[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 153 (Thursday, September 25, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1974]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          EARMARK DECLARATION

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. CLIFF STEARNS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 24, 2008

  Mr. STEARNS. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership 
standards, I am submitting the following information for publication in 
the Congressional Record regarding district funding requests as part of 
H.R. 2638, Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance and Continuing 
Appropriations Act.
  1. Florida Army National Guard, Regional Training Institute (RTI) 
Phase IV at Camp Blanding, FL (Department of Defense, Army National 
Guard).
  This project is to complete construction of the RTI at the Camp 
Blanding Training Site, FL. The readiness of the Florida Army National 
Guard and Air National Guard in general will be affected if the school 
cannot adequately accomplish its mission to train soldiers. The student 
quota continues to grow with the need for new training requirements. 
The new campus will serve the full-time mission of the RTI. The 
completion of the new campus will allow the school to accept all 
projected students and to provide the support needed to run the 
regional school. The new campus will provide the school with the area 
required to adequately perform its essential mission. It will house, 
feed, teach, and train all students attending the institute; students 
are from all fifty states and territories. The school averages 800 
students per cycle.
  2. Research Support for Nanoscale Research Facility at the University 
of Florida (RDTE, Navy).
  The State of Florida, at the University of Florida, has completed the 
$30M Nanoscale Research Facility to serve as a nexus of 
interdisciplinary research in nanoscience and technology development. 
This research facility will provide a scientific forum for research 
efforts among the Colleges of Engineering, Medicine, Liberal Arts and 
Sciences, Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Food and Agricultural 
Sciences, and the Particle Engineering Research Center.
  3. Weapons Skills Trainer (OM, Army National Guard).
  The Florida National Guard has been deeply involved in the Global War 
on terrorism. More than 8,000 of the 12,000 soldiers and airman in 
Florida have served on active duty since September 11th and the 
commitment will continue. Under new mobilization guidelines, soldiers 
and airman must be fully trained on individual weapons tasks before 
reporting to their mobilization stations. The Weapons Skills Trainer is 
a proven system that will increase readiness and substantially reduce 
training costs.
  4. Accelerating Treatment for Trauma Wounds (RDTE, Army).
  The Army's Medical Advanced Technology program supports applied 
research to develop materiel that improves survivability and assures 
better medical treatment outcomes for warfighters wounded in combat and 
military operations other than war. One area of emphasis is on the 
development of novel treatments to minimize tissue damage and 
accelerate restoration of function. The project goal is to evaluate 
doxycycline gel for its ability to accelerate healing of open wounds 
among injured U.S. Army soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center 
when used in conjunction with other good-wound care practices.
  5. Marion County Emergency Operations Center (FEMA, Department of 
Homeland Security).
  Marion County needs to upgrade its current EOC facilities by adding 
approximately 27,000 sq. feet to the existing building. This will 
include a new 911 Dispatch Center and supporting office and technology 
space for the Sheriffs Office, EMS, County Fire Department, and City of 
Ocala Fire Department. The upgrade also includes a new room for the 
Marion County Emergency Operations Center along with office and 
technology space.

                          ____________________