[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 32 (Tuesday, February 24, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E309-E311]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          EARMARK DECLARATION

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. KAY GRANGER

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 24, 2009

  Ms. GRANGER. Madam Speaker, consistent with the Republican 
Leadership's policy on earmarks, I offer the following justification 
for the projects that I requested that were included in H.R. 1105, the 
Fiscal Year 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act.
  For the project titled, ``Assistance to Improve Water Quality for 
Tarrant County, TX,'' in H.R. 1105, Natural Resources Conservation 
Service, Conservation Operations account, the legal name and address of 
the requesting entity is Texas AgriLife Research, 113 Jack K. Williams 
Building 2142 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-2142. The $336,000 in the 
bill supports specialized studies to improve water quality in North 
Central Texas. The project aims to create a watershed protection plan 
and improve the water quality in the five reservoirs that supply water 
for the majority of Fort Worth and fifty-nine surrounding communities. 
By implementing a watershed protection plan, water quality can be 
improved in North Central Texas, thereby protecting supply and quality 
for over 1.6 million residents in the area. Matching funds are as 
follows: Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board ($740,000), 
Texas Water Development Board ($200,000), and the Texas Commission on 
Environmental Quality ($542,000). Tarrant Regional Water District and 
the Texas Water Resources Institute also provide in-kind support.
  For the project titled ``Child Abuse Training Programs for Judicial 
Personnel: Victims Act Model Court Project'' in H.R. 1105, OJP-Byrne 
Discretionary Grants account, the legal name and address of the 
requesting entity is the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court 
Judges, 1041 North Virginia Street, Third Floor, Reno, Nevada 89503. 
The $920,000 in the bill for this project will be used in planning and 
programming for work in Model Courts and in jurisdictions nationwide, 
including site-based and local, regional and national interdisciplinary 
training programs; Model Court site visits; Model Court cross-site 
visits; All-Sites Meetings; outreach to national State Court 
Improvement Programs; direct technical assistance to Model Courts and 
other jurisdictions nationwide; mentoring of non-Model Court 
jurisdictions; publications for national dissemination; research to 
evaluate Model Court work; and networking with national organizations. 
The project focuses on improving court practice in handling child abuse 
and neglect cases in jurisdictions across the country, and will have 
significant impact on the over 513,000 children in the nation's foster 
care systems. The National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges 
is supported by a number of funders both federal, state and private; 
and national and state-based that supports related work. Supplemental 
funding for this project has been applied for in the past, as NCJFCJ 
continually seeks a variety of funding sources for its projects.
  For the project titled ``Train-the-Trainer (ALERRT)'' in H.R. 1105, 
OJP-Byrne Discretionary Grants account, the legal name and address of 
the requesting entity is the Texas State University, 601 University 
Drive, San Marcos, Texas 78666. The $1,200,000 in the bill for this 
project will enable Texas State University to build ALERRT's Train-The-
Trainer capacity to meet the training needs of the more than 650,000 
law enforcement agents across the nation. Since 2002, ALERRT has 
trained more than 16,000 first responding patrol officers. ALERRT is a 
program designed to train first responders with tactics they will need 
to effectively respond to active shooter situations. More than 200 law 
enforcement agencies, including Texas Christian University Police 
Department and Ft. Worth Police Department, are on the waiting list for 
training under ALERRT. Funding would allow these departments to receive 
training. ALERRT has been awarded more than $7 million in federal and 
state funds to bring this Rapid Response training to frontline officers 
across Texas and the nation. Texas State will provide any required 
matching funds.
  For the project titled ``White Settlement Emergency Management, 
Police, and Fire Department Interoperable Communications

[[Page E310]]

Project'' in H.R. 1105, OJP-Byrne Discretionary Grants account, the 
legal name and address of the requesting entity is the City of White 
Settlement, 214 Meadow Park Drive, White Settlement, TX 76108. The 
$500,000 in the bill for this project will allow the City of White 
Settlement to begin the process of updating the city's radio equipment. 
The city is currently not capable of transmitting information between 
agencies due to aging radio systems and lack of funding. Many times, 
the ability of first-responders to respond to emergency situations 
would be enhanced by partnering or sharing resources. The goal is to 
have direct communications with the City of Fort Worth, the Naval Air 
Station Joint Reserve Base, Lockheed Martin, and any other local 
agencies or cities for rapid response to emergency situations. No 
matching funds are required for this project.
  For the project titled ``America SCORES Fort Worth Expansion'' in 
H.R. 1105, OJP-Juvenile Justice account, the legal name and address of 
the requesting entity is the America SCORES, 520 Eighth Avenue, 11th 
Floor, New York, New York 10018. The $150,000 in the bill for this 
project will be used to expand the America SCORES after-school program 
to at least five new public elementary schools in the Fort Worth area, 
reaching upwards of 125 additional elementary students in the urban 
center. The America SCORES model has proven very successful in 
improving academic performance and physical health among participants, 
reduces the risks of unsupervised playtime, and combats the epidemics 
of childhood obesity and violence. America SCORES will match the 
federal funding with $150,000 in private funds. All expenses to 
maintain the expansion in future years will be provided by non-federal 
sources.
  For the project titled ``Central City, Fort Worth, Upper Trinity 
River Basin, TX'' in H.R. 1105, Corps of Engineers--Construction 
account, the legal name and address of the requesting entity is Tarrant 
Regional Water District, 800 E. Northside Dr., Fort Worth, TX 76102. 
The aging levee system on the Trinity River is no longer adequate to 
provide protection for an area adjacent to downtown Fort Worth that is 
undergoing revitalization. The Army Corps of Engineers recommends in 
the final Environmental Impact Statement an integrated, comprehensive 
solution for flood control in this area to include transportation, 
environmental restoration, and community redevelopment components, 
including constructing a 1.5-mile flood-control bypass channel. The 
$6,000,000 in the bill for this project will be used for excavation of 
the bypass channel. Matching funds for the entire project include $64 
million from Tarrant Regional Water District, $10.9 million from the 
City of Fort Worth, $9 million from Tarrant County, and $80.5 million 
from the local tax financing district.
  For the project titled, ``Farmers Branch, Tarrant County, TX'' in 
H.R. 1105, Corps of Engineers Sec. 205 account, the legal name and 
address of the requesting entity is the City of White Settlement, 214 
Meadow Park Drive, White Settlement, TX 76108. To improve the 
channelization of Farmers Branch flowing through the center of White 
Settlement, the continuing authority provided in this bill will be used 
for construction of a flood control channel. This channel will mitigate 
major flooding problems affecting homes and businesses in the area. The 
City of White Settlement has passed bonds totaling $11.5 million for 
the project.
  For the project titled, ``Upper Trinity River Basin, TX'' in H.R. 
1105, Corps of Engineers Investigations account, the legal name and 
address of the requesting entity is U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort 
Worth District, 819 Taylor Street, Room 3A32, Fort Worth, TX 76102-
0300. The $382,000 provided in the bill will be used to continue 
various Corps of Engineers studies in the Upper Trinity River Basin. No 
matching funds are required.
  For the project titled ``Cook Children's Medical Center, Ft. Worth, 
TX for facilities and equipment'' in H.R. 1105, Health Resources and 
Services Administration (HRSA)--Health Facilities and Services account, 
the legal name and address of the requesting entity is the Cook 
Children's Medical Center, 801 Seventh Avenue, Fort Worth, Texas 76104. 
The $666,000 in the bill for this project will be used to purchase 
Magnetoencephalography (MEG) technology in order for Cook Children's 
Medical Center to continue their research in the neurosciences. MEG 
technology, combined with Cook Children's existing iMRI and pediatric 
neuroscience resources, will provide the best available treatment to 
cure Texas children afflicted with epilepsy, brain tumors, and other 
devastating neurological disorders. Funds will be used for the purchase 
of equipment and the construction costs necessary to install the MEG 
technology. In addition to the federal funding for this project, Cook 
Children's plans to raise at least $5,803,000 in the local community.
  For the project titled ``Harris Methodist Ft. Worth Hospital, Ft. 
Worth, TX for facilities and equipment'' in H.R. 1105, Health Resources 
and Services Administration (HRSA)--Health Facilities and Services 
account, the legal name and address of the requesting entity is the 
Harris Methodist Fort Worth Hospital, 1301 Pennsylvania Avenue, Fort 
Worth, Texas 76104. The $618,000 in the bill for this project will be 
used for the renovation and construction of a 16-bed palliative care 
unit. Palliative care is healthcare that specializes in the relief of 
suffering and the achievement of the best possible quality of life for 
patients with advanced illness and their families. It is offered 
simultaneously with all other appropriate medical treatment. Currently, 
the Harris Methodist Health Foundation is seeking community donations 
as part of a $2.2 million campaign. To date, $537,000 has been raised 
to help fund the palliative care unit and significant pledges have been 
made.
  For the project titled ``Texas Wesleyan University, Ft. Worth, TX for 
purchase of equipment for the doctoral program in nurse anesthesia 
practice, including curriculum development'' in H.R. 1105, Health 
Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)--Health Facilities and 
Services account, the legal name and address of the requesting entity 
is the Texas Wesleyan University, 1201 Wesleyan St., Fort Worth, Texas 
76105-1536. The $247,000 in the bill for this project will be used by 
Texas Wesleyan University for equipment costs to support the new on-
line Doctorate program in Nurse Anesthesia Practice. Harris Methodist 
hospital is the primary clinical site for Texas Wesleyan University's 
nurse anesthetist program. Funding will be used to upgrade the network 
and enhance current audio/visual technologies for curriculum 
development and deployment to support instructional needs for the new 
doctoral program. This project will support Texas Wesleyan University's 
new Doctorate Program of Nurse Anesthesia Practice, the second doctoral 
program of its kind in the United States. The objective is to develop a 
distance learning program (utilizing recent advances in distance 
learning methodologies) that will provide extended education to full 
time employed Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists who are located 
in rural or metropolitan areas of the United States. This project 
provides education via new technologies, including distance learning 
methodologies, and addresses the Healthy People 2010 goal set by HHS to 
eliminate health disparities. Texas Wesleyan University has provided 
$360,000 in private matching funds for this project.
  For the project titled ``Alliance Airport, Runway Extension, TX'' in 
H.R. 1105, FAA--Airport Improvement Program account, the legal name and 
address for the requesting entity is Alliance Airport and the City of 
Fort Worth, TX, 2221 Alliance Boulevard, Ste 100, Fort Worth, TX 76177. 
The $1,750,000 for the project in this bill will be used to extend the 
existing main runway. The extension project includes lengthening the 
runway by 1,400 feet to 11,000 feet and includes extension of taxiways, 
relocation of FM Road 156, relocation of a Burlington Northern Santa Fe 
rail line, and extension of Eagle Parkway. The local share of the 
project cost will be between $50 million and $60 million.
  For the project titled ``CNG Bus Replacement, Fort Worth 
Transportation Authority, TX,'' in H.R. 1105, Federal Transit 
Administration--Bus/Bus Facilities account, the legal name and address 
for the requesting entity is Fort Worth Transportation Authority, The 
``T,'' 1600 E. Lancaster Avenue, Fort Worth, TX 76102. The $1,425,000 
in this bill will be used to continue the replacement of the Fort Worth 
Transportation Authority's aging bus fleet and pay for the cost of 
replacing approximately 3-4 buses with clean-burning natural gas 
vehicles, wheel chair accessibility and complete with security cameras 
for driver and passenger safety. This will help advance the T's overall 
initiative to make the entire bus fleet 100% wheel chair accessible. 
Local share of the project cost will be $1.64 million.
  For the project titled, ``Interstate-35 W Congestion Relief, TX,'' in 
H.R. 1105, Federal Highways Administration--Interstate Maintenance 
account, the legal name and address for the requesting entity is City 
of Fort Worth, TX, 1000 Throckmorton Street, Fort Worth, TX 76102. The 
$1,800,000 in the bill will be used to provide congestion relief for I-
35W between downtown Fort Worth and SH 114 near the Denton/Tarrant 
County line. These funds are for engineering and design. Relief of 
regional congestion along this road segment is critical and would 
address significant emissions concerns. Additionally, this eventual 
expansion of I-35W would also continue facilitating economic expansion 
of north Fort Worth, the Alliance Airport area, northern Tarrant 
County, as well as enhance access to the renewal work of the Trinity 
River Vision project. Local share of the project cost will be $2 
million by the Denton County Commissioner's Court, which is 
significantly more than the statutory 20 percent.
  For the project titled, ``Henderson Street Bridge Construction at the 
Trinity River, Fort Worth, TX,'' in H.R. 1105, Federal Highways 
Administration--Transportation Community

[[Page E311]]

Systems Preservation account, the legal name and address for the 
requesting entity is City of Fort Worth, TX, 1000 Throckmorton Street, 
Fort Worth, TX 76102. The $1,520,000 in the bill will be used for the 
construction of SH 199 (Henderson Street) and US Business 287 through 
the Trinity Uptown area of the Trinity River Vision. The aging levee 
system is no longer adequate to provide protection for an area adjacent 
to downtown Fort Worth that is undergoing revitalization. The U.S. Army 
Corps of Engineers recommends in the final Environmental Impact 
Statement an integrated, comprehensive solution for flood control in 
this area to include transportation, environmental restoration and 
community redevelopment components in constructing a 1.5 mile flood-
control bypass channel. Local share of the project cost is $21.485 
million.
  For the project titled, ``City of Fort Worth, TX--Economic 
Development Initiatives,'' in H.R. 1105, Housing and Urban 
Development--Economic Development Initiative account, the legal name 
and address of the requesting entity is City of Fort Worth, TX, 1000 
Throckmorton Street, Fort Worth, TX 76102. The $285,000 in the bill 
will be used for property acquisition for land that will be needed to 
construct the bypass channel of the Trinity River. The aging levee 
system is no longer adequate to provide protection for an area adjacent 
to downtown Fort Worth that is undergoing revitalization. The U.S. Army 
Corps of Engineers recommends in the final Environmental Impact 
Statement an integrated, comprehensive solution for flood control in 
this area to include transportation, environmental restoration and 
community redevelopment components in constructing a 1.5 mile flood-
control bypass channel. The local share of the project cost is $15 
million.

                          ____________________