Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to express concerns regarding health reform proposals which would create unfunded state mandates. Legislation currently before the House would dramatically expand the Medicaid program and place over $35 billion in new liabilities on state budgets over the next ten years. In addition, these proposals would expand the federal government's role in administering Medicaid, which would severely handcuff states' ability to run their own programs and preempt state authority to manage Medicaid eligibility and benefits.

Over the last several weeks, governors have expressed concerns over these proposals. I would like to submit for the Record the following letters from the governors of Mississippi and Nebraska:

August 6, 2009.

Hon. Gregg Harper,

Cannon HOB,

Washington, DC.

Dear Congressman Harper: As Congress debates healthcare

reform, I want to raise a few issues of concern with the

policies being considered in both House and Senate bills.

Healthcare reform is truly a bipartisan issue; after all,

Republicans and Democrats understand that our healthcare

system faces significant challenges--from steadily increasing

medical costs to confusing insurance provisions. As the

national debate continues, it is important that everyone

realizes the severe impact the proposed legislation would

have on states like Mississippi.

As Governor, I am particularly concerned about the

direction the Senate and House are taking in regards to

Medicaid expansion. Instead of discussing policies to reform

a broken system, the debate in Congress has shifted to

finding ways to fund an expanded Medicaid program at the

state level. At the end of the day, both the Senate and House

proposals are unfunded mandates, which, for states like

Mississippi, would result in burdensome and costly changes to

the system.

For example, when we talk about sharing the cost of an

expanded Medicaid program, Mississippi would pay another $333

million annually under a larger program covering up to 150

percent below the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). A Medicaid

program covering up to 133 percent FPL expansion would cost

an extra $297 million. In many states, funding the current

Medicaid programs robs other critical programs. The same is

true for us. Each year we struggle to cover our Medicaid

expenses while providing for essential services including

public education and public safety.

While there has been some discussion at the federal level

to assist states in paying for this expansion, my staff

learned last week that the Senate Finance Committee is

proposing to cap the amount of federal money distributed to

the states to pay for this expansion at $40 billion over 10

years. Estimates show the cost of expanding the Medicaid

system to all states at the lowest level, or 133 percent FPL,

is $30 billion per year. At 133 percent FPL, states would be

saddled with Medicaid expansion costs in the second year of

expansion.

These projections are overwhelming as Mississippi, like all

states, continues to grapple with budget realities. Our

General Fund Revenue collections for July 2009 are 11.27

percent below our estimate. Compared to the prior year,

collections for this July are 21.43 percent or $56.3 million

below what was collected in July 2008. During Fiscal Year

2009, Mississippi's revenue was $390 million short of the

revenue estimate, causing most of state government, except

for education and Medicaid, to take approximately a 6 percent

cut in the Fiscal Year 2010 budget.

Our Fiscal Year 2010 budget included $523 million in

stimulus funds; otherwise, we would have faced even more

significant cuts. It will take our state years to catch up,

and that's without a $297 million or $333 million Medicaid

state-share increase.

Further, the proposed healthcare reform legislation also

includes numerous tax increases to finance significant

expansions of government-run healthcare. Different versions

of the House legislation incorporate a payroll tax on small

businesses. Although the recent House Energy and Commerce

Committee agreement included an 8 percent payroll tax for

small businesses with an annual payroll of $500,000, previous

versions taxed small businesses with a payroll of $250,000.

This tax will do nothing more than punish wage and job

growth, especially when you consider that the tax rate

increases as the size of payroll increases. According to the

National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB), such

employer mandates could cost 1.6 million jobs with more than

1 million of those jobs lost in the small business sector.

That means higher taxes for Mississippians, since 96.7

percent of our employers are small businesses. In addition,

the Senate HELP Committee proposal requires employers to

offer health coverage to their employees and contribute at

least 60 percent of the premium cost or pay $750 for each

employee that is not offered coverage.

Language in the proposed legislation also would mandate an

individual to purchase health insurance and, should he be

unable to afford such coverage, he'll be slapped with a 2.5

percent additional income tax for the coverage. But the

proposed legislation goes even further, taxing higher income

individuals beginning at $280,000 and families at $350,000 on

a sliding scale.

This language generates a massive tax increase on high

income filers, more than half of whom are small business

owners already being taxed if they do not provide health

insurance to their employees. A tax increase in the middle of

a recession, with unemployment rising, is not the answer.

Besides increasing taxes, the House bill cuts Medicare

nearly $500 billion. These cuts include reductions to

Medicare providers and hospitals, while gutting Medicare

Advantage by $150 billion to $160 billion. Admittedly, I am

baffled as to why Congress would propose slicing funding for

a program that our seniors support and that provides for

their health and well-being.

As Congress heads home for the recess, I urge Members to

review the proposed legislation with their state leadership.

I am primarily concerned about the effect this legislation

may have on Mississippi's financial stability, both now and

in the future. These so-called ``reforms'' would severely

impact Mississippi's budget and our ability to fund other

important priorities, like education and public safety.

Before Congress makes such sweeping reforms to our healthcare

system, I implore you to first ensure that these changes are

efficient and beneficial to our citizens, without burdening

our states through unfunded mandates.

Sincerely,

Haley Barbour,

Governor, Mississippi.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to express concerns regarding health reform proposals which would create unfunded state mandates. Legislation currently before the House would dramatically expand the Medicaid program and place over $35 billion in new liabilities on state budgets over the next ten years. In addition, these proposals would expand the federal government's role in administering Medicaid, which would severely handcuff states' ability to run their own programs and preempt state authority to manage Medicaid eligibility and benefits.

Over the last several weeks, governors have expressed concerns over these proposals. I would like to submit for the Record the following letters from the governors of Nebraska, North Dakota, Nevada and Rhode Island:

September 16, 2009.

Hon. Benjamin Nelson,

U.S. Senator, Hart Building, Washington, DC.

Hon. Mike Johanns,

U.S. Senator, Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC.

Dear Senator Nelson and Senator Johanns: I am writing to

alert you that the analysis provided by the staff to the

members of the NGA Health Care Reform Task Force indicates

that the Chairman's Mark released by Senator Baucus this

morning contains a new unfunded Medicaid mandate. Earlier

this year I wrote both of you expressing my concern that this

might occur as part of health care reform.

I greatly appreciate the fact that both of you have

repeatedly expressed concerns about the negative impact that

health care reform could have on the Federal deficit and the

State budget. As former Governors you understand the impact

that Medicaid has on state spending. This new unfunded

federal Medicaid mandate could result in higher taxes on

Nebraskans or in cutting state aid to Nebraska's school

districts as well as state appropriations to our

universities, state colleges and community colleges. This

proposal is not in Nebraska's best interests.

As we develop more specific information, I will be

providing you with our best estimates of the magnitude of the

impact on Nebraska. Thank you for your attention to this

matter.

Sincerely,

Dave Heineman,

Governor, Nebraska.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to express concerns regarding health reform proposals which would create unfunded state mandates. Legislation currently before the House would dramatically expand the Medicaid program and place over $35 billion in new liabilities on State budgets over the next 10 years. In addition, these proposals would expand the Federal Government's role in administering Medicaid, which would severely handcuff States' ability to run their own programs and preempt state authority to manage Medicaid eligibility and benefits.

Over the last several weeks, governors have expressed concerns over these proposals. I would like to submit for the record the following letters from the governors of South Carolina and Texas:

September 11, 2009.

Hon. Lindsey O. Graham,

U.S. Senate, Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC.

Dear Lindsey: Thank you for the work you do on behalf of

this country and our state.

With this work in mind I write to respectfully layout some

concerns our administration has with regard to proposed

health care changes in Washington. I am not writing to second

guess your work, or that of Congress, but just to give you

the vantage point from the seat I hold--and the consequent

implications for taxpayers of this state given the proposed

changes' impact in Medicaid administered by our state.

Like many governors across the nation, our administration

is growing increasingly concerned about the financial strain

rising health care costs are putting on South Carolina's

annual budget. During the National Governors Association

meeting in July, many governors joined together in a

bipartisan effort to formally oppose the current

Congressional health care proposals by issuing a policy

opposing unfunded mandates. If these so-called reform

proposals move forward, almost all states will have to raise

taxes to manage this health care expansion. In South

Carolina, Medicaid already receives up to $880 million

annually--16 percent of our budget.

The current House and Senate proposals would expand

Medicaid and pass health care costs down to the states.

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus said that it

would be impossible for the federal government to pick up all

of the costs for new Medicaid recipients and that states

would have to bear additional costs. To help put this matter

into perspective, when the enhanced federal medical

assistance percentage expires at the end of 2010, South

Carolina will be spending $1.2 billion, or more than 20

percent of our state budget, on Medicaid annually. That total

represents just one-third of the total Medicaid dollars spent

in our state--not counting the costs associated with the

proposed changes to our health care system.

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates H.R. 3200

will cost in excess of $1 trillion over the next ten years.

However, the fine print reveals that the true cost would be

much higher. The legislation relies on a large tax increase,

which is implemented four years before most of the program's

spending is ramped up. This delay in implementation is

nothing more than a budget trick masking the true cost of the

proposal. Even under the CBO projection, H.R. 3200 would add

more than $200 billion to the budget deficit in the next 10

years.

This projection is predicated on $219 billion in spending

changes that may be an illusion. A strong indicator that

suggests that these savings will not materialize is found in

a further analysis of the CBO study by Ways and Means

Committee staff, which shows that the total price tag will

reach $2 trillion by 2024, including roughly $600 billion in

deficit spending. These are the significant costs you are

contending with at the federal level in times of $2 trillion

deficits.

According to the National Association of State Budget

Officers (NASBO), Medicaid expenses nationally will reach

$523 billion by 2013--a 56 percent increase in just six

years. The proposed changes to the program would increase

Medicaid spending by $450 million in South Carolina--more

than half of what we already spend on Medicaid. With that

significant an increase, South Carolina would be forced to

either raise taxes or cut critical services in education and

public safety, the two other large spending items in our

budget.

Any state tax increase would be in addition to the proposed

federal tax increases included in the House and Senate bills,

like huge tax increases in the form of an additional 8

percent payroll tax or a 5.4 percent income tax surcharge on

small businesses. Even in prosperous times, we would not

support the incredible burden of this unfunded mandate, but

in the current global economy, that impact would be

disastrous for our state.

The proposal being discussed in the United States Senate

has similar problems for South Carolina as, by 2015, this

proposal would add more than 400,000 South Carolinians to the

Medicaid program. The federal government would cover

increased funding only until 2015. After 2015, South Carolina

must start picking up the tab. By 2020, South Carolina would

be forced to come up with an additional nearly $900 million

annually for the increased number of Medicaid enrollees.

Federal programs will grow at South Carolina's expense, and

will increase Medicaid costs in our state by 50 percent.

Lastly, if we are trying to make health care more

affordable, why exclude tort reform and national insurance

markets from the plan? Litigation, and its negative impact on

the practice of medicine, significantly increases the cost of

health care in this state. South Carolina passed

comprehensive tort reform legislation in 2004, partially to

stop

lawsuit abuse in medical liability cases. Subsequently,

medical liability insurance costs are down 42 percent, and

doctors have received an average rebate of 20 percent of

their annual paid premium. The number of lawsuits against

South Carolina doctors fell almost 90 percent one year after

tort reform went into effect. Doctors have stopped leaving

the state and no longer limit their practices to avoid

lawsuit abuse.

Likewise, eliminating the interstate purchasing

restrictions for insurance would create a bigger market for

insurance, thereby giving consumers more options and driving

down the price. A national market for health or life

insurance means that South Carolinians can purchase whichever

policy best fits their needs--whether the policy is from

South Carolina, New York or California.

With all the issues surrounding a government-run health

care system, I wanted to bring to your attention the

increased taxes that South Carolinians might shoulder on top

of the federal tax increases in the proposed bills.

Everybody agrees that there should be reforms to our health

care system, but it should be done thoughtfully. I look

forward to working with you on this and other issues.

Sincerely,

Mark Sanford,

Governor, South Carolina.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to express concerns regarding health reform proposals which would create unfunded state mandates. Legislation currently before the House would dramatically expand the Medicaid program and place over $35 billion in new liabilities on state budgets over the next ten years. In addition, these proposals would expand the federal government's role in administering Medicaid, which would severely handcuff states' ability to run their own programs and preempt state authority to manage Medicaid eligibility and benefits.

Over the last several weeks, governors have expressed concerns over these proposals. I would like to submit for the Record the following letter from the governor of Utah:

September 15, 2009.

Dear Senator Bennett, as Governor of the State of Utah, I

am aware of the critical importance of health system reform

in our country. However, I believe the best place for

innovation and policy change is in the individual states, as

we have a greater understanding of the specific needs of our

citizens. This effort is already underway in Utah, with great

success. I am worried, however, that the direction of the

current language of federal health system reform bills will

preclude state-directed reform and place a detrimental burden

on states' budgets. Therefore, I am contacting you in order

to forge a partnership to enact reform that will benefit not

only the citizens of Utah, but will benefit everyone

throughout our great country.

In Utah, we have a good system of public medical programs

that provide for our neediest population. However, the weight

of the current programs strains our state budget. So far, we

have managed to fully fund the existing programs, although it

becomes more challenging each year. The extension of Medicaid

to additional populations, as discussed in proposed federal

healthcare legislation, will amount to an unfunded mandate

that would create financial havoc for our state.

While I understand the idea that everyone must ``share in

the pain,'' and appreciate the Administration's commitment to

reforming healthcare without increasing the size of the

federal deficit, to force Medicaid cost increases onto states

will simply shift massive cost increases to the states. As I

am sure you know, Utah, like most other states, is suffering

from the negative impacts of a nationwide recession. As we

prepare the state's fiscal year 2011 budget, we face

continued cuts to agency budgets and reduced government

services on top of painful reductions made last year. The

unfunded mandate of a forced Medicaid expansion will only

exacerbate an already dire situation. If required to increase

our Medicaid program as envisioned in Washington, Utah, and

most every other state, will be forced to find the money to

do so through other means. This will require states to either

raise taxes or continue to cut budgets in areas currently

suffering from a lack of funding, such as public and higher

education. We must work together to ensure that no new

requirements for states to fund health care for additional

populations pass.

This does not mean, however, that the State is ignoring or

has forgotten about middle-income uninsured families in Utah.

Quite the contrary, the aggressive health system reform being

pursued in Utah is designed to address the healthcare needs

of those families in a manner that does not shift additional

burden to the State.

As mentioned above, Utah has made remarkable progress

toward health system reform. One of the cornerstones of our

State's efforts is the introduction of a defined contribution

health benefit system and implementation of the Utah Health

Exchange, which provides the technology to make that market

work. This new market approach is proving to be very popular.

In fact, in just nine days, following the official launch of

the Utah Health Exchange, 136 of Utah's small businesses

signed up to contribute to health care coverage for their

employees, representing approximately 7,000 covered lives.

It is essential that federal legislation not derail this

promising effort to provide insurance in a new way to Utah's

small business employees, who are the backbone of our

economy. When fully implemented, the Exchange will help

individuals and employees access the information they need to

make informed choices about their health and health care, as

well as their health insurance. This tool has a standardized

application process and allows people to apply for a broad

range of coverage electronically; which further increases

access to affordable coverage.

To me, the highlight of the Exchange is that it is almost

entirely run by the private sector. The State brought

together a technology company, a finance company, and many

different insurers who have worked out the necessary details

to provide a platform for this new marketplace. We were able

to go from a signed bill to a functioning exchange in just

five months. This is the very definition of forging

unprecedented partnerships to find solutions that government

alone cannot provide. The driving force behind any proposed

exchange must continue to be private sector ingenuity, with

government assisting in the appropriate ways.

I look forward to working with you in a similar manner to

ensure that federal and state healthcare reforms are

compatible and will result in success for the citizens of our

great State. I believe that together we can develop workable

alternatives to the traditional Washington D.C. ``one-size-

fits-all'' solution. We must continue to recognize that

states are the laboratories of innovation and that the best

solution to our nation's challenges is to empower states to

serve their unique populations in the best ways possible.

Please contact me if there is any way I can be of

assistance with this very important issue.

Best Regards,

Gary R. Herbert,

Governor, Utah.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in memoriam of Mike Fuoss, who was shot and killed on Friday, September 11, 2009. Mike was a small business owner, father, brother and friend to many in the greater Owosso community.

Mike was born February 7, 1948, in Owosso. He graduated from Corunna High School in 1966. He went on to study Diesel Mechanics and Business at Ferris State University. In 1999, he married his wife, Barbara.

Mike co-owned a number of small businesses throughout Owosso, including Fuoss Gravel Co. and Eddie O'Flynns.

He was a member of the Owosso Home Builders Association, and the Shiawassee County Chamber of Commerce.

Mike loved restoring old cars and hot rods, enjoyed riding his Harley, and was a fan of NASCAR.

Fuoss was a good American who died tragically. The people whose lives he touched through his contributions to the community will miss him dearly.

Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the accomplishments of the students and staff of Michigan State University's WDBM ``Impact 89'' FM Radio Station on the occasion of the station being named the College Radio Station of the Year by the Michigan Association of Broadcasters and Broadcast Music Inc.

MSU's Impact 89 FM has received this prestigious honor nine of the past 10 years, making the station a standout among all the college radio stations in the entire Great Lakes region. The 2009 Gold Record Award was presented at the Great Lakes Broadcasting Conference in March.

Judging for the awards is by professional radio and television broadcasters in Michigan.

In addition to winning the overall college station of the year award, Impact staffers also earned first place in four of seven individual categories, including Jon Erickson for air check; Wes Holing for talk show; Nate Gray for promotional announcement; and the team of Jeremy Whiting and Brock Elsesser for the station activities report.

Other staffers receiving individual awards were Mike Weber, Doug Neal, Corrina Van Hamlin, John Simpkins, D'Destin Kaufmann, Lindsay Machak, Emily Fox, Brandon Jaksim, Autumn Maison, Dan Dugger, Jamal Spencer, Ed Glazer and Jesse McLean.

The Impact 89 team is led by Gary Reid, Distinguished Senior Specialist with the MSU Department of Telecommunication, Impact 89 FM General Manager, and Associate Director of the Quello Center for Management and Law, named after long-time FCC Commissioner, James H. Quello.

As someone who worked on the college radio station at my own alma mater, I have great respect for the professionalism and competitive spirit of the Impact 89 FM team and their manager and mentor, Gary Reid.

In 2009, Impact 89 FM is celebrating its 20th anniversary and the thousands of students who have worked there and gone on to successful careers throughout the country.

Impact 89FM has been a leader in creative, diverse programming and adoption of new technology. WDBM was the 132nd among nearly 14,000 radio stations in the country to be licensed by the FCC to make the transition to High Definition broadcasting in 2004.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the students and staff of WDBM ``Impact 89'' FM for their dedication to excellence. They are truly deserving of our respect and admiration.

Madam Speaker, pursuant to the House Republican standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of H.R. 3326, The Department of Defense Appropriations Act of Fiscal Year 2010.

Requesting Member: Congressman Mike Rogers (MI)

Bill Number: H.R. 3326

Account: Other Procurement--Aviation Support Equipment--Aviation Life Support

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Peckham Industries

Address of Requesting Entity: Peckham Industries, 2822 N. Martin Luther King Blvd., Lansing, MI 48906

Description of Request: Provide funding of $2,500,000 for a Multi Climate Protection System (MCPS) for U.S. Navy and Marine Corps aircrews. The U.S. Navy and Marine Corps requirement for MCPS is 21,500 units. $2,500,000 will fund approximately 1,250 sets of MCPS. MCPS is designed to replace outdated garments that are bulky, do not fit the aircrew population, have minimal water and wind resistance, limited moisture management and cannot decrease or increase thermal value by addition or removal of layers. The majority of aircrews do not have this system.

Requesting Member: Congressman Mike Rogers (MI)

Bill Number: H.R. 3326

Account: Operations and Maintenance--Operating Forces

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Peckham Industries

Address of Requesting Entity: 2822 N. Martin Luther King Blvd., Lansing, MI 48906

Description of Request: Provide funding of $2,600,000 for a Cold Weather Layering System (CWLS) for U.S. Marine Corps Expeditionary Forces. The Marine Corps requirement for the Polartec components to CWLS is 202,000 units. $2,600,000 will fund approximately 13,000 sets of CWLS. The CWLS is designed to reduce the weight and volume that a Marine operating as dismounted infantry must carry to accomplish combat missions in mountainous and cold weather environments.

Requesting Member: Congressman Mike Rogers (MI)

Bill Number: H.R. 3326

Account: Combat Vehicle and Automotive Technology

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Michigan State University

Address of Requesting Entity: MSU Campus, East Lansing, MI, 48824

Description of Request: Provide funding of $3,500,000 for advanced composite materials research Operating costs, salaries for researchers, purchase of research equipment, continued lease of the building housing CVRC. This broadly based ongoing program of basic research on composite materials and structures will support the U.S. army, navy, marines and air forces in the design, production, inspection, and repair of safe, durable, light-weight, energy-efficient tactical and strategic land, marine, and air vehicles that will function dependably in severe environments. Some specific service needs addressed include the repair or replacement of vehicles lost or damaged in the Middle East, the requirement for lightweight trailers and vehicles for the U.S. Marines, improvement of design and fabrication of aircraft and watercraft, the creation of deployable inspection techniques, and the furthering of development of heavy combat vehicles that can be easily transported on available cargo aircraft. The results will also contribute to improved exploitation of composites in light-weight personal armor for military and police personnel.

Requesting Member: Congressman Mike Rogers (MI)

Bill Number: H.R. 3326

Account: Combat Vehicle And Automotive

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: NextEnergy

Address of Requesting Entity: 461 Burroughs, Detroit, MI 48202

Description of Request: Provide funding of $4,100,000 for The NextEnergy Center to work with the National Automotive Center to develop and deploy Smart Plug-In Hybrid Vehicle (PHEV) technology in support of Defense Department (``DoD'') initiatives to reduce fuel consumption using vehicles with exportable high-quality electric power. Will fund associated operating expenses, construction and building maintenance, feasibility studies, equipment purchase, technician salaries, travel, and federal overhead. A smart PHEV will supplement electrical power generation via exportable electric power from the vehicle, and reduce emissions by the vehicle fleet. Funding will support continued development of new stationary and mobile charging and discharging infrastructure and technologies associated with smart Plug- In Hybrid Electric Vehicles with vehicle to grid (V2G) connectivity including power transfer and the associated communication to support integration of electric vehicles for military and commercial stationary power applications. NextEnergy will pursue technologies that have tactical and non-tactical utility.

Madam Speaker, pursuant to the House Republican standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of H.R. 3293, FY 2010 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Act.

Requesting Member: Congressman Mike Rogers (MI)

Bill Number: H.R. 3293

Account: Fund for the Improvement of Post Secondary Education

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Burcham Hills Retirement Community

Address of Requesting Entity: 2700 Burcham Drive, East Lansing, MI 48823

Description of Request: Provide funding of $200,000 to establish a nurse training and certification program in Alzheimer's and Dementia. This pilot program to help train nursing students and those already working in the field to better handle patients and family members going through this disease. Over 4 million people are afflicted with the disease in the U.S., taking more than 100,000 lives annually. This training program will ensure more health care professionals will have the resources to manage this deadly, growing disease. 50% of these funds will be used for classroom facilities and 50% will be used for instructor salaries.

Requesting Member: Congressman Mike Rogers (MI)

Bill Number: H.R. 3293

Account: Health Resources and Services Administration

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Ingham Regional Medical Center

Address of Requesting Entity: 401 W. Greenlawn, Lansing, MI 48910

Description of Request: Provide funding of $100,000 to purchase and place into service a digital mammography machine. For women, breast cancer is the most common non-skin cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States. Digital mammography allows improvement in breast cancer diagnosis. It also improves image storage and transmission because images can be stored and sent electronically. Radiologists also can use software to help interpret digital mammograms. 100% of these funds will be used to purchase a digital mammography machine.

Requesting Member: Congressman Mike Rogers (MI)

Bill Number: H.R. 3293

Account: Health Resources and Services Administration

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Sparrow Health System

Address of Requesting Entity: 1215 East Michigan Avenue, P.O. Box 30480, Lansing, MI 48909-7980

Description of Request: Provide funding of $300,000 to support hardware and software startup costs for a fully integrated Electronic Medical Record at Sparrow Health System. This project will ultimately benefit patients, physicians and hospitals throughout the Lansing region. This investment into the local economy would protect current employment levels while creating more new, highly skilled IT jobs. In addition, this project would allow more than 850 physicians to deploy a fully integrated EMR in their practices at a fraction of the cost that they would normally incur, creating a truly interoperable health care knowledge network. 100% of these funds would be used to purchase computer hardware and software, as well as network electronics and cabling.

Requesting Member: Congressman Mike Rogers (MI)

Bill Number: H.R. 3293

Account: Employment & Training Administration

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Closing the Digital Gap

Address of Requesting Entity: 835 W. Genesee, Lansing, MI 48915

Description of Request: Provide funding of $250,000 to provide computer training to low-income Lansing residents. Approximately 600 low-income, unemployed/underemployed residents will be provided with computer based job training, Internet access and computers that will enhance their ability to obtain employment as well as to compete in a technology-based economy. 30% of the funds will be used for staff salaries, 40% for computer hardware, 20% for computer software and 10% for other related training materials.

Requesting Member: Congressman Mike Rogers (MI)

Bill Number: H.R. 3293

Account: Employment and Training Administration

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Lansing Community College

Address of Requesting Entity: 8100A-Administration, PO Box 40010, Lansing, MI 48901-7210

Description of Request: Provide funding of $420,000 to expand employment retraining in the area of alternative automotive technologies. The related regional economic impact of the project is projected to be $50 million. The estimated numbers of jobs created and/ or workers retrained would be 2,000. 50% of these funds will be used to purchase equipment, 25% for professional development, and 25% for curriculum development to administer training.

Requesting Member: Congressman Mike Rogers (MI)

Bill Number: H.R. 3293

Account: Employment and Training Administration

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Lansing Community College

Address of Requesting Entity: 8100A-Administration, PO Box 40010, Lansing, MI 48901-7210

Description of Request: Provide funding of $420,000 to expand employment retraining in the area of alternative automotive technologies. The related regional economic impact of the project is projected to be $50 million. The estimated numbers of jobs created and/ or workers retrained would be 2,000. 50% of these funds will be used to purchase equipment, 25% for professional development, and 25% for curriculum development to administer training.

Madam Speaker, pursuant to the House Republican standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of H.R. 3288, the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2010.

Requesting Member: Congressman Mike Rogers (MI-08)

Bill Number: H.R. 3288

Account: Interstate Maintenance Discretionary

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: City of Howell

Address of Requesting Entity: Michigan Department of Transportation, 425 West Ottawa Street, Lansing, Michigan, USA

Description of Request: Provide an earmark of $500,000 to purchase the right of ways necessary to complete the construction of an interchange and overpass at the interchange of Interstate 96 and Laston Road. The purpose of this project is to provide the eastern and western sides of Livingston County access to the major interstate of I-96 and the remainder of Livingston County. 40 percent of this funding will be used to purchase the right of ways and 60 percent will be used for construction.

Requesting Member: Congressman Mike Rogers (MI-08)

Bill Number: H.R. 3288

Account: Buses & Bus Facilities

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Capitol Area Transportation Authority

Address of Requesting Entity: Capitol Area Transportation Authority, 4615 Tranter Street, Lansing, Michigan, USA

Description of Request: Provide an earmark of $500,000 for bus purchases, facility renovations, and planning studies. The purpose of this project is to continue to provide citizens of the greater Lansing area with jobs, a vital connection to employers, safe equipment for transportation, and planning studies that may lead to future advanced public transportation projects. 80 percent of the funds will be used to replace old, less-efficient busses with buses that offer greater fuel efficiency, lower cost of maintenance, and omit fewer emissions and 20 percent of the funds will be used to conduct a study to find more efficient, improved public transportation alternatives.

Requesting Member: Congressman Mike Rogers (MI-08)-

Bill Number: H.R. 3288

Account: Economic Development Initiatives (EDI)

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Cleary University--Livingston Campus

Address of Requesting Entity: Cleary University, 3750 Cleary Drive, Howell, Michigan, USA

Description of Request: Provide an earmark of $250,000 to renovate the Livingston Campus Community Center. This facility is used by the community service agencies, local school districts, and government agencies providing services to low and moderate income individuals. 80 percent of these funds will be used for necessary renovations and upgrades, and 20 percent will be used to enhance energy efficiency.

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

Requesting Member: Congressman Mike Rogers (MI-08)

Bill Number: H.R. 3183

Account: Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy agency in the Solar Energy account

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Michigan Biotechnology Institute

Address of Requesting Entity: Michigan Biotechnology Institute, 3900 Collins Road, Lansing, Michigan, USA

Description of Request: Provide an earmark of $500,000 to develop leading bioprocesses for the production of energy, fuels, chemicals and materials. The project will create a bio-industry in mid-Michigan which will build the economy with high paying technical jobs, helping to sustain Michigan manufacturing expertise and provide new products to market-leading, Michigan-based companies. 20% of the federal funds will be used for research, 80% will be used for engineering and developing bioprocesses.

Requesting Member: Congressman Mike Rogers (MI-08)

Bill Number: H.R. 3183

Account: Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy agency in the Building Technologies account.

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Ingham Regional Medical Center

Address of Requesting Entity: Ingham Regional Medical Center, 401 West Greenlawn Avenue, Lansing, Michigan, USA

Description of Request: Provide an earmark of $250,000 to fund energy conservation upgrades on the Greenlawn and Pennsylvania Campuses of Ingham Regional Medical Center. The purpose of this project is to provide the citizens of Lansing and the State of Michigan with access to additional high quality health care and cost effective healthcare. 15% of the federal funds will be used for engineering studies, 30% for salaries, and 55% for construction costs and equipment.

Requesting Member: Congressman Mike Rogers (MI-08)

Bill Number: H.R. 3183

Account: Energy and Efficiency and Renewable Energy agency in the Biomass and Biorefinery Systems Research account

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Michigan State University

Address of Requesting Entity: Consortium for Plant Biotechnology Research, Inc., Georgia at P.O. Box 20634, St. Simons Island, Georgia,

Madam Speaker, pursuant to the House Republican standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of H.R. 2996, the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2010.

Requesting Member: Congressman Mike Rogers (MI-08)

Bill Number: H.R. 2996

Account: Environmental Protection Agency, STAG Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Project

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: The City of Lansing

Address of Requesting Entity: Lansing Board of Water & Light located at 1232 Haco Drive, Lansing, Michigan, USA

Description of Request: Provide an earmark of $500,000 for a more energy efficient drinking water system in Lansing, Michigan. The purpose of this funding would be to construct a more energy efficient drinking water system. This project would reduce energy use and costs through the deployment of energy efficient technologies on the drinking water system. Since the drinking water system is one of the largest electric users in Lansing, these changes are expected to cut energy use for water pumping by 20% and as a result, bring down utility costs. 20% of the federal funding will be used for project engineering, 40% for equipment purchases, and the remaining funds will be used for the installation of energy efficiency technology and improvements in the drinking water system.

Requesting Member: Congressman Mike Rogers (MI-08)

Bill Number: H.R. 2996

Account: United States Environmental Protection Agency's Science and Technology Account

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Michigan State University

Address of Requesting Entity: Consortium for Plant Biotechnology Research, Inc., Georgia at P.O. Box 20634, St. Simons Island, Georgia,

Madam Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to Robert Stephenson on his selection as Michigan's 2009-2010 Teacher of the Year.

Over his 15-year teaching career, Robert Stephenson has helped to inspire and enlighten students across Mid-Michigan. Stephenson, a third grade teacher at Wardcliff Elementary School in East Lansing, was selected from 20 regional finalists statewide. The award recognizes excellence in teaching and aims to provide teachers with the opportunity to interact with policymakers, provide a public voice for educators, and focus public attention on the importance of teachers.

Using a hands-on approach, Stephenson's classroom activities engage students at a higher intellectual level. He is a role model to all his students and colleagues as he uses new and innovative teaching techniques to provide students a better learning experience.

Stephenson joins a unique class of teachers from Mid-Michigan. He is the fifth teacher from Mid-Michigan to receive this award in the last 29 years, and the fourth from Michigan's Eighth district in the last 10 years.

Madam Speaker, education is the cornerstone of our future and great teachers lay the foundation for our comminutes. I wish to extend my gratitude to Robert Stephenson for his many years of service to the students in Michigan. I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mr. Stephenson for his years of dedication to teaching and his recent selection as Michigan's Teacher of the Year.

Madam Speaker, pursuant to the House Republican standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of H.R. 2997, The Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2010.

Requesting Member: Congressman Mike Rogers

Bill Number: H.R. 2997

Account: United States Department of Agriculture/Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Services (USDA/CSREES) Special Grants Account

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Michigan State University

Address of Requesting Entity: 302 Administration Building, East Lansing, MI 48824

Description of Request: Provide funding of $384,000 for the detailed investigation of the

most promising technologies to determine the value proposition that is needed to interest commercial partners in the further development of bio based production of fuels, chemicals, and materials. Approximately, $150,000 is for salaries; $150,000 is for materials and supplies; and $84,000 is for equipment purchases and travel costs.

Requesting Member: Congressman Mike Rogers

Bill Number: H.R. 2997

Account: United States Department of Agriculture/Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Services (USDA/CSREES) Special Grants Account

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Michigan State University

Address of Requesting Entity: 484 Administration Building, East Lansing, MI 48824

Description of Request: Provide funding of $346,000 for fire blight research to be shared by Michigan State University in East Lansing Michigan and Cornell University in New York. Approximately, $184,000 is for the salaries of laboratory and $162,000 for field research personnel and for materials and supplies at Michigan State University. The remaining funds will be allocated to Cornell University in New York. Researchers at both universities will collaborate on findings. Michigan State University has obtained funding from the State of Michigan, Michigan Apple Committee and industry sources and will continue to fund the fire blight research at MSU at a level of $112,000 in FY10.

Requesting Member: Congressman Mike Rogers

Bill Number: H.R. 2997

Account: United States Department of Agriculture/Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Services (USDA/CSREES) Special Grants Account

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Michigan State University

Address of Requesting Entity: 484 Administration Building, East Lansing, MI 48824 Description of Request: Provide funding for $104,000 for research of Armillaria Root Rot. Approximately, $70,000 is for the salaries of laboratory researchers; $13,000 is for operating costs; $1000 is for travel to field sites; and $20,000 is for equipment necessary.

Requesting Member: Congressman Mike Rogers

Bill Number: H.R. 2997

Account: United States Department of Agriculture/Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Services (USDA/CSREES) Special Grants Account

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Michigan State University

Address of Requesting Entity: 484 Administration Building, East Lansing, MI 48824

Description of Request: Provide funding of $246,000 for research of Bovine Tuberculosis. Approximately, $174,000 is for Salaries and support for 3 graduate students; $60,000 is for Laboratory supplies; and $12,000 for research related travel. Michigan State University will provide $127,500 in-kind funding.

Requesting Member: Congressman Mike Rogers

Bill Number: H.R. 2997

Account: United States Department of Agriculture/Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Services (USDA/CSREES) Special Grants Account

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Michigan State University

Address of Requesting Entity: 484 Administration Building, East Lansing, MI 48824

Description of Request: Provide funding of $147,000 to improve fruit practices for sugar beets and dry beans. Approximately, $100,000 is for salaries and expenses and $47,000 is for lab maintenance and equipment. In addition to the federal funds provided by this grant, this research is supported by personnel, equipment, and facilities funded by the Michigan agricultural Experiment Station and Michigan State University Extension.

Requesting Member: Congressman Mike Rogers

Bill Number: H.R. 2997

Account: United States Department of Agriculture/Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Services (USDA/CSREES) Special Grants Account

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Michigan State University

Address of Requesting Entity: 484 Administration Building, East Lansing, MI 48824

Description of Request: Provide funding of $266,000 to enhance the environmental sustainability of food and agricultural systems under research at Michigan State University. Michigan State University expects to leverage at least $150,000 in state, local, and private funds to expand the impacts of the special grant. Approximately, $285,000 is for salaries of 11 researchers; $15,000 is for travel expenses; $10,000 is for farmer stipends; $25,000 is for materials and supplies; and $81,000 is for communication and outreach.

Requesting Member: Congressman Mike Rogers

Bill Number: H.R. 2997

Account: United States Department of Agriculture/Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Services (USDA/CSREES) Special Grants Account

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Michigan State University

Address of Requesting Entity: 484 Administration Building, East Lansing, MI 48824

Description of Request: Provide funding of $4,545,000 for wood utilization research with Michigan's share being $728,545. The requested funds will be used for salaries of key personal and graduate students. Grant funds will also be used to purchase equipment, materials and supplies needed. Michigan State University provides in excess of $500,000 in support of this project annually through use of lab space, equipment, and personnel assigned to the project.

Requesting Member: Congressman Mike Rogers

Bill Number: H.R. 2997

Account: United States Department of Agriculture/Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Services (USDA/CSREES) Special Grants Account

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Michigan State University

Address of Requesting Entity: 484 Administration Building, East Lansing, MI 48824

Description of Request: Provide funding of $346,000 for Phytophthora Capsici Research to reduce the loss experienced by Michigan vegetable growers from this disease Approximately $100,000 will be to fund graduate and undergraduate students and technical staff. $246,000 will be for research, travel and equipment purchases.

Madam Speaker, my appreciation for your years in the House and your great service here. Congratulations and great success in your new endeavor.

I agree, Madam Speaker, with President Obama and Warren Buffett: under this bill, ``Electricity rates will necessarily skyrocket.'' Under this bill, we create the single largest energy tax in United States history. Warren Buffett called it ``a huge tax, and there's no sense calling it anything else. Very poor people are going to pay a lot more for electricity.''

Last night, in my district, a utility company calculated its estimate of what this bill will cost the families in my district. It will increase their electric rates $500 a year--not your statistics from those who don't live in a place like Michigan; $500 a year. And that doesn't incorporate the fact that their clothes will now be more expensive, their groceries will now be more expensive, their school supplies will now be more expensive.

If you haven't noticed, people are hurting around the United States. Adding costs today is absolutely the wrong direction. It will destroy $1,400 in wages for the average family in my district. $1,400. That's a $2,000 swing. People in Michigan, who are already under assault, want to know what they're getting for that $2,000 swing.

Well, they won't get a new nuclear plant. Not one. They will not get the

modern electric grid that they need to carry clean electricity. Not going to get that. And they will not get a level playing field with China and India. And--make no mistake--they want to steal the jobs that make up our middle class. They're active and aggressive in doing it. You pass this bill, you won't be able to build anything in the United States of America. Their jobs are going overseas.

They will also see their gas prices rise, on average, 70 cents--70 cents a gallon to families who are already under financial crisis. And who gets their money? Wall Street will.

This bill takes millions, billions out of families' budgets and launders it through Wall Street. The same people who brought you the credit default swap in the housing market are now going to sell you carbon offset swaps. Billions of dollars from average Americans sent to Wall Street. That's no solution.

If you want an economy built on foreign manufacturing and financial engineering, vote ``yes.'' But if you still want to live in a country that makes things, in a country that grows its own food and actually produces its own energy, vote ``no.''

Madam Speaker, pursuant to the House Republican standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of H.R. 2647, The National Defense Authorization Act of Fiscal Year 2010.

Requesting Member: Congressman Mike Rogers (MI)

Bill Number: H.R. 2647

Account: Other Procurement--Aviation Support Equipment--Aviation Life Support

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Peckham Industries

Address of Requesting Entity: Peckham Industries, 2822 N. Martin Luther King Blvd., Lansing, MI 48906

Description of Request: Provide funding of $5,000,000 for a Multi Climate Protection System (MCPS) for U.S. Navy and Marine Corps aircrews. The U.S. Navy and Marine Corps requirement for MCPS is 21,500 units. $5,000,000 will fund approximately 2,500 sets of MCPS. MCPS is designed to replace outdated garments that are bulky, do not fit the aircrew population, have minimal water and wind resistance, and limited moisture management and cannot decrease or increase thermal value by addition or removal of layers. The majority of aircrews do not have this system.