Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, today is Cuba Solidarity Day, marking the anniversary of Cuba's independence from Spain. It has now become a day when people across the world stand with the people of Cuba who are waiting for their day of freedom from 50 years of brutal communist repression.

Last month President Obama reversed the course of American policy towards Cuba, one of only four state sponsors of terrorism. America is a beacon of hope, and we should resist funding Castro's regime or turning a blind eye to their atrocities against the Cuban people.

Those wanting to increase trade with Cuba should be reminded that all money flows through Cuba's state-owned monopoly, and they don't pay their bills. Cuba has defaulted on more than $30 billion of its obligations.

Easing sanctions on Cuba does not make economic or humanitarian sense. It only lines the pockets of the Castro brothers who want to hold onto their power by suppressing their people.

Today I am introducing a resolution to restore the sanctions on Cuba. The Cuban people deserve our support and continued condemnation of the Castro regime.

I encourage all my colleagues to honor Cuba Solidarity Day and stand with the Cuban people by cosponsoring my resolution.

Madam Speaker, today I am introducing the ``No Welfare for Terrorists Act of 2009.'' This legislation would proactively prohibit detainees currently at Guantanamo Bay from ever receiving government benefits at the federal, state and local levels.

Today at Guantanamo Bay there are around 240 hardened terrorists who have killed and/or plotted to kill Americans. These terrorists are among the most dangerous people in the world, and the Obama administration wants to bring them here to the United States. Earlier today in the House Committee on Appropriations, Congressional Democrats, in a party-line vote, agreed to support the administration's policy to bring terrorists currently detained at Guantanamo Bay to our soil. Homeland Security personnel are working hard to keep terrorists from entering our country and now the president wants to make special arrangements to bring these proven terrorists here.

The Obama administration has already authorized the release of 30 detainees from Guantanamo Bay. Dennis Blair, the Director of National Intelligence, has said that these terrorists should receive welfare benefits: ``If we are to release them in the United States, we need some sort of assistance for them to start a new life. You can't just put them on the street.''

We must not fool ourselves--those held at Guantanamo Bay are unrepentant terrorists determined to pursue their long held violent goals. Of the detainees already released from Guantanamo Bay, we know that over 60 have returned to a life of terrorism.

Maulvi Abdul Ghaffar was captured in early 2002 and held at Guantanamo Bay for eight months. After his release, Ghaffar became the Taliban's regional commander in Uruzgan and Helmand provinces, carrying out attacks on U.S. and Afghan forces.

In September, Saeed Shihri was responsible for an attack on the U.S. embassy in Yemen that killed nearly a dozen people. This was barely a year after he was released from Guantanamo Bay.

Abdallah Salih al-Ajmi, a Kuwaiti, was repatriated from Guantanamo in 2005, and transferred into Kuwaiti custody. After he was acquitted of terrorism charges in Kuwait, he committed a successful suicide attack in Mosul, Iraq on March 25, 2008.

Ibrahim Shafir Sen was transferred from Guantanamo Bay to Turkey in November 2003. In January 2008, Sen was arrested in Van, Turkey, and charged as the leader of an active al-Qaida cell.

These are just a few examples of the activities of the terrorists who have been released, thus far. The ones remaining at Guantanamo Bay are arguably even more dangerous.

The administration must be honest with the American people that they want to bring terrorists to the United States. By bringing these terrorists to America, the Obama administration will provide them with legal status. This would then qualify them for food stamps, cash assistance and health care--paid for by you and me, the very people they desire to kill. The American people have spent billions trying to protect this country from terrorists before they can kill innocent Americans, and now the administration is laying out the welcome mat for terrorists to roam our streets.

The ``No Welfare for Terrorists Act'' will prohibit any government benefits from being granted to any terrorists brought to the United States from Guantanamo Bay. The American people have already paid--with blood and lives. We're done. The American people, under no circumstance, should be required to pay welfare benefits to terrorists.

I ask all my colleagues to join me in bringing sanity to this debate and prevent our constituents' hard earned money from going to put terrorists on welfare rolls.

I thank the gentleman from California for his tremendous leadership.

Mr. Speaker, when approaching national security issues, Congress has always acted in a prudent bipartisan manner to protect the American people. Last week, however, in a straight party-line vote in the Appropriations

Committee, Democrats rejected both Republican alternatives to prevent terrorists held at Guantanamo Bay from getting a plane ride to the United States. Then yesterday, the Democrats on the Rules Committee rejected my amendment to prohibit terrorist detainees from being transferred or released in the United States. Speaker Pelosi and her leadership team are refusing an up-or-down vote. Do we allow hardened terrorists to be transported to the United States knowing that eventually some will be released to the streets of America?

Democrats have instead offered a fig leaf. Their provision simply delays; it does not prevent. It delays the Obama administration's plan to release terrorists onto our streets.

The administration has already authorized the release of 30 detainees. This is not conjecture. This is not speculation. This is happening. And unfortunately my colleagues are simply delaying the real problem. Seventy-five percent of the population do not want terrorists released in the United States, and 20 percent don't even realize it's a possibility.

Congress should not abdicate its responsibility to provide for the common defense of this Nation. We should be able to speak on this issue. Americans deserve an up or down vote on the question, do we welcome terrorists on the streets of America or not? This will simply sweep the question under the rug, hoping the problem will go away.

The gentleman from Colorado mentioned that we could send them to Fort Leavenworth. I have been to Fort Leavenworth. I am from Kansas. We do not want terrorists in Fort Leavenworth or in Kansas, and I don't want them on any street in America.

So I think it's only fair that we reject this rule and give us an up or down vote on whether we want a plane ticket for terrorists to get from Guantanamo to America.

I would encourage my friends to vote ``no'' on the previous question to allow Mr. Wolf an opportunity to present his language and vote ``no'' on the rule so we can have a chance for an up or down vote on whether we bring terrorists into our Nation.

I thank the gentleman from California.

Mr. Speaker, this supplemental does many good things for our troops. It provides needed equipment and services so our men and women in uniform can carry out the will of this Nation, and hopefully and prayerfully, will help them to come home safely to their families. But it does present a hole in the safety for this Nation.

After October 1, hardened terrorists can come to America and eventually can be released to our streets. If they do come to America, where are we going to take them? Earlier in the discussion on the rule, the gentleman from Colorado mentioned that they could go to Fort Leavenworth. Well, Mr. Speaker, I have been to Fort Leavenworth to inspect the facilities. It is the premier training base for the United States Army. We invite many troops from other countries to come to America to Fort Leavenworth to train, to become allies, to learn how to work together to keep this country safe. Bringing these terrorists to Fort Leavenworth would actually prevent that from happening in the future. Some nations would not send their troops to America because of it. So Fort Leavenworth should not be a selected base for that purpose.

Neither do they have the facilities in the prison to house these terrorists. One of the things that was designed in the Guantanamo Bay facility is to separate the leaders from the foot soldiers because they stir up the foot soldiers should they be connected either verbally, visually, or in any method of communication. So that is prevented in Guantanamo Bay. It is created for that purpose. We've even created and built the most modern court facility so that these hardened terrorists should never have to set foot on American soil.

Now, when we have people in our own court system that we know are sexual predators, we warn people in the neighborhood to protect their children from these known sexual predators. But in this legislation, we have no notice when a hardened terrorist is going to be released on American soil, and we do know that 30 of these terrorists have been slated for release.

I thank the gentleman from California.

We have a policy in America that if a terrorist is going to be returned to their country of origin and that country of origin is going to either torture or terminate them, we won't send them back. That's the problem we have with terrorists known as Uyghurs, terrorists of Turkish descent that are Chinese. So they are going to be released where? Back to the streets of America. This bill does not prevent that. We had legislation that would have given us that opportunity for an up- or-down vote, but it was denied by the Democrats in the majority.

Americans want to have a voice in this. Do we want terrorists on American soil or not? I say ``no.'' I want them on no Main Street in any city or town in America, but I was denied the opportunity to have that vote.

I think that even though this bill does many good things, we should remember that before October 1 we need to have a clear up-or-down vote in this Chamber on whether or not we want to allow known hardened terrorists to be released on our streets.

Mr. Speaker, in the bill itself we have a list of the top 10 toughest terrorists that are housed in the Guantanamo Bay facility on page 112.

Mr. Speaker, last year should be remembered as the year of the bailout. This year is not much better under the current leadership in Washington. Incredibly, banks that want to repay the money they got from the Troubled Asset Relief Program, or TARP, as it is referred to, are being stopped by the Obama administration from repaying the funds.

After accepting TARP bailout funds and, in some cases being forced to accept bailouts, many banks have had enough and they are ready to return the money. You would think that would be easy, but the government won't let them pay back the TARP funds. The vague guidelines provided by the Obama administration for returning TARP funds are creating a regulatory uncertainty that is bad for our economy and bad for us taxpayers.

We deserve to get the bailout money back from the banks as quickly as possible, which is why I have introduced the Bailout Freedom Act to ensure sure we have a clear and timely process for making that happen. Once banks are certified to be well capitalized by the regulators, the Federal Government should allow the TARP bailout funding to be paid back.

From the beginning, I have opposed the bailouts and the growing encroachment of the Federal Government in our daily lives. Now we must reverse that course of the current trend and allow TARP bailout funding to be paid back.

Please join me in supporting the Bailout Freedom Act.

Offered By: Mr. Tiahrt

Amendment No. 4: At the end of the bill (before the short

title), insert the following:

prohibition on use of funds for transfer or release of individuals detained at naval station, guantanamo bay, cuba, to the united states

Madam Speaker, yesterday the House passed the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act, H.R. 1913.

The bill reminds me of a passage from George Orwell's book, ``Animal Farm,'' where he wrote, ``All animals are equal. Some animals are more equal than others.''

Under this legislation, all people are equal. Some people are more equal than others. This bill attempts to create a new class of people with a new category of punishment that is determined by the thoughts and words, as well as other actions. It's based on the premise of a hate crime, a hate crime.

If one assumes there is hate crimes, isn't it logical to assume that there is just the opposite, love crimes?

Well, the concept of love crimes doesn't hold, and neither should the concept of a special class of citizens created by hate crimes. But it is true that crimes are committed. And if you are a victim of crime, whether it is motivated by hate, greed, envy or whatever the driving force is, you, as a victim, deserve equal justice under the law.

Equal justice under the law is an old and very well accepted concept in America. Where we are a Nation of equals, a Nation of men and women who bow to no man, to no king, we should expect equal treatment under the law, equal justice.

This legislation places into the judicial system and into the hands of a jury the determination of the thoughts of the criminal and the responsibility to determine were these actions different if the victim has a certain sexual orientation?

However, the term sexual orientation is not defined. This is very vague. But the term gender identity is defined as actual or perceived gender-related characteristics, perceived. This is also very vague.

In fact, the whole legislation is so vague that a minister today, reading aloud the book of Corinthians from the New Testament, could be prosecuted because it could be perceived as inciting violence. Whatever happened to free speech in the first amendment?

The amendments could have been offered to clarify some of the passages

but were rejected by the Democrats. Amendments were offered in the Judiciary Committee to extend special victims status to veterans, the elderly and pregnant women. All were rejected. No amendments were allowed on the floor.

Madam Speaker, I believe this legislation is, in fact, unconstitutional, violating the freedom of expression and equal protection under the law. I fear for this Nation as Congress continues to ignore and abuse the foundation and the principles that built this great Nation.

Mr. Speaker, Americans have a long history of volunteerism to better their communities and help their fellow citizens. Benjamin Franklin created one of the first volunteer fire departments in Philadelphia in 1736. In 1881, Clara Barton created the American Red Cross to provide assistance in response to disasters. Six years later, the first United Way was created in Denver to help plan and coordinate local charitable services. In each case, people sacrificed their time and money for a cause in which they believed. This model has not only served our nation well for over 250 years, but has also taught generations of Americans the value of sacrificial actions. The vast majority of charitable programs still operate with great success using unpaid volunteers.

After centuries, some now believe that government should take over this practice and pay people to ``volunteer.'' In 1993, AmeriCorps was created, implementing this

backwards notion. Today's bill, H.R. 1388, the Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education Act, continues this failed policy of ``paid volunteerism.''

I oppose H.R. 1388. When the government pays ``volunteers'' and determines which programs will benefit, this sends the wrong message. ``Paid volunteerism'' cheapens the honest efforts of millions of people who volunteer at their local church, food hank, or after-school program. It teaches future generations that volunteerism should result in material reward. The basic principles of volunteerism are lost.

``Paid volunteerism'' also picks winners and losers among charities-- allowing the government, instead of the American people, to determine which charities hold value in our society. H.R. 1388 allows politically motivated liberal organizations, such as Planned Parenthood, Legal Services Association, and ACORN, to receive ``paid volunteers'' to advance their radical agenda.

Not only does H.R. 1388 distort the value of volunteerism, but it proposes spending $6 billion over five years to expand and authorize programs that have been audited and considered ineffective by the Office of Management and Budget. In a time of spiraling deficits, I believe we must look for ways to cut the deficit--not increase it with wasteful programs.

I am proud that America is the most compassionate and generous nation in the world. Our shared value of giving back to our communities has made this nation great. Encouraging volunteerism is a wonderful thing for our people and society. H.R. 1388, unfortunately, does the opposite. Therefore, I ask all my colleagues to join with me in opposing this legislation and upholding the principles of charity.

Madam Chair, I rise today in strong opposition to H. Con. Res. 85 Democrat budget resolution. Our economy is in chaos, every day more Americans lose jobs, and our retirement savings are dwindling. The only response Democrat leadership and this White House seems to have is to spend more. My colleagues on the other side of the aisle have forgotten that a successful economy comes from the ground up, not from the government down.

Do I have to remind the Speaker that ``money doesn't grow on trees?'' This money comes from the American people, directly from their wallets which are growing thinner and thinner by the day. What they need from us isn't a larger government, but a government that tightens its belt as they are forced to do. A government that helps the private sector get back on its feet and prosper. A government that creates a level playing field for American employers on the world market.

The past few months we have all become economics majors as we try to interpret and make decisions on complex financial markets. There is no question in my mind that everyone in this body wants to return to our country's historic economic success. I think there's considerable disagreement on how we get there, but I think at least we can start with the statement that we all want to end up in the same place. A place where our children can start a business or find a high quality, high paying job. Today's discussion--and indeed the focus of the entire Congress--should be on how to renew the American Dream.

I do not subscribe to Keynesian economics. Every thin dime this Congress spends--or more appropriately borrows--is the functional equivalent of a thick quarter the children of Kansas and the rest of America have to pay back later, and I have yet to see a government job that pays for itself. I don't believe that massive deficit spending as we see in this budget proposal is going to create private sector jobs in the short-term or revive our economy. In the short time he has been in office, we have already amassed $3 trillion in debt for a total of $8.7 trillion. $8.7 trillion is a lot of money, money we don't have and money that our children and grandchildren will be forced to pay back.

One of the very worst things that we, the Congress, can do is follow economic policies that result in raising taxes on American citizens and employers. We have enjoyed economic success in the past in large part because of our relatively low tax rates. To raise taxes will, in my view, not only hurt American wallets immediately, but also stifle the prospect of economic prosperity in the near future. Sadly this is where the administration is headed.

The president has made a big deal recently about Republicans being the ``party of no.'' I am ready to say ``yes.'' To say yes to policies that will help rebuild a sound economy for today and the future. We need to pursue common sense economic policies that work--while reducing the size and scope of a government that has strangled growth. We need to move toward competitive business tax rates to compete with the rest of the world. Ireland, though it too has been caught up in the worldwide downturn, is well poised to recover as it welcomes companies and fosters growth. We desperately need a common sense approach to regulation, with cost-based justification of the rules our bureaucrats impose on those who create jobs. We need to be energy independent. It's well past time that we adopt a ``loser pays'' approach to litigation as the United Kingdom follows. Finally, I hope we discuss the rising cost of health care (in addition to ensuring health care access), which is

one of the biggest burdens on our economy. I believe a consumer-based approach to health care delivery will benefit patients and our economy.

These ideas build the fundamental strength of our economy. That is how we can and will renew the dream and renew opportunity for ourselves and our children.

I'll close by saying that, although we are struggling today, I am confident and optimistic that the American people will overcome this downturn, as we always have. My concern is that borrowing and spending will prolong the pain instead of fixing the problem.

I look forward to our discussion today.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 170, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Madam Speaker, in accordance with the February 2008 New Republican Earmark Standards Guidance, I submit the following in regards to the Fiscal Year 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act found in

Mr. Chairman, on rollcall No. 133, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Amendment No. 4 Offered by Mr. Loebsack

Madam Speaker, in accordance with the February 2008 New Republican Earmark Standards Guidance, I submit the following in regards to the Fiscal Year 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act found in

Madam Speaker, on rollcall No. 110, I was necessarily detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Madam Speaker, in accordance with the February 2008 New Republican Earmark Standards Guidance, I submit the following in regards to the Fiscal Year 2009 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Act found in H.R. 1105, the FY 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act:

Department of Education (DOE)--Arkansas City Public Schools: H.R. 1105, the FY 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act contains $120,000 for Arkansas City Public Schools, Arkansas City, KS for the purchase of equipment in the Fund for the Improvement of Education (FIE) Account. The entity to receive

funding for this project is Arkansas City Schools, Unified School District 470, at 2545 Greenway, Arkansas City, KS 67005.

This funding will help the schools reach their Five-Year Strategic Plan objective of developing career technology. It will provide additional computers and support hardware, including printers and storage devices, and facilitate a workplace environment to help students develop technology-based job skills concurrent with classroom learning objectives.

No matching funds are required for this Department of Education project.

Department of Education (DOE)--Coffeyville Public Schools: H.R. 1105, the FY 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act contains $167,000 for Coffeyville School District, Coffeyville, KS for purchase of equipment in the Fund for the Improvement of Education (FIE) Account. The entity to receive funding for this project is Coffeyville School District at 615 Ellis, Coffeyville, KS 67337.

Coffeyville, KS was hit by severe flooding in July 2007, which has significantly impacted the finances of the region. This funding would assist USD 445 in providing access to technology for students who would otherwise be financially unable to do so.

No matching funds are required for this Department of Education project.

Department of Education (DOE)--Independence Public Schools: H.R. 1105, the FY 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act contains $238,000 for Independence Public Schools, Independence, KS for purchase of equipment in the Fund for the Improvement of Education (FIE) Account. The entity to receive funding for this project is Independence Unified School District 446, at PO Drawer 487, 517 N 10th, Independence, KS 67301.

This funding will assist USD 446 in providing additional technology for language arts and mathematics teachers to use in their classrooms, and to train the teachers in the use of new and existing technology.

No matching funds are required for this Department of Education project.

Department of Education (DOE)--Valley Center Public Schools: H.R. 1105, the FY 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act contains $442,000 for Valley Center Public Schools, Independence, KS for curriculum development, to include the purchase of technology and equipment in the Fund for the Improvement of Education (FIE) Account. The entity to receive funding for this project is Valley Center Public Schools at 132 S Park Ave., Valley Center, KS 67147.

This funding will assist USD 262 in developing on the job training and staff development, purchasing technological tools and resources for classroom use, and curriculum to use the technology in the classroom.

No matching funds are required for this Department of Education project.

Department of Education (DOE)--Coffeyville Public Schools: H.R. 1105, the FY 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act contains $213,000 for Winfield Public Schools, Winfield, KS for curriculum development, to include the purchase of technology and equipment in the Fund for the Improvement of Education (FIE) Account. The entity to receive funding for this project is Winfield, Kansas, Public Schools, Unified School District 465 at 1407 Wheat Road, Winfield, KS 67156.

This funding will help facilitate a greater understanding of technology through training for middle and high school teachers, and allow for greater integration of technology in the classroom through curriculum development.

No matching funds are required for this Department of Education project.

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)--Sedgwick County, KS: H.R. 1105, the FY 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act contains $428,000 for Sedgwick County Government, Wichita, KS for prenatal education and outreach programs, in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Account. The entity to receive funding for this project is Sedgwick County (KS) Government at 525 N. Main, Suite 243, Wichita, KS 67203.

The Sedgwick County Healthy Babies program utilizes evidence-based practices and innovative community-driven interventions (outreach, health education, case management, utilization of prenatal/postnatal care) to improve the quality of and access to health care for women and infants at both service and system levels. This funding will allow Sedgwick County Healthy Babies to continue its critical outreach programs.

No matching funds are required for this Department of Health and Human Services project.

In accordance with the February 2008 New Republican Earmark Standards Guidance, I submit the following in regards to the Fiscal Year 2009 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act found in H.R. 1105, the FY 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act:

Department of Agriculture--National Agriculture Biosecurity Center, Kansas: H.R. 1105, the FY 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act contains $259,000 for the National Agriculture Biosecurity Center, Kansas, in the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's Salaries and Expenses account. The entity to receive funding for this project is The Kansas State University, located at 110 Anderson Hall, Manhattan, Kansas 66506.

The funding would be used to implement international linkages for food animal and food crop disease surveillance, to expand animal health diagnostic screening capabilities in Kansas and the region, and to further develop a GIs-tracking system for pathogen monitoring.

No matching funds are required for this Department of Agriculture project.

Department of Agriculture--Grain Sorghum, Kansas, Texas: H.R. 1105, the FY 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act contains $515,000 for Grain Sorghum, Kansas and Texas, in the Cooperative State Research Education and Extension Service's Special Research Grants Account. The entity to receive funding for this project is the Kansas State University, located at 110 Anderson Hall, Manhattan, Kansas 66506.

The funding would be used to expand existing research and education programs, particularly in genetic improvement and sorghum utilization.

No matching funds are required for this Department of Agriculture project.

Department of Agriculture--Water Conservation, Kansas: H.R. 1105, the FY 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act contains $69,000 for Water Conservation, Kansas in the Cooperative State Research Education and Extension Service's Special Research Grants Account. The entity to receive funding for this project is the Kansas State University, located at 1 10 Anderson Hall, Manhattan, Kansas 66506.

The funding would be used to study ways to stop and reverse the depletion of the Ogallala Aquifer in Kansas.

No matching funds are required for this Department of Agriculture project.

Department of Agriculture--Wheat Genetic Research, Kansas: H.R. 1105, the FY 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act contains $240,000 for Wheat Genetic Research, Kansas, in the Cooperative State Research Education and Extension Service's Special Research Grants Account. The entity to receive funding for this project is the Kansas State University, located at 110 Anderson Hall, Manhattan, Kansas 66506.

The funding would be used to collect, conserve, and distribute wheat genetic and genomic resources; develop improved germ plasm; develop genetic stocks; develop genomic resources; and support training and outreach.

No matching funds are required for this Department of Agriculture project.

In accordance with the February 2008 New Republican Earmark Standards Guidance, I submit the following in regards to the Fiscal Year 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act found in H.R. 1105.

Water system improvements, City of Derby, Kansas: The Department of the Interior, Environment and Other Related Agencies Fiscal Year 2009 Appropriations Act found in H.R. 1105 contains $1,000,000 for the City of Derby, Water and Wastewater System Improvements. The entity to receive funding for this project is the City of Derby, 611 N. Mulberry, Derby, Kansas, 67037-3533.

The funds will be used to upgrade its municipal wastewater treatment plant in 2009. The Derby Wastewater Treatment Plant presently treats about 1.8 to 2.0 million gallons of wastewater per day. The sludge- handling portion of the treatment process is near its designed capacity, and the treatment plant master plan calls for adding sludge handling capacity. Design goals are to reduce staff hours necessary for the sludge handling process, improve efficiency and reliability, increase flexibility in plant operation, and reduce odors, while maintaining compliance to all regulatory requirements. The City of Derby will also use the funds to help extend the municipal sewer system in the Spring Creek watershed area in 2009.

The City of Derby will provide matching funds as required.

Law Enforcement Technology, City of Wichita, Kansas: The Fiscal Year 2009 Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Act found in H.R 1105 contains $1,675,000 for the Southern Kansas Multi-Jurisdictional SWAT. The entity to receive funding for this project is the City of Wellington, 110 East 10th Street, Wellington, KS 67152.

The funds will be used to procure a Pictometry Visual Intelligence Tool. Pictometry allows federal, state and local agencies to have a common tool to jointly manage emergencies. It captures every square foot of an area from as many as twelve directions. This system captures images that consist of orthogonal (straight down) images like ordinary aerial imaging and images that are oblique (taken from angles) so that features can be easily seen in their entirety. These images reveal the

front, back, and sides of objects of interest rather than just their tops. Within seconds, a law enforcement officer can literally view and analyze any house, building, intersection, fire hydrant, tree or any feature in the county from their laptop, workstation, or mobile device. Southern Kansas encompasses a large area of responsibility, and the police and sheriff's departments are low on manpower and equipment. Federal, state, and local agencies will have a common tool to jointly manage emergencies. The Southern Kansas Multi-Jurisdictional SWAT will administer the program for the four selected counties from the 4th Congressional District. The included counties are Cowley, Greenwood, Montgomery and Sumner.

No matching funds are required for this Department of Justice project.

In accordance with the February 2008 New Republican Earmark Standards Guidance, I submit the following in regards to the Fiscal Year 2009 Energy and Water Appropriations Act found in H.R. 1105, the FY 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act:

Department of Interior--Wichita Project, Equus Beds Division: H.R. 1105, the FY 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act contains $1,500,000 for the Wichita Project--Equus Beds Division in the Bureau of Reclamation Water and Related Resources Account. The entity to receive funding for this project is the City of Wichita, located at City Hall, 455 North Main, Wichita, KS 67202.

The funding would be used for funding the design on Phase II of the Equus Beds Aquifer Storage and Recovery project. The project involves taking excess flood water from the Little Arkansas River (called above base flow) and depositing that water into the underground aquifer through water supply wells. This project was authorized in 2006 (P.L. 109-299).

This project is authorized for 25% federal matching and will be matched by the city.

Department of Interior--El Dorado Lake, KS: H.R. 1105, the FY 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act contains $619,000 for El Dorado Lake, Kansas, in the Army Corps of Engineers' Operation and Maintenance Account. The entity to receive funding for this project is the United States Army Corps of Engineers, Tulsa District located at 1645 S. 101 East Ave., Tulsa, OK 74128.

The additional funds will be used to replace tainter gate stems, dam gate trash racks, seal concrete surfaces, and paint bridge steel. The additional funds will also be used to undertake repairs to project recreation areas that were damaged during the record floods of 2007.

No matching funds are required for this Army Corps of Engineers project.

In accordance with the February 2008 New Republican Earmark Standards Guidance, I submit the following in regards to the Fiscal Year 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act found in H.R. 1105:

I-235/US 54 and I-235/Central Ave Interchange, KS: The Department of Transportation Fiscal Year 2009 Appropriations Act found in H.R. 1105 contains $380,000 for funding for reconstruction of two interchanges on I-235, Wichita, Kansas. The entity to receive funding for this project is the City of Wichita, located at City Hall, 455 North Main, Wichita,