[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 153 (Thursday, September 25, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1970-E1971]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
EARMARK DECLARATION
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HON. TOM LATHAM
of iowa
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Mr. LATHAM. Madam Speaker, I wish to make the following disclosure in
accordance with the new Republican Earmark Transparency Standards
requiring Members to place a statement in the Congressional Record
prior to a floor vote on a bill that includes earmarks they have
requested, describing how the funds will be spent and justifying the
use of federal taxpayer funds.
Requesting Member: Congressman Tom Latham.
Bill Number: H.R. 2638, the Consolidated Security, Disaster
Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2009. Division C--
Department of Defense Appropriations Act.
Account: Aircraft Procurement, Army Project Name: UH-60 Improved
Communications (ARC 220) for the ARNG.
Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
Address of Requesting Entity: 400 Collins Rd., NE, Cedar Rapids, IA
52498.
Description of Request: To date, the Army National Guard has received
141 UH-60L helicopters from the regular Army without the ARC-220 radio
system. The National Guard currently has funding of $3.9 million to
outfit 85 of the 141 UH-60 helicopters that are missing the ARC-220
radio system, and the $1.6 million appropriation included in this bill
will help outfit the remaining National Guard Helicopters. Mission and
threat changes, as well as responding to emergencies and/or immediate
medical evacuation calls, require the crew to have ability to
communicate immediately and effectively over long distances (200 vs.
the current 20 miles). The ARC-220 radio system is a formal Army
Program of Record (POR) that is combat proven and currently being
utilized by the U.S. Army in their AH-64s, UH-60s and CH-47s in combat.
The ARC-220 is an essential combat-multiplier for long range voice,
data and situational awareness to the flight crews and operational
commanders. This lack of long-range communications reduces mission
flexibility and increases risk to both the aircrew and soldiers being
supported. Additionally, situations involving precautionary landings
executed outside the current range of communications leave the aircrew
with no immediate, effective means to communicate this situation with
higher or adjacent forces for immediate assistance. Failing to fund
long range communication will inhibit mission flexibility, decrease
threat knowledge and limit emergency communications.
Requesting Member: Congressman Tom Latham.
Bill Number: H.R. 2638, the Consolidated Security, Disaster
Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2009. Division C--
Department of Defense Appropriations Act.
Account: Research, Development, Test And Evaluation, Army.
Project Name: Advanced Live, Virtual, and Constructive (LVC) Training
Systems.
Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Iowa State University.
Address of Requesting Entity: 1750 Beardshear Hall, Ames, IA, 50010.
Description of Request: The Virtual Reality Applications Center
(VRAC) located at Iowa State University, will develop three advanced
software prototypes for LVC training that dramatically enhance the
ability of a training officer to create efficient and effective
training programs. Keeping up with the unique demands of urban combat
and the ever-changing tactics of the insurgency in Iraq requires
flexible and adaptive training systems that can be modified rapidly and
deployed reliably and effectively in the field. The VRAC at Iowa State
University has a scientific team leading research in the development of
immersive virtual training environments. 50% of the funding will be
used for equipment, 25% for salaries and benefits, and the remaining
25% will be used for software licenses, student tuition and other
expenses.
Requesting Member: Congressman Tom Latham.
Bill Number: H.R. 2638, the Consolidated Security, Disaster
Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2009. Division C--
Department of Defense Appropriations Act.
Account: Research, Development, Test And Evaluation, Army.
Project Name: Battlefield Plastic Biodiesel.
Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Renewable Energy Group and General
Atomics.
Address of Requesting Entity: Renewable Energy Group, 416 South Bell
Avenue. Ames, IA 50010. General Atomics, 3550 General Atomics Ct. San
Diego, CA 92121.
Description of Request: $1.6 million is provided in the bill to
continue a 3-year partnership with the U.S. Army to develop a
technology providing a cost effective way to recycle military plastic
waste into a useable biodiesel fuel with enhanced energy yield, for use
in field power generation and other applications. This technology has
the potential to save taxpayers millions per month in military waste
disposal costs, and enhance the viability of increased use of biodiesel
by both the military and civilian sectors to achieve greater energy
independence. The $1.6 million FY09 appropriation is needed to complete
the development phase of this multi-year project and demonstrate the
technology.
Requesting Member: Congressman Tom Latham.
Bill Number: H.R. 2638, the Consolidated Security, Disaster
Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2009. Division C--
Department of Defense Appropriations Act.
Account: Research, Development, Test And Evaluation, Army.
Project Name: New Vaccines to Fight Respiratory Infection.
Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Iowa State University.
Address of Requesting Entity: 1750 Beardshear Hall, Ames, IA, 50010.
Description of Request: A team of researchers at Iowa State
University and the University of Nebraska Medical Center with expertise
in biotechnology, bacterial genetics, pathogenomics, immunology and
polymer chemistry has been formed to work on this project for the U.S.
Army, in order to develop unique vaccine delivery vehicles that can be
employed to combat a wide variety of respiratory pathogens threatening
our military personnel. Such strategies also can be effective in
combating agro-terrorism by protecting animals from airborne diseases.
The project addresses needs identified in the President's Interagency
Research and Development priorities related to Homeland Security and
National Defense. $4 million is provided in the bill for FY09. 38% of
the funding will be used for equipment, 25% for personnel costs, and
the remaining funding is for laboratory studies and the necessary
materials and supplies.
Requesting Member: Congressman Tom Latham.
Bill Number: H.R. 2638, the Consolidated Security, Disaster
Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2009. Division C--
Department of Defense Appropriations Act.
Account: Research, Development, Test And Evaluation, Army.
Project Name: Wireless Medical Monitoring System (WiMed).
Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Athena GTX.
Address of Requesting Entity: 3630 SW 61st Street, Suite 395. Des
Moines, IA 50321.
Description of Request: This WiMed project has gained extensive
support from both U.S. and foreign military services since 2006. The
U.S. Army and the National Trauma Institute are planning comprehensive
clinical trials evaluation in 2008 and 2009 across numerous Level 1
Trauma Centers with core funding using this system. The purpose of the
project
[[Page E1971]]
is to greatly improve casualty care in combat situations, where medics
are unable to effectively monitor injured soldiers' conditions. Current
medical triage monitors and vital signs data tracking tools are
complex, heavy, and have numerous wires with bulky connections. WiMed
prototypes have successfully demonstrated a comprehensive leap ahead in
critical care by linking all patient care within the same wireless
systems and platforms already in service. The $1.6 million provided in
FY09 funding will accelerate comprehensive clinical evaluations and
speed deployment to the troops. Once placed with a patient, WiMed can
be kept on patients throughout triage and subsequent care. The self-
contained WiMed works with standard blood pressure cuffs and a simple
highly mobile forehead stick-on sensor, integrating pulse oximetry,
blood pressure, temperature, skin humidity, and electrocardiograms into
a single unit. The patient's condition is also broadcast via Wi-Fi
technology using common Windows-based software. 25% of the funding will
be used for software and equipment upgrades, 20% for production design,
25% for certification testing, and the remaining 30% for manufacturing
start-up.
Requesting Member: Congressman Tom Latham.
Bill Number: H.R. 2638, the Consolidated Security, Disaster
Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2009. Division C--
Department of Defense Appropriations Act.
Account: Research, Development, Test And Evaluation, Defense-Wide.
Project Name: HyperAcute Vaccine Development.
Legal Name of Requesting Entity: BioProtection Systems Corporation.
Address of Requesting Entity: 2901 South Loop Drive, Suite 3360.
Ames, IA 50010.
Description of Request: It is generally recognized and accepted by
the Congress, the Administration and the Intelligence Community that
Chemical/Biological attacks on The United States are not only possible,
but likely. Although millions of dollars have been spent on Biological
Defense over the past several years, only a handful of vaccines/
medications have been developed to counter known threats.
Unfortunately, most have proven to be weak and impractical to
administer because they require multiple doses for protection or
treatment. Importantly, these vaccines would not protect against
genetically engineered biological weapons, which are relatively easy to
produce. BioProtection Systems Corporation will utilize its HyperAcute
technology to (1) enhance current vaccines, making them more effective
and practical for use, (2) generate vaccines for known threats where a
vaccine does not exist, and (3) develop a vaccine platform for unknown
agents. FY09 funding will continue the development program for a
HyperAcute vaccine candidate selected by the Department of Defense to
satisfy existing military requirements. The $2.4 million appropriation
funds the second year in a three-year development plan. 50% of the
funding will be used to improve existing HyperAccute vaccine technology
through BSL-4 level pre-clinical testing to meet FDA efficacy standards
for biodefense vaccines. The remaining funding will be used to develop
and text test new vaccines based on this technology.
Requesting Member: Congressman Tom Latham.
Bill Number: H.R. 2638, the Consolidated Security, Disaster
Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2009. Division C--
Department of Defense Appropriations Act.
Account: Research, Development, Test And Evaluation, Defense-Wide.
Project Name: Portable Rapid Bacterial Warfare Detection Unit.
Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Advanced Analytical Technologies,
Inc.
Address of Requesting Entity: 2901 S. Loop Drive, Suite 3300, Ames,
IA 50010.
Description of Request: Bacterial warfare agents present a real and
immediate threat to our deployed troops. The introduction of a
pathogenic contaminant into a military base water supply poses a
catastrophic, yet highly preventable scenario. The project objective is
to develop a fast, portable detection device to identify these
contaminants and prevent or limit exposure. FY06 and FY07 project
funding was used to establish a rapid and reliable method for detecting
single bacterial cells. FY08 funding will be used to optimize and
streamline the DNA profiling system used in the device. This funding
will also be used to build a library that houses profiling sequences of
target DNA that correlate to Biological Warfare (BW) agents such as
anthrax. This will allow rapid identification of any threatening water
contaminants. The BW organisms are classified as BSL-3 agents or higher
and require manipulation in a certified containment facility like that
at Aberdeen Proving Ground. FY09 funds will be used to re-engineer the
system to a miniaturized, portable instrument better suited for field
deployment. This system will be deployable and easy to operate,
providing a tool for protecting our troops.
Requesting Member: Congressman Tom Latham.
Bill Number: H.R. 2638, the Consolidated Security, Disaster
Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2009. Division C--
Department of Defense Appropriations Act.
Account: Research, Development, Test And Evaluation, Navy.
Project Name: Galfenol Energy Harvesting.
Legal Name of Requesting Entity: ETREMA Products, Inc.
Address of Requesting Entity: 2500 North Loop Drive. Ames, IA 50010.
Description of Request: The U.S. Navy has a goal of reducing the crew
sizes of its various vessels. The chief strategy is the use of remote
sensors to monitor areas normally covered by personnel standing watch.
Remote sensors would communicate information to a central processing
station using a wireless network and thereby avoid adding the weight
and complexity of additional wiring. The challenge is that each of
these sensors requires a battery to operate, which adds to the
maintenance demand and cost. Galfenol, a new smart-materials technology
being developed by the U.S. Navy and ETREMA Products of Ames beginning
in FY08, has the potential ability to be the solution by generating
electricity directly from energy produced by vibrations of a ship's
hull during the course of normal operations. FY09 research and
development funding will be used to advance the capability of Galfenol
material fabrication and the design of small, efficient energy
harvesting electronics that can harness the material's capability.
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