maritime

Address of Requesting Entity: 2629 NW 54th Street, #W-201, Seattle,

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume on H.R. 2489.

The National Land Remote Sensing Outreach Act builds on a series of earmarks directed to the United States Geological Survey for nearly a decade. This program originally started out as ``Ohio View'' and has since expanded to more than 35 States, with hundreds of active member groups. This effort has been successful in increasing access to and uses of our Nation's Earth observation satellite assets for education, research, hazardous monitoring, and natural resource management.

This legislation will finally move this program from one funded through earmarks without any oversight from Congress to an authorized Federal program with increased accountability, oversight, and taxpayer protections.

The final version of this legislation the House will consider today includes a number of improvements over the original introduced text. Specifically, this bill places a cap on the annual authorization for this program. This bill also now has a sunset date and requires a cost share from the partners who will work with the U.S. Geological Survey.

These are responsible, necessary changes. Congress should at all times seek to ensure taxpayer protections and oversight of government spending.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette).

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

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

(Mr. YOUNG of Alaska asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, it is my understanding that President Carter is heavily involved in the land acquisition and park expansion authorized in this legislation. We have been made aware that one of the properties included in the expansion is a haunted house. This is no Halloween trick. The currently dilapidated structure will be rehabilitated by the National Park Service and eventually be made available to show the public where President Carter lived before his current estate was constructed.

I am also aware that President Carter is an avid hunter. He likes to stalk deer, dove, quail, turkey, and even the occasional squirrel. Fortunately, with the passage of an important Republican gun rights amendment to the Credit Card Reform Act last spring, President Carter will be able to legally transport his firearms to and from his home and clean and load his firearms on his compound within the national park without fear of violating Federal law when this provision goes into effect in February 2010.

Right now, other Americans and the other 391 National Park units would be subject to criminal penalties for these actions.

President Carter has an excellent relationship with the National Park Service, which should be preserved. After all, the agency has the duty to preserve the legacy of his 4 years as President through the conservation of his high school, boyhood home and even his current residence within the park. The National Park Service dutifully handles many important tasks, including the day-to-day maintenance of his property and even of mowing his lawn.

Finally, it has been said that these new acquisitions will complete the story of Mr. Carters life. This is a noble goal. I can only assume that is why the legislation also includes the Federal takeover of Billy Carter's gas station.

I yield back the balance of my time.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, to ensure that a wilderness designation would not block public access to historic recreation sites, the 1988 law that established the Stephen Mather Wilderness area in the North Cascades National Park provided for a 100-foot-wide, non-wilderness corridor to the upper Stehekin Valley.

Unfortunately, flooding in 1995 and again in 2003 washed away parts of the road, and it remains impassable today.

Representative Doc Hastings' bill, H.R. 2806, restores the intent of Congress by allowing the relocation of the road to a less flood-prone site. This bill does not reduce the amount of wilderness in the park.

It is strongly supported by local officials and by former Senator Dan Evans, who sponsored the 1988 law. When the National Park Service solicited public comments on alternatives for the management of the area, over 90 percent of those comments favored keeping the road open.

I urge my colleagues to join ranking Republican Doc Hastings and Chairman Nick Rahall in supporting this legislation.

I yield back the balance of my time.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1641 has been adequately explained by the majority. As the current trail is being operated successfully at a local level, we are not aware of the need for this legislation.

Apparently, though, some believe there is a compelling need for Federal involvement where Americans paddle kayaks in the Puget Sound. As this bill provides for a study of the federalization of these water trails, possible objections will likely be held until the study is completed and until actual Federal control is to be proposed.

I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for recognizing Alaska, the greatest State in the Union, the largest State in the Union, with the one congressman that does the whole job of the State of the Union. Thank you. I yield myself such time as I may consume.

This bill was introduced by Chairman Rahall and Ranking Member Hastings to allow additional time for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund to raise private funds for the construction of the underground visitors center on The Mall.

I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting this great piece of legislation.

I reserve the balance of my time.

I have no other additional speakers.

I yield back the balance of my time.

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

H.R. 1593 will designate segments of the Illabot Creek in Skagit County, Washington, as a component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. The area being designated is located within the Baker- Snoqualmie National Forest. The total designated is 14.3 miles in two separate segments.

Although I personally do not believe a wild and scenic designation is necessarily the best way to manage our river resources in every instance, I understand that this bill excludes a section of the river crossed by a needed road and now has local support. I do not object at this time to the passage of this legislation.

I reserve the balance of my time.

I have no further requests for time.

I yield back the balance of my time.

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

The Junior Duck Stamp Program was developed 20 years ago and first authorized by Congress in 1994. Today, more than 28,000 students participate in the conservation curriculum and annual nationwide wildlife art contest.

During hearings of this legislation, one of the witnesses was a teacher from an elementary school in Frederick, Maryland. In her statement, she noted: ``As a teacher, I believe that the Junior Duck Stamp Program is an excellent learning opportunity for students at all grade levels. What is difficult for me to put into words is the looks on the curious faces of my students as they research to learn about various waterfowl and their habitat; the looks of determination as they work hard to capture the likeness of the birds; and the smiles when their entries are finally completed.''

This is an excellent program, Mr. Speaker, and a sound investment of U.S. taxpayer dollars. The Junior Duck Stamp Program should be extended for an additional 5 years.

I would also like to compliment the authors of this bill, Congressmen Solomon Ortiz and Henry E. Brown, Jr., for their leadership on behalf of wildlife conservation of this Nation.

This is a good piece of legislation, Mr. Speaker, and I urge an ``aye'' vote on H.R. 3537.

I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Since 1989, the North American Wetlands Conservation Act has required that each Federal dollar spent on the conservation project be matched by private, non-governmental money. However, due to the irreplaceable nature of the breeding waterfowl habitat in Canada, a decision was made not to require matching funds for Canadian projects from private Canadian sources.

As a result of the economic downturn, however, it has become increasingly difficult to meet the 100 percent matching requirement here in the United States. According to the Fish and Wildlife Service, there will be some $70 million worth of projects in Canada during the current 5-year funding cycle which began in 2007. Under the current law, this means that $70 million in private matching money must be provided.

Under H.R. 3433, the North American Wetlands Conservation Act would be amended to require at least 50 percent of non-Federal share of projects in Canada be paid for by Canadian non-governmental entities. There was unanimous support for this measure during our committee markup, and this is an appropriate change in our Federal law.

I would also like to compliment the author of this bill, Congressman Wittman of Virginia, for his outstanding leadership and for his service on the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission.

I urge an ``aye'' vote.

I yield back the balance of my time.

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

The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area is the National Park Service's largest outdoor recreation area in the Northeastern United States. This recreation area includes 67,000 acres along 40 scenic miles of the Delaware River in the States of New Jersey and Pennsylvania. With 5 million recreational visits each year, it is our 10th most visited national park.

Our colleague, Mr. Garrett, introduced H.R. 3476 to enhance citizen participation in the administration of the park by extending the recreation area's Citizen Advisory Commission for another 9 years to the year 2018. I am pleased to join Mr. Garrett in support of this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, at this time I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Garrett), the author of this fine piece of legislation.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, today I rise to recognize a program, which in the last year, has helped more than 40,000 Americans who are blind or who have severe disabilities gain skills and training that has ultimately led to gainful employment; The AbilityOne Program.

The AbilityOne Program harnesses the purchasing power of the Federal Government to buy products and services from participating community- based nonprofit agencies that are dedicated to training and employing individuals with disabilities. This program affords Americans with disabilities the opportunity to acquire job skills and training, receive good wages and benefits, and gain greater independence and quality of life.

This comes in a segment of the population that has suffered from significant unemployment. But programs such as AbilityOne have come a long way in helping to bring people with disabilities into a working society. I am proud to acknowledge that REACH Inc. has played an active role since 1977 in helping employ people with severe disabilities and is one of the community partners to the AbilityOne Program within my state.

The history and mission of REACH Inc. stands as a true example of why this program is a winning proposition for all parties involved. REACH Inc. grew out of the dream of a group of local families who wanted to organize activities for their children with disabilities. Over 32 years ago, REACH Inc. opened its doors in the basement of the Resurrection Lutheran Church in Juneau. What started out as a small, family-run group meeting in a church basement has developed into an agency employing 200 people and serving over 400 individuals.

The direct impact of these organizations on the lives of Americans with disabilities cannot be overstated. For an individual with a severe disability who has never had the opportunity to hold a job, be independent, participate in the community, or play an important role in society; the AbilityOne Program and organizations like REACH Inc. are invaluable.

Madam Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I extend my support to the AbilityOne Program. I also want to commend the dedication and commitment to the REACH Inc. Executive Director, Mr. Richard Fagundes, and his staff for helping individuals who are blind or have a severe disability find employment. Their work helps people live fuller lives and become more active members of society. I also commend each AbilityOne employee who works every day to improve their lives, support our Government, and make our country a better place to live.

Madam Speaker, today I introduce a bill that would provide Alaska Native Corporations (ANCs) with parity for an important tax incentive that promotes the permanent protection of land through the charitable donation of a conservation easement.

Primarily, conservation easements are administered under state laws while federal law offers tax benefits associated with them. Under present law, Internal Revenue Code, Section 170 allows taxpayers to take a deduction for charitable contributions of property through conservation easements.

In 2006, Congress enhanced the charitable tax deduction for conservation easements in order to further protect important habitats and encourage such gifts. Congress temporarily increased the maximum deduction limit for individuals making donations of qualified conservation easements from 30 percent to 50 percent of the taxpayer's adjusted gross income. Contributions made by corporations are deductible for up to 10 percent of their income. In the case of a qualified farmer or rancher, the limitation was increased from 30 percent to 100 percent of taxable income.

Many farmers and ranchers are owners of ecologically significant open spaces, but often have limited income. The purpose of the deduction was to create an incentive by providing these farmers and ranchers with some measure of value commensurate to that of the conservation easement donation. Qualified farmers or ranchers are defined as non-publicly traded corporations or individuals whose gross income from the trade or business of farming is greater than 50 percent of the taxpayers gross income. The temporary rules were extended for two additional years by the recently enacted Farm Bill to contributions made before December 31, 2009.

Although subsistence-based Alaskan Native communities are similarly situated to the small communal family farms that are eligible, they are ineligible for these important new tax incentives because they are Federally chartered as C corporations under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971 (ANCSA). Moreover, Alaska Native Corporations have insufficient gross income from the trade or business of farming to be eligible for the enhanced deduction.

Alaska Native communities continue to have a deeply symbiotic relationship with the land even today, relying on important food sources from Alaskan waters and lands. For many communities, with purchasing of food both costly and difficult, nearly 70 percent of food continues to come from the land.

Because conservation easements are the result of decades of statutory, regulatory, and case law, this legislation is crafted to ensure it does not change the underlying state law or the underlying federal tax law pertaining to conservation easements. A summary of the legislation follows.

The legislation modifies Internal Revenue Code, Section 170(b) (2) by inserting subparagraph (C), creating an exception that provides Alaska Native Corporations with a deduction for donations of certain qualified conservation easements.

Under Section 170(b)(2)(i), the maximum deduction limit would be set at 100 percent of the taxpayer's adjusted gross income.

If the taxpayer has deductions in excess of the applicable percentageof-income limitation, Section 170(b)(2) (ii) would allow the taxpayer to carry-forward the deduction for up to 15 years.

In order to be eligible, a qualified charitable conservation contribution must: (1) otherwise qualify under Section 170(h)(1); (2) be made by a Native Corporation; and (3) be land that was conveyed by

Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of the FY 2010 Department of Defense Appropriations Act.

Bill Number: H.R. 3326--Research, Development Test & Evaluation, Air Force.

Legal name and address of entity receiving earmark: Fairbanks North Star Borough, 809 Pioneer Road, Fairbanks, AK 99701.

Description of how the money will be spent and why the use of federal taxpayer funding is justified: Funding will be used to undertake necessary follow-up engineering studies of a synthetic liquid fuels facility at/or near Eielson Air Force Base. These studies will address the environmental, technical and economic feasibility of a facility benefits, technical and economic feasibility of a synthetic liquid fuels facility and the environmental benefits and economic and technical feasibility of the transportation and sequestration of carbon dioxide to enhance crude oil recovery in northern Alaska.

This project will supply the U.S. Air Force and other military branches a secure supply of synthetic fuels to operate fighters, bombers and other aircraft and military equipment. It will help the Air Force to achieve its stated goal of certifying its fleet of aircraft on a synthetic fuel blend and purchasing 50 percent of its fuels in the form of a synthetic fuel blend by 2016.

Description of matching funds: Funding will go to supplement funds from P.L. 110-329.

Appropriated Amount: $3,000,000.

Project Name: Synthetic Liquid Fuels.

Detailed Finance Plan: Of the $3 million, all will go to the Fairbanks North Star Borough to be expended to study the technical, economic and environmental feasibility of the transportation and sequestration of carbon dioxide to enhance crude oil recovery in northern Alaska produced by a synthetic fuel facility located in the vicinity of Fairbanks Alaska.

Bill Number: H.R. 3326--Research, Development Test & Evaluation, Defense Wide.

Legal name and address of entity receiving earmark: Kachemak Research Development, Inc., 59584 East End Road, Homer, AK 99603.

Description of how the money will be spent and why the use of federal taxpayer funding is justified: Kachemak Research Development, Inc. is a woman owned, HUBZone, 8(a) entity. AutoScan, an under vehicle inspection system developed by KRD, is a stationary system that captures the entire undercarriage image of vehicles, ranging in size from passenger vehicles to semi-trucks. Because of the unique capabilities of AutoScan, vehicles do not need to maintain a constant speed as they travel across the system. Funding will be used for product enhancement and beta testing of AutoScan generation 2 and 3 architecture. As part of the inspection protocol at every military base, CONUS and OCONUS, the undercarriage of every delivery vehicle must be inspected. Standard inspection protocols have been comprised of a mirror-mounted stick or search pits. AutoScan makes it possible for inspection personnel to maintain a safe stand-off distance. Additionally, it stores images for later comparison and analysis if needed. And it provides one, complete, clear image of any vehicle's under-side in real-time and capabilities that no similar system is able to provide.

Description of matching funds: KRD profit is reinvested back into the company to provide facilities that are needed to perform the work. KRD investment exceeds $750,000 to-date.

Appropriated Amount: $3,000,000.

Project Name: Under-Vehicle Inspection System.

Detailed Finance Plan: Of the $3M, roughly 25% will go to administrative support within OSD and the contracting agency. The remaining 75% of the funding, $2.25M, will cover labor: $1,290,000; materials (including equipment and fabrication) $238,000; benefits $262,000; OH $214,000; technical consulting $112,000; $31,000 travel; $95,000 installation and beta testing of generation 2 and 3 AutoScan before fielding.

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. 3293, the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010.

Project Name: Alaska Native Heritage Center, Anchorage, AK for educational programming and outreach

Bill Number: H.R. 3293

Legal Name and address of entity receiving earmark: Alaska Native Heritage Center, 8800 Heritage Center Drive, Anchorage, AK 99504

Description of how the money will be spent and why the use of federal taxpayer funding is justified: Educational programs to increase understanding of cultural diversity and multicultural communication. Their programs and message affect individuals nationally and internationally, reaching hundreds of thousands of students and visitors each year.

Appropriated Amount: $150,000

Detailed Finance Plan: Personnel $150,000

Project Name: Anchorage Neighborhood Health Center, Anchorage, AK for facilities and equipment

Bill Number: H.R. 3293

Legal Name and address of entity receiving earmark: Anchorage Neighborhood Health Center, P.O. Box 201849, Anchorage, AK 99520

Description of how the money will be spent and why the use of federal taxpayer funding is justified: Implementing digital radiography to better serve underserved patients. This is a federally qualified health center under section 330 of the Public Health Act.

Appropriated Amount: $100,000

Detailed Finance Plan: Equipment $100,000

Project Name: Chickaloon Native Village, Chickaloon, AK for facilities and equipment

Bill Number: H.R. 3293

Legal Name and address of entity receiving earmark: Chickaloon Health Center, P.O. Box 1105, Chickaloon, AK 99674

Description of how the money will be spent and why the use of federal taxpayer funding is justified: Improve the health status of medically underserved residents by establishing a community health center. This area has been declared underserved by HHS and there is a demonstrated need for a community health center in this region.

Appropriated Amount: $250,000

Detailed Finance Plan: Personnel and equipment $250,000

Project Name: Providence Health and Services, Anchorage, AK for a physician recruitment and retention initiative

Bill Number: H.R. 3293

Legal Name and address of entity receiving earmark: Providence Hospital Residency Program, 3200 Providence Drive, Anchorage, AK 99508

Description of how the money will be spent and why the use of federal taxpayer funding is justified: The funding would be used to address the critical physician recruitment and retention problem in Alaska. The state is facing a shortage of physicians who will accept Medicare patients and this program is one of only a handful in the state that will see new Medicare eligible patients.

Appropriated Amount: $350,000

Detailed Finance Plan: Personnel and training $350,000

Project Name: Strengthening Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions Programs for activities authorized under the Higher Education Act

Bill Number: H.R. 3293

Legal Name and address of entity receiving earmark: U.S. Department of Education, AK Native and Native Hawaiian Institutions, 1990 K Street, NW., 6th Floor Washington, DC 20806

Description of how the money will be spent and why the use of federal taxpayer funding is justified: The funding would be used to strengthen Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions Programs for activities authorized under the Higher Education Act.

Appropriated Amount: $12,158,000

Detailed Finance Plan: Programming $12,158,000

Project Name: Reading is Fundamental authorized under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act

Bill Number: H.R. 3293

Legal Name and address of entity receiving earmark: Reading Is Fundamental, 1825 Connecticut Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20009

Description of how the money will be spent and why the use of federal taxpayer funding is

justified: Funding will be used for purposes authorized in Section 5451 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Reading Is Fundamental enhances child literacy by providing millions of underserved children with free books for personal ownership and reading encouragement from the more than 18,000 locations throughout all fifty states, Washington, D.C., Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Appropriated Amount: $24,803,000

Detailed Finance Plan: Programming $24,803,000

Project Name: Alaska Native Educational Equity for activities authorized under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act

Bill Number: H.R. 3293

Legal Name and address of entity receiving earmark: U.S. Department of Education, AK Native Education Equity Act, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20202

Description of how the money will be spent and why the use of federal taxpayer funding is justified: The funding would be used to meet the unique education needs of AK Natives and to support supplemental education programs to benefit AK Natives.

Appropriated Amount: $33,315,000

Detailed Finance Plan: Programming $33,315,000

Project Name: Close Up Fellowships Program for activities authorized under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act

Bill Number: H.R. 3293

Legal Name and address of entity receiving earmark: Close Up Foundation, 44 Canal Center Plaza, Suite 600, Alexandria, VA 22314

Description of how the money will be spent and why the use of federal taxpayer funding is justified: Fellowships to economically disadvantaged students and their teachers to participate in Close Up Washington civic education programs as authorized under No Child Left Behind Act. Program in Department of Education, Innovation and Improvement account 36460. All grant dollars pay for tuition for economically disadvantaged students and their teachers to participate in Close Up Washington civic education programs. Tuition is all inclusive including transportation, accommodations, food, instruction, administrative, etc.

Appropriated Amount: $1,942,000

Detailed Finance Plan: Programming $1,942,000

Project Name: Reach Out and Read authorized under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act

Bill Number: H.R. 3293

Legal Name and address of entity receiving earmark: Reach Out and Read National Center, 56 Roland Street, Boston, MA 02129

Description of how the money will be spent and why the use of federal taxpayer funding is justified: Reach Out and Read (ROR) is a national program that promotes literacy and language development in infants and young children, targeting disadvantaged and poor children and families. ROR has proven to among the most effective strategies to promote early language and literacy development and school readiness: pediatricians and other healthcare providers guide and encourage parents to read aloud to their children from their earliest years of their life, and send them home from each doctor visit with books and a prescription to read together. Currently, nearly 50,000 doctors and nurses have been trained in ROR's proven strategies, and more than 3,500 clinics and hospitals nationwide are implementing the program, reaching more than 25% of America's at-risk-children. Funding provided by Congress through the U.S. Department of Education has been matched by tens of millions of dollars from the private sector and state governments.

Appropriated Amount: $4,965,000

Detailed Finance Plan: Programming $4,965,000

Project Name: Center for Civic Education for two programs--We the People and Cooperative Education Exchange--that are authorized in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act as part of the Civic Education program

Bill Number: H.R. 3293

Legal Name and address of entity receiving earmark: The Center for Civic Education, 5145 Douglas Fir Road, Calabasas, CA 91302

Description of how the money will be spent and why the use of federal taxpayer funding is justified: The Education for Democracy Act programs are among the most cost effective programs supported by the federal government. They effectively promote among students a profound understanding of and commitment to the fundamental values and principles of American constitutional democracy as expressed in such seminal documents as the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and Bill of Rights, and the Gettysburg Address. They also promote students' capacities to participate competently and responsibility in the political life of their communities and the nation.

Appropriated Amount: $35,000,000

Detailed Finance Plan: Programming $35,000,000