[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 33 (Wednesday, February 25, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E383-E385]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          EARMARK DECLARATION

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. JOHN ABNEY CULBERSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 25, 2009

  Mr. CULBERSON. Madam Speaker, as a Member of the Appropriations 
Committee, my highest priority is cutting wasteful government spending 
and balancing the budget. That is why I rejected over $338 million in 
project requests that were brought to my office. My answer for spending 
requests is always ``no'' unless the project is cost effective and 
serves a legitimate government purpose. I wholly support medical and 
scientific research, reducing congestion and travel time, and critical 
flood control projects. Those priorities are reflected in the projects 
that I support.
  Each Member should be held accountable for the project requests they 
submit. Since becoming a Member of the Appropriations Committee, I have 
held myself accountable by posting my project request letters on my 
congressional website at www.culberson.house.gov. Additionally, 
pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards, I am submitting the 
following information for publication in the Congressional Record 
regarding projects I secured as part of H.R. 1105, the FY2009 Omnibus 
Appropriations bill:
  Requesting Member: Congressman John Culberson
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105, the FY2009 Omnibus Appropriations bill
  Account: Department of Justice; Byrne Public Safety and Protection 
Program
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Texas Border Sheriff's Coalition
  Address of Requesting Entity: 4141 Pinnacle Street #213, El Paso, 
Texas
  Description of Request: Provides $4,500,000 to the Texas Border 
Sheriff Coalition to pay for overtime, hire additional deputies, and 
purchase equipment. This request is consistent with the intended and 
authorized purpose of the Department of Justice, Byrne Public Safety 
and Protection Program account. This project supports Operation 
Linebacker, an initiative by the Texas Border Sheriff's Coalition to 
stop drug and human trafficking along the U.S.-Mexico border. I certify 
that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this 
project.
  Requesting Member: Congressman John Culberson
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105, the FY2009 Omnibus Appropriations bill
  Account: Department of Justice; Byrne Public Safety and Protection 
Program
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Memorial Hermann Healthcare System
  Address of Requesting Entity: 9401 Southwest Freeway, Houston, Texas
  Description of Request: Provides $300,000 to the Memorial Hermann 
Healthcare System to purchase interoperable communications equipment 
for the Life Flight Operations Center, the premier air ambulance 
service in the country serving a 150 mile radius around Houston, TX. 
This request is consistent with the intended and authorized purpose of 
the Department of Justice, Byrne Public Safety and Protection Program 
account. This projects will enable state-of-the art dispatching, flight 
and weather monitoring, and data collection to enhance patient care and 
save lives. Memorial Hermann has already allocated $39.25 million in 
nonfederal money for this project. I certify that neither I nor my 
spouse has any financial interest in this project.
  Requesting Member: Congressman John Culberson
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105, the FY2009 Omnibus Appropriations bill
  Account: Department of Justice; Byrne Public Safety and Protection 
Program
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Texas Medical Center
  Address of Requesting Entity: 2450 Holcombe Boulevard Suite 1, 
Houston, Texas
  Description of Request: Provides $400,000 to purchase emergency 
communications equipment for the Emergency Communications and Mobility 
Center which serves as a coordinator for police and security 
information, emergency preparedness, emergency communications, 
emergency logistical support, and traffic mobility for the 46 member 
institutions of the Texas Medical Center. This request is consistent 
with the intended and authorized purpose of the Department of Justice, 
Byrne Public Safety and Protection Program account. I certify that 
neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this project.
  Requesting Member: Congressman John Culberson
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105, the FY2009 Omnibus Appropriations bill
  Account: Department of Justice; COPS Law Enforcement Technology
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: City of Houston
  Address of Requesting Entity: 900 Bagby, 2nd Floor, Houston, Texas
  Description of Request: Provides $1,000,000 for the Houston 
interoperability initiative, to purchase communications equipment so 
the City's first responders, bomb

[[Page E384]]

squad, and SWAT team can communicate with other regional law 
enforcement agencies. This request is consistent with the intended and 
authorized purpose of the Department of Justice, COPS Law Enforcement 
Technology account. This project has received funding from the COPS 
account in the past and the State of Texas has also contributed funding 
for this program. The City of Houston will provide the required match. 
I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in 
this project.
  Requesting Member: Congressman John Culberson
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105, the FY2009 Omnibus Appropriations bill
  Account: Department of Transportation; Airport Improvement Program
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: West Houston Airport
  Address of Requesting Entity: 18000 Groeschke Road, Houston, Texas
  Description of Request: Provides $142,500 to the West Houston Airport 
to purchase an Automatic Weather Observation Station to provide 
critical weather information to aircraft. This request is consistent 
with the intended and authorized purpose of the Department of 
Transportation, Airport Improvement Program account. This improvement 
project fits in line with the FAA's mission to enhance airport safety. 
I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in 
this project.
  Requesting Member: Congressman John Culberson
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105, the FY2009 Omnibus Appropriations bill
  Account: Department of Transportation; Buses and Bus Facilities
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Houston METRO
  Address of Requesting Entity: 1900 Main Street, PO Box 61429, 
Houston, Texas
  Description of Request: Provides $475,000 for Houston METRO to 
purchase hybrid buses to replace the aging fleet and to continue 
expansion of the Park and Ride commuter bus system. This request is 
consistent with the intended and authorized purpose of the Department 
of Transportation, Buses and Bus Facilities account. Houston METRO will 
provide the required match. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has 
any financial interest in this project.
  Requesting Member: Congressman John Culberson
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105, the FY2009 Omnibus Appropriations bill
  Account: Department of Transportation, Capital Investment Grants
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Houston METRO
  Address of Requesting Entity: 1900 Main Street, PO Box 61429, 
Houston, Texas
  Description of Request: Provides $15,000,000 for the Advanced Transit 
Program/METRO Solutions Phase 2 for light rail projects along the North 
and Southeast corridors only and to study commuter rail lines along the 
US 90A, US 290 and Westpark corridors. This request is consistent with 
the intended and authorized purpose of the Department of 
Transportation, Capital Investment Grants account. Houston METRO will 
provide the required match. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has 
any financial interest in this project.
  Requesting Member: Congressman John Culberson
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105, the FY2009 Omnibus Appropriations bill
  Account: Department of Transportation, Buses and Bus Facilities
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Houston Galveston Area Council
  Address of Requesting Entity: 3555 Timmons, Houston, Texas
  Description of Request: Provides $950,000 for the Houston Galveston 
Area Council to purchase buses to improve mobility in the Texas Medical 
Center. This request is consistent with the intended and authorized 
purpose of the Department of Transportation, Buses and Bus Facilities 
account. This funding will purchase two buses and a limited number of 
vans for an internal transportation system to cut down on congestion 
and pollution in the Texas Medical Center. The Houston Galveston Area 
Council will provide the required match. I certify that neither I nor 
my spouse has any financial interest in this project.
  Requesting Member: Congressman John Culberson
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105, the FY2009 Omnibus Appropriations bill
  Account: Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources 
and Services Administration (HRSA), Health Facilities and Services
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Harris County Hospital District
  Address of Requesting Entity: 2525 Holly Hall, Houston, Texas, 77054
  Description of Request: Provides $143,000 for new video endoscopic 
equipment, which is needed to provide diagnostic and treatment services 
to its indigent patient base and to handle the needs of a level one 
Trauma Center at Ben Taub Hospital. This funding will ensure continued 
access to the latest technology and treatment techniques for patients 
of this level one Trauma Hospital. It will also contribute to the 
health of the community, state and nation by contributing to the 
training of the next generation of health professionals. The Harris 
County Hospital District will contribute $2,000,000 to this project. I 
certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this 
project.
  Requesting Member: Congressman John Culberson
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105, the FY2009 Omnibus Appropriations bill
  Account: Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources 
and Services Administration (HRSA), Health Facilities and Services
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
  Address of Requesting Entity: 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Unit 422, Houston, 
TX, 77030
  Description of Request: Provides $533,000 to support research 
involving the clinical study of new forms of cancer treatment. The 
study will bring together the research activities of all clinical 
divisions, departments, care centers, clinical trial programs and 
translational research centers at the requesting institution. M.D 
Anderson Cancer Center will provide additional project funding. I 
certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this 
project.
  Requesting Member: Congressman John Culberson
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105, the FY2009 Omnibus Appropriations bill
  Account: Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources 
and Services Administration (HRSA), Health Facilities and Services
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: University of Houston
  Address of Requesting Entity: 4800 Calhoun Road, Houston, TX, 77004
  Description of Request: Provides $143,000 for research to develop new 
methods to control proliferating catastrophic diseases like cancer, 
stroke, and diabetes, as well as non-proliferating circumstances such 
as trauma. Funding will be used specifically for outfitting labs in the 
newly constructed University of Houston Science and Engineering 
Research Building; gene sequencing equipment; additional wet and dry 
clean room fabrication facilities; cell culture facilities and 
purification equipment; genetic synthesis equipment; tissue culture 
facilities; and high performance computing and data storage facilities 
for computational biology. An additional $5.4 million worth of grants 
will be provided: $900,000 from the Cullen Foundation; $500,000 from 
the M.D. Anderson Foundation; $2,000,000 from the Keck Foundation; and 
$2,000,000 from the Greater Houston Partnership. I certify that neither 
I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this project.
  Requesting Member: Congressman John Culberson
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105, the FY2009 Omnibus Appropriations bill
  Account: Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources 
and Services Administration (HRSA), Health Facilities and Services
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Houston Baptist University
  Address of Requesting Entity: 7502 Fondren Road, Houston, TX, 77074
  Description of Request: Provides $95,000 to renovate Houston Baptist 
University's Skilled Nursing Lab to increase the number of students 
trained in nursing each year. Funds will be used to purchase equipment 
to provide ``real life patient care scenarios'' for students while 
several computer workstations with interactive CD programs will help 
students gain skills with clinical situations they will face in actual 
health care settings. Houston Baptist University will contribute 
$105,648 to this project. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has 
any financial interest in this project.
  Requesting Member: Congressman John Culberson
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105, the FY2009 Omnibus Appropriations bill
  Account: Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources 
and Services Administration (HRSA), Health Facilities and Services
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Texas Children's Hospital
  Address of Requesting Entity: 6621 Fannin Street, Houston, TX, 77030
  Description of Request: Provides $190,000 for the Texas Children's 
Hospital (TCH) Neurological Research Institute for the purpose of 
treating diseases in very definitive ways so that the children can live 
normal lives. Scheduled for completion in 2010, the Neurological 
Research Institute will be a new model of excellence as the first 
dedicated facility in the United States to use a multidisciplinary 
research approach to understand the unique issues of a child's brain 
structure, development patterns and related diseases. The

[[Page E385]]

370,000 square foot building will be home to more than 170 researchers 
who will bring new promise to those afflicted with neurological 
diseases as they look for new treatments for common pediatric 
neurological disorders like autism, epilepsy, Rhett syndrome, cerebral 
palsy and learning disorders. I certify that neither I nor my spouse 
has any financial interest in this project.
  Requesting Member: Congressman John Culberson
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105, the FY2009 Omnibus Appropriations bill
  Account: Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources 
and Services Administration (HRSA), Health Facilities and Services
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: University of Texas Health Science 
Center at Houston
  Address of Requesting Entity: 7000 Fannin, Suite 600, Houston, TX, 
77030
  Description of Request: Provides $238,000 for equipment and faculty 
recruitment, which will advance breakthroughs in the understanding, 
prevention and treatment of developmental and neurodegenerative 
diseases including autism, Alzheimer's and brain injury; accelerated 
exploration and clinical testing of new pharmacological agents and new 
neurological and behavioral interventions with a reduced need for 
animal and human testing; and investment opportunities as technologies 
are developed and tested. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has 
any financial interest in this project.
  Requesting Member: Congressman John Culberson
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105, the FY2009 Omnibus Appropriations bill
  Account: Army Corps of Engineers, Construction
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Harris County Flood Control District
  Address of Requesting Entity: 9900 Northwest Freeway, Suite 220, 
Houston, Texas
  Description of Request: Provides $5,011,000 to continue critical 
detention excavation and channel construction along Brays Bayou, 
Houston, Texas. Harris County Flood Control District will provide the 
required match. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any 
financial interest in this project.
  Requesting Member: Congressman John Culberson
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105, the FY2009 Omnibus Appropriations bill
  Account: Army Corps of Engineers, Investigations
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Harris County Flood Control District
  Address of Requesting Entity: 9900 Northwest Freeway, Suite 220, 
Houston, Texas
  Description of Request: Provides an earmark of $96,000 to continue 
the feasibility study for flood mitigation of Buffalo Bayou and 
Tributaries, White Oak Bayou, Texas. Harris County Flood Control 
District will provide the required match. I certify that neither I nor 
my spouse has any financial interest in this project.
  Requesting Member: Congressman John Culberson
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105, the FY2009 Omnibus Appropriations bill
  Account: Army Corps of Engineers, Investigations
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Harris County Flood Control District
  Address of Requesting Entity: 9900 Northwest Freeway, Suite 220, 
Houston, Texas
  Description of Request: Provides $96,000 to continue a general 
reevaluation study to obtain an endorsement from the Army Corps of a 
recommended project for flood control along Buffalo Bayou and 
Tributaries, Main Stem. Harris County Flood Control District will 
provide the required match. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has 
any financial interest in this project.
  Requesting Member: Congressman John Culberson
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105, the FY2009 Omnibus Appropriations bill
  Account: Army Corps of Engineers, Construction
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Port Authority of Houston
  Address of Requesting Entity: PO Box 2562, Houston, Texas
  Description of Request: Provides $20,766,000 for construction of the 
Houston portion of the Houston-Galveston Navigation Channels, near 
Beltway 8. The dredged material produced by the project is being used 
to create 4,250 acres of marshland over the 50-year economic life of 
the project and to rebuild historical islands that have been eroded 
over the years by storms and subsidence. The blended local cost share 
is 26%. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial 
interest in this project.
  Requesting Member: Congressman John Culberson
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105, the FY2009 Omnibus Appropriations bill
  Account: Army Corps of Engineers, Construction
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Port Authority of Houston
  Address of Requesting Entity: PO Box 2562, Houston, Texas
  Description of Request: Provides $478,000 for construction of the 
Houston portion of the Houston-Galveston Navigation Channels, near 
Beltway 8. These funds were needed following Hurricane Ike damage to 
the port. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial 
interest in this project.
  Requesting Member: Congressman John Culberson
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105, the FY2009 Omnibus Appropriations bill
  Account: Army Corps of Engineers, Operations and Maintenance
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Port Authority of Houston
  Address of Requesting Entity: Port Authority of Houston, PO Box 2562, 
Houston, Texas
  Description of Request: Provides $13,788,000 for operations and 
maintenance of the following areas in the Houston Ship Channel: Bayport 
Channel: Greens Bayou Channel; Houston Ship Channel from Sims Bayou to 
the Turning Basin; Houston Ship Channel from Morgan's Point to Exxon; 
Houston Ship Channel from Carpenter's Bayou; East/West Clinton 
Placement Area Levee Work and work in the Barbours Cut Channel. The 
Port of Houston Authority, as the local sponsor will contribute the 
required match. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any 
financial interest in this project.
  Requesting Member: Congressman John Culberson
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105, the FY2009 Omnibus Appropriations bill
  Account: Agriculture Research Service, Salaries and Expenses
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Baylor College of Medicine
  Address of Requesting Entity: 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, Texas
  Description of Request: Provides $254,000 for the design and 
implementation of a human study to identify the facilitators and 
barriers that affect adherence of children to the Dietary Guidelines 
for Americans, a research question that was specifically highlighted by 
the 2005 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. The local and state 
agency will provide a match of $250,000. I certify that neither I nor 
my spouse has any financial interest in this project.

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