[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 31 (Monday, February 23, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E299-E300]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          EARMARK DECLARATION

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. SAM JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, February 23, 2009

  Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the House 
Republican standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following 
information for publication in the Congressional Record regarding 
earmarks I received as part of H.R. 1105, the FY 2009 Omnibus 
Appropriations Act.
  Requesting Member: Congressman Sam Johnson
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105.
  Account: COPS Law Enforcement Technology.
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: The City of McKinney, Texas
  Address of Requesting Entity: 222 N. Tennessee, McKinney, Texas 
75070.
  Description of Request: $300,000 in FY 2009 Department of Justice 
COPS Law Enforcement Technology and Interoperability funds to replace 
the City's Public Safety Radio System and to acquire interoperability 
capabilities.
  The City of McKinney, Texas, was the fastest growing city with a 
population greater than 100,000 in the U.S. between 2000 and 2006, 
according to U.S. Census statistics released last year. With a 
population that has mushroomed from 38,700 to 121,000 in only ten 
years, resources for many important projects are strained. The current 
800 MHz radio communications system, completed in 2001 when McKinney's 
population was half its current size, now has communications coverage 
deficiencies, particularly in the newer growth areas in southwestern 
McKinney. These ``dead spots'' are experienced by all City radio system 
users (Police, Fire, EMS, Public Works, etc.) and could compromise 
officer safety, citizen safety, and the ability to respond adequately 
in emergency situations. Efforts to

[[Page E300]]

eliminate the coverage deficiencies through adjustments to the current 
system have had only limited success, and it has become evident that 
replacement of the system is crucial.
  The rapid growth of Collin County dictates the need for 
interoperability in the event of a crisis. The adjacent cities of 
Frisco, Allen and Plano, as well as Collin County, are in the process 
of planning for upgrades to Project 25 digital technology. (Project 25 
is a joint multi-phase effort of state, federal and local government 
with support from the Telecommunications Industry Association to 
provide unencumbered access to communications interoperability among 
law enforcement agencies.) The City of McKinney has engaged consultants 
to develop specifications for a three-to four-site Project 25 radio 
system to provide agencies with critical coverage improvements, 
interoperability, and expandability for continued growth.
  Replacing the system with Project 25 digital radio system technology 
will maximize radio spectrum efficiency, ensure an open standard for 
non-proprietary equipment and interoperability, eliminate existing 
coverage deficiencies, and allow for continued growth to meet the 
City's ultimate buildout population. (McKinney's population will 
ultimately reach more than 300,000.) The Federal government has 
recognized the importance of interoperable communications equipment to 
meet the Nation's homeland security needs.
  The total cost estimate for a three-site P25 radio system and 
equipment is $5,938,000. This request is for $300,000 in FY 2009 
Federal funding to support McKinney's efforts. The City can get the 
project underway in 2009.
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105.
  Account: Museums and Libraries.
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: The National Virtual Vietnam 
Archive.
  Address of Requesting Entity: Texas Tech University, 19th and 
University Avenue, Lubbock, Texas 79409.
  Description of Request: $571,000. The requested funding will be used 
to continue to develop and establish the Virtual Vietnam Archive, which 
is a digitized, online version of the Vietnam Archive. This multi-
phased project is crucial in order for the extensive collection of the 
Vietnam Archive to be available to all Americans, and particularly to 
Vietnam veterans. The first phase focused on establishing the Virtual 
Vietnam Archive at Texas Tech. The second phase focused on expanding 
the Archive to include other private collections and non-government 
collections. The requested funding will be used for the final phase 
which focuses on including selected government documentary collections, 
which are not currently scheduled for digitization by the National 
Archives.
  FY 2009 funding will be used to reproduce the documents contained in 
Record Group 472; ship documents to the Vietnam Archives at Texas Tech; 
digitize documents; and make documents freely available online to the 
American people and to researchers throughout the nation and around the 
globe.

                          ____________________