[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 33 (Wednesday, February 25, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E393-E394]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          EARMARK DECLARATION

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. ROY BLUNT

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 25, 2009

  Mr. BLUNT. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican standards on 
earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks 
I received as part of the H.R. 1105--Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009.
  Account: Natural Resources Conservation Service--Watershed/flood 
prevention operations
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Southwest Missouri Resource 
Conservation and Development, Inc., at Natural Resources Conservation 
Service.
  Address of Requesting Entity: 601 Business Loop 70 West Columbia, 
Missouri 65203
  Description of Request: $287,000 is provided for the Upper White 
River Basin to provide additional conservation technical assistance to 
support the South Missouri Water Quality Project staff for a water 
quality program in southern Missouri. Technical assistance includes 
forestry conservation, urban nutrient management and storm water 
planning, farm nutrient planning for confined animal feeding 
operations, cartography map products, watershed planning and 
assessment, and water quality information and education activities. The 
use of taxpayer funds is justified because this watershed has 
experienced tremendous population growth in the last decade that has 
resulted in an increase in nonpoint source pollution pressure. The 
funding provides
  Account: DOJ--COPS Law Enforcement Technology
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Greene County, MO
  Address of Requesting Entity: 933 N. Robberson Springfield, MO 65802
  Description of Request: $800,000 is included for the Greene County 
Emergency Operations Center. It is my understanding this funding is to 
be used for the necessary equipment of the emergency operations center. 
The equipment will include computers, software, televisions, video 
conference equipment and other specialized equipment for the facility. 
The use of taxpayer funds is justified as this equipment is necessary 
for the operation of the EOC. The total equipment required is for 
interoperability of all agencies in the event of a disaster.
  Account: Department of Justice--COPS Law Enforcement Technology
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: City of Springfield, MO
  Address of Requesting Entity: 840 N. Boonville, Springfield, MO
  Description of Request: $700,000 will be used to help fund 
replacement of the existing Police Department records management system 
and automated field reporting software, hardware and servers. The use 
of taxpayer funds is justified because the funding will enable 
continuous operations and eliminate periods when records are not 
accessible and field reports created by mobile data units are 
disrupted. The technology will enable the sharing of law enforcement 
information with other agencies.
  Account: Department of Justice--COPS Law Enforcement Technology
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Taney County, MO
  Address of Requesting Entity: 127 Main St., Forsyth, MO, 65653
  Description of Request: $400,000 will help Taney County, MO to 
purchase and implement a county wide, multi-jurisdiction public safety 
mobile data network as well as a criminal justice information sharing 
system. The use of taxpayer funds is justified because this project 
will greatly enhance overall investigations and increase officer safety 
by enabling them instant access to critical time sensitive information 
on the street, when they need it most.
  Account: Department of Justice--COPS Law Enforcement Technology
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Webb City, MO
  Address of Requesting Entity: 200 S. Main St, Webb City, MO 64870
  Description of Request: $150,000 will help to fund provide law 
enforcement technology for Webb City, Missouri. Webb City needs to 
purchase portable radios and mobile vehicle radios of 800 MHz. The use 
of taxpayer funds is justified because the current radios utilize a 150 
MHz frequency that has gaps throughout the city and is very limited 
outside of the city limits. This prevents a seamless channel of 
communication in times of disaster.
  Account: Army Corps of Engineers--Investigations
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: City of Springfield, MO
  Address of Requesting Entity: 840 N. Boonville, Springfield, MO
  Description of Request: $478,000 will be used to help complete the 
feasibility study and begin pre-construction engineering and design of 
Jordan Creek. The use of taxpayer funds is justified because the Army 
Corps of Engineers study looks at a range of alternatives to the water 
resource needs in the area including non-structural flood damage 
measures, development of environmental and floodplain buffer zones 
along the river, and creation of floodplain overflow wetlands.
  Account: Department of Energy--EERE--Solar Energy
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Crowder College
  Address of Requesting Entity: 601 Laclede Avenue, Neosho, MO 64850
  Description of Request: $951,500 will be used to fund programs and 
services at the Missouri Alternative Renewable Energy Technology 
Center. The use of taxpayer funds is justified because the funding will 
be used in part to fund the new center which will be for delivery of 
new business and incubator services and education and training programs 
in constructions technologies and renewable energy. The facility will 
serve as a living laboratory, modeling the best practices known for 
solar and thermodynamics energy systems and striving for zero energy 
consumption and serve as a regional center for renewable energy.
  Account: Department of Energy--EERE--Other
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Greene County, MO
  Address of Requesting Entity: 933 N. Robberson, Springfield, MO 65802
  Description of Request: $475,750 will be used to help fund a portion 
of the renovations of the Greene County courthouse. Greene County would 
like to add a green roof to the courthouse. The use of taxpayer funds 
is justified because the roof would serve as an environmentally 
friendly way to insulate the building and control storm water. This 
project is to assist Greene County in our effort to truly be green 
citizens. The energy efficiency of the project and the storm water 
control of the project are the largest benefits to Greene County.
  Account: Army Corps of Engineers--O&M
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Army Corps of Engineers--Little Rock
  Address of Requesting Entity: 700 W Capitol Ave # 7340, Little Rock, 
AR 72201
  Description of Request: $6,667,000 will be used by the Corps of 
Engineers for operational and maintenance items at Table Rock Lake 
including rehabilitation of head gates and rehabilitation of powerhouse 
station service units. This request was made by the Administration and 
is the entire operations and maintenance budget for Table Rock Lake. 
The use of taxpayer funds is justified because Table Rock Lake provides 
vital flood control on the White River and is a significant source of 
peak hydropower.
  Account: Department of Interior--EPA--STAG Water and Wastewater 
Infrastructure Project
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: McDonald County, Missouri
  Address of Requesting Entity: P.O. 345 Pineville, MO 64856
  Description of Request: $500,000 will be used by Public Water Supply 
District (PWSD) #1 for the second phase of a wastewater expansion 
project to augment recently constructed infrastructure financed from 
PWSD funds. The proposed project will supply the Village of Jane with 
needed sewer service. The Village of Jane is a small but rapidly 
growing community in south-central McDonald County on the bank of 
Little Sugar Creek, a 303d impaired waterway. In addition to the 
benefits of improved water quality within the Little Sugar Creek 
watershed and encouraging additional commercial and residential 
development in the area, the proposed project will also provide needed 
wastewater service to properties recently purchased by the McDonald 
County R-1 School District and Crowder College to house a second high 
school campus and a community college campus respectively.
  Account: Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)--Health 
Facilities and Services

[[Page E394]]

  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Ozark Tri-County Health Care 
Consortium
  Address of Requesting Entity: 4301 Doniphan Drive, Neosho, MO 64850
  Description of Request: $476,000 would be used to construct a new 
Federally Qualified Health Center in Cassville, Missouri. The use of 
taxpayer funds is justified because the Health Center will increase 
medical capacity and add full dental services to serve all of Barry 
County by moving from the current leased facility that provides only 
medical servics.
  Account: Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)--Health 
Facilities and Services
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Missouri Southern State University
  Address of Requesting Entity: 3950 E. Newman Road, Joplin, MO, 64801
  Description of Request: $381,000 would be used for patient simulation 
equipment for education and training of all nursing and allied 
healthcare students. These simulators will allow students to become 
proficient in assessing patients, making decisions and implementing 
care in a real-life setting all without jeopardizing the health and 
safety of real patients. The use of taxpayer funds is justified because 
patient safety and outcome are critically dependent on the competence 
of healthcare personnel.
  Account: Elementary & Secondary Education (includes FIE)
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Missouri State University
  Address of Requesting Entity: 901 S. National, Springfield, MO 65804
  Description of Request: $143,000 would be used for the Missouri 
Innovation Academy, an on-campus summer program for high school 
sophomores and juniors from low-income backgrounds. Students will live 
on the Missouri State University campus during the duration of the 
Academy. The use of taxpayer funds is justified because innovation will 
be the key to economic growth in the future and will involve the 
creation and application of technology to treat serious illness, 
address energy needs and other environmental challenges, increase 
national security, and introduce other inventions to improve the 
quality of life and stay competitive at the global level.
  Account: Elementary & Secondary Education (includes FIE)
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: City of Springfield
  Address of Requesting Entity: 840 N. Boonville, Springfield, MO 65802
  Description of Request: $571,000 would be used for Ready to Learn, 
which is a partnership with the highly utilized Springfield/Greene 
County WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) Clinic, Shady Dell Public 
Preschool and a collaboration of service providers. The use of taxpayer 
funds is justified because this program creates pre-kindergarten 
academic, reading readiness and social and emotional skill development 
to the client population 0 to under 7 years (Missouri preschool age) 
and their families.
  Account: Elementary & Secondary Education (includes FIE)
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Joplin Public Schools
  Address of Requesting Entity: PO Box 128, Joplin, MO 64802
  Description of Request: $143,000 would be used for Enhancing Joplin's 
Opportunities by Preparing and Leading Instructional Networking, or 
eJOPLIN, which seeks to transform classrooms for all learners through 
high quality teaching powered by technology. The use of taxpayer funds 
is justified because the funding would be used to provide elementary 
school students the opportunity to be in either an eMINTS classroom or 
an eJOPLIN classroom. These classrooms will include one computer for 
every four students, an LCD projector, a laptop computer for the 
teacher, a Smart Board, educational software and a networked printer.
  Account: Museums & Libraries
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Missouri State University
  Address of Requesting Entity: 901 S. National, Springfield, MO 65804
  Description of Request: $143,000 would be used for the Digital 
Archives Initiative: Phase II, which will continue Missouri State 
University's efforts to develop high quality, accessible digital 
collections. The use of taxpayer funds is justified because people in 
Southwest Missouri will have access to larger collections with 
additional important links to Ozarks related people, places, and 
events. To date, grant funds have enabled the department to establish 
and implement a digital imaging program that focuses on important 
regional collections.
  Account: Federal Highway Administration--(TCSP) Transportation & 
Community & System Preservation
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Ozarks Transportation Organization
  Address of Requesting Entity: 117 Park Central Square, Springfield, 
MO 65801
  Description of Request: $237,500 will be used for construction of 
Interchange Improvements at 60/65 including flyover ramps and a grade 
separated railroad crossing. Use of taxpayer funds is justified as this 
is the one of the most important interchanges in the region. There is a 
history of severe accidents and high traffic volumes. The current 
interchange configuration was not intended for the traffic volumes that 
are present.
  Account: Federal Highway Administration--Interstate Maintenance
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: City of Joplin, Missouri
  Address of Requesting Entity: 602 S. Main St. Joplin, MO 64801
  Deception of Request: $152,000 will be used to study the most 
effective way to provide improved access to I-44. The use of taxpayer 
funds is justified because this project will provide access to I-44 for 
the commercial district. The commercial district would become enhanced 
and further developed, which would increase jobs and reduce vacancies 
and blight. The study for purpose and need as well as feasibility and 
location will provide the first step toward constructing this project.
  Account: Federal Highway Administration--(TCSP) Transportation 
Community & System Preservation
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Taney County, Missouri
  Address of Requesting Entity: 127 Main Street, Forsyth, MO 65653
  Description of Request: $427,000 will fund rehabilitation of the 
Route 76 bridge over Lake Taneycomo and a roundabout at the Route 76/
Business Route 65 Interchange in Hollister. The use of taxpayer funds 
is justified as this project will address congestion relief, safety and 
infrastructure maintenance.
  Account: Federal Highway Administration--(TCSP) Transportation & 
Community System Preservation
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Ozarks Transportation Organization
  Address of Requesting Entity: 117 Park Central Square, Springfield, 
MO 65801
  Description of Request: $1,187,500 will be used to fund safety and 
capacity improvements to the Route 60 Bridge over the James River in 
Greene County Missouri. Changing geological conditions have resulted in 
increased unforeseen costs for the project. Use of taxpayer funds is 
justified as this project is a project of regional significance on the 
statewide system. The bridge is being replaced in conjunction with the 
US60/US65 interchange improvement project, which is the number one 
priority within the Springfield region for both the OTO and MoDOT. This 
project already appears in the STIP and is ready to begin in early 
2009.

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