[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 33 (Wednesday, February 25, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E405-E408]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          EARMARK DECLARATION

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. HOWARD P. ``BUCK'' McKEON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 25, 2009

  Mr. McKEON. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership 
standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information 
regarding Member priority requests I received as part of H.R. 1105, the 
``Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009.''
  Requesting Member: Congressman Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105, Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009
  Account: Department of Justice, Juvenile Justice Programs
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: The City of Victorville
  Address of Requesting Entity: 14343 Civic Drive, PO Box 5001, 
Victorville, CA 92393
  Description of Request: I requested and received a Member priority 
request totaling $82,500 to assist with the Uturn Gang Prevention 
Program evaluation and assessment component. Uturn Gang Prevention 
Program will focus on elementary school age at-risk youth, along with 
their immediate families. The focal point will be three areas of 
accountability: home, school and community. The Uturn program aims to 
work with at-risk families willing to make a two-year commitment to 
involvement in services. The goal is to develop at risk children's full 
personal potential so that they will not be attracted to gang 
involvement.
  The City of Victorville will contract evaluation and assessment 
services through California State University San Bernardino, College of 
Social and Behavioral Sciences, Department of Social Work. Evaluation 
and assessment services will track participants' behavioral changes, 
school attendance, communication skills, academic trends, family 
involvement, and communication skill sets.
  Ultimately this program will evaluate and assess the individual and 
collective development of the youth and families. This program will 
enhance the family structure and strengthen values. The progress of the 
program participants will be tracked every 6 months for a two year 
period insuring behavioral, emotional and family stability. The success 
of the program insuring gang life will be less attractive and 
irrelevant to the youth.
  Requesting Member: Congressman Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105, Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009
  Account: Department of Justice, Law Enforcement and Interoperable 
Program (COPS Technology)
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: City of Palmdale, California
  Address of Requesting Entity: 38300 Sierra Highway, Palmdale, CA 
93550
  Description of Request: I requested and received a Member priority 
request totaling $100,000 for the City of Palmdale's Technology 
Acquisition for Joint Law Enforcement Emergency Operations Center. The 
City of Palmdale is vulnerable to earthquake and fire disasters, which 
have been identified in the City's local hazard mitigation plan. While 
the City has an emergency operations center, it is currently inadequate 
to accommodate a full-scale deployment of staffing to respond to a 
catastrophic event.

[[Page E406]]

  Additionally, the City's contract law enforcement agency, the Los 
Angeles County Sheriff's Department, does not currently have a 
departmental operations center that is adequate to service their needs 
in a disaster. The new site will allow the City flexibility in its 
response, a larger facility to accommodate joint operations between the 
City of Palmdale, the Los Angeles County Fire Department and Los 
Angeles County Sheriff's Department. This project will allow the City 
of Palmdale to better respond to natural or man-made disasters. It will 
provide an alternate facility to be jointly used by the City, law, and 
fire branches.
  Requesting Member: Congressman Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105, Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009 Account: 
Department of Justice, Juvenile Justice
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: CASA of Los Angeles County
  Address of Requesting Entity: CASA of Los Angeles County, Lancaster 
office, 1040 West Avenue J, Room 1130 Lancaster, CA 93534-3329
  Description of Request: I requested and received a Member priority 
request totaling $300,000 for the Court Appointed Special Advocates 
(CASA) of Los Angeles County Lancaster program. The funding is 
specifically to recruit and train additional CASA volunteers to provide 
advocacy services to 120 additional abused and neglected foster 
children in the Antelope Valley area. CASA of Los Angeles County will 
provide any required match for this program.
  CASA of Los Angeles services the needs of abused and neglected 
children in the foster care system through the recruitment, training, 
supervision and support of community volunteers who investigate the 
circumstances of each child, facilitate the provisions of services, 
monitor compliance with the orders of the court and advocate for the 
best interests of the child.
  Requesting Member: Congressman Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105, Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009
  Account: Environmental Protection Agency, State and Tribal Assistance 
Grants
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: The City of Barstow
  Address of Requesting Entity: 220 East Mountain View Street, Suite A, 
Barstow, CA 92311
  Description of Request: I requested and received a Member priority 
request totaling $500,000 to assist with the City of Barstow Sewer 
Master Plan Implementation, Phase II. This project involves 
constructing de-nitrification facilities at the City's wastewater 
reclamation facility (WRF) to reduce effluent nitrate levels and expand 
and upgrade the WRF from a secondary to a tertiary treatment facility. 
This project is critical to reducing the amount of nitrate pollution 
generated by the City's WRF and mitigating the overdraft of the Mojave 
River basin, the Southern California High Desert Region's sole natural 
source of water. In FY08, the City of Barstow received $500,000 to 
partially fund the de-nitrification facility construction. The FY09 
funding will be used to fund the balance of the construction of the de-
nitrification facility. The City of Barstow will provide a minimum of a 
50/50 cost share for the remaining funding.
  Requesting Member: Congressman Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105, Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009
  Account: USDA Forest Service, Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF)
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Pacific Crest Trail Association
  Address of Requesting Entity: 5325 Elkhorn Blvd., PMB 256, 
Sacramento, CA 95842
  Description of Request: I requested and received a Member priority 
request totaling $500,000 to assist the Pacific Crest Trail Association 
(PCTA) with land acquisition to protect public access to the The 
Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). Land acquisition would occur in the 
following areas: Agua Dulce/Soledad Canyon, CA to relocate the trail 
off dangerous roadway, Pilot Rock, OR to aquire privately owned parcels 
from willing sellers within the Cascade Siskiyou National Monument that 
include the PCT, Plum Creek Timberlands, WA to protect the trail 
corridor from development pressures, Tejon Ranch, CA to reroute the 
trail from the temporary Mojave Desert route to the originally proposed 
crest route, and for program administration.
  The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) is the western treasure of America's 
scenic trails, spanning 2,650 miles from Mexico to Canada through 
California, Oregon and Washington. Thousands of hikers and equestrians 
enjoy this national treasure each year. The need for federal assistance 
is apparent as the PCT crosses or is near 26 National Forests, 7 
National Parks, 5 State Parks, 4 Bureau of Land Management resource 
areas, and several state and county parks and has been a part of the 
National Trail System since October 2, 1968.
  Requesting Member: Congressman Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105, Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009
  Account: Department of Health and Human Services, Healthcare 
Resources Service Agency
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital
  Address of Requesting Entity: 23845 McBean Parkway, Valencia, CA 
91355
  Description of Request: I requested and received a Member priority 
request totaling $333,000 to assist Henry Mayo Hospital with the design 
and construction of a helipad at the hospital necessary to provide 
emergency care for over 680 square miles of the diverse geography of 
north Los Angeles County, which is one of the fastest growing 
communities in the nation. Funding will allow the hospital to maintain 
its relationship with L.A. County trauma system also assist with flight 
safety and efficiency upgrades to existing infrastructure.
  Requesting Member: Congressman Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105, Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009
  Account: Department of Education, Higher Education Account (FIPSE)
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: College of the Canyons
  Address of Requesting Entity: 26455 Rockwell Canyon Road, Santa 
Clarita, CA 91355, USA
  Description of Request: I requested and received a Member priority 
request totaling $238,000 to increase access to higher education and 
advanced training through The College of the Canyons University Center 
Consortium. The Consortium will support economic development by 
providing advanced education and training for the local work force, 
making the State of California a more competitive and stable area. 
Single parents and working adults who must commute to other areas in 
which universities are located, often experience barriers to pursuing 
education including childcare, work schedules and geographic barriers.
  The University Center Consortium was created to create model programs 
to remove these barriers. The consortium is requesting funding to 
increase the number of bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs 
available in participating communities by 50 within 3 years, increase 
the number of students pursuing their higher education degree to more 
than 1,000 annually within 3 years, disseminate specific information on 
the University Center model including evaluation of best practices to 
at least 100 colleges annually, further development of University 
Centers at College of the Canyons, Canada College, and Shasta College, 
develop model agreements, handbooks, and planning documents that can be 
shared with any interested college statewide and nationally, evaluate 
characteristics of successful university centers within the context of 
local community needs and disseminate information about successful 
practices through the Web, an annual conference for colleges with 
existing programs as well as colleges interested in developing new 
programs, and University Center Briefs highlighting challenges, 
experiences and best practices.
  Requesting Member: Congressman Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105, Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009
  Account: Department of Health and Human Services, Healthcare 
Resources Service Agency
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Victor Valley Community Hospital
  Address of Requesting Entity: 15248 11th St. Victorville, CA 92395
  Description of Request: I requested and received a Member priority 
request totaling $143,000 to assist Victor Valley Community Hospital 
with a Healthcare Modernization and Technical Advancements program. 
Specifically funding will purchase MRI Equipment, CT Scan equipment, 
and help cover Integration and Implementation, personnel, and training 
costs. Furthermore, the funding would be used for advanced services 
such as arthritis care, behavioral health and counseling, community 
wellness programs, poison control, and senior health services.
  The hospital would like to improve access to state-of-the art 
healthcare for members of the community. As such, modernization and 
advancement is required to ensure the residents of the Victor Valley 
receive quality medical treatment in a timely fashion.
  Requesting Member: Congressman Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105, Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009
  Account: Department of Transportation, Federal Highway 
Administration, Surface Transportation Projects
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: City of Palmdale, California
  Address of Requesting Entity: 38300 Sierra Highway, Palmdale, CA 
93550
  Description of Request: I requested and received a Member priority 
request totaling $475,000 to help the City of Palmdale, CA complete 
Phase I of the Rancho Vista Boulevard (Avenue P) project, which is a 
regionally

[[Page E407]]

significant transportation corridor that provides primary access to 
Palmdale Regional Airport and U.S. Air Force Plant 42. The City of 
Palmdale will use the federal funds for construction to increase safety 
and capacity of a 2.7-mile section of Rancho Vista Boulevard between 
SR-14 and 20th Street East; specifically the highly congested \3/4\-
mile section between 3rd Street East and 10th Street East. Project is 
in the RTIP/FTIP. Federal funds have been used in design, and 
additional Federal funds, in the amount of $2.8 million (SAFETEA-LU), 
have already been secured for construction of Phase One. In addition, 
Phase I local funds include approximately $240,000 in Local funds and 
approximately $343,000 in STP-L (State Transportation Program--Local 
federal-aid funds), from FFY 2002-03 through FFY 2006-07, with 
additional $400,000 programmed in FFY 07-08, will be expended in 
design, environmental documentation, right-of-way acquisition, utility 
relocation and railroad coordination.
  Requesting Member: Congressman Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105, Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009
  Account: Department of Transportation, Federal Highway 
Administration, Transportation and Community and Systems Preservation
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: The City of Barstow
  Address of Requesting Entity: 220 East Mountain View Street, Suite A, 
Barstow, CA 92311
  Description of Request: I requested and received a Member priority 
request totaling $237,500 to assist with the City of Barstow Lenwood 
Road Grade Separation Project. This $23 million multi-year project 
involves the design and construction of a grade-separated railroad 
crossing to eliminate time delays experienced by vehicular traffic. The 
Lenwood Road Grade Separation project is a key component of the Alameda 
Corridor East Grade Separation Project, a national goods movement plan 
for the movement of goods from the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. 
The funding received in FY09 will be used to start up the preliminary 
engineering and environmental assessment components of the project, 
totaling $1.6 million. The City of Barstow will provide a minimum of a 
50/50 cost share for the remaining $23 million, and this funding will 
come directly from the City, San Bernardino County, and other local 
government agencies.
  Requesting Member: Congressman Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105, Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009
  Account: Department of Transportation, Federal Transit 
Administration, Bus and Bus Facilities
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: City of Palmdale, California
  Address of Requesting Entity: 38300 Sierra Highway, Palmdale, CA 
93550
  Description of Request: I requested and received a Member priority 
request totaling $380,000 for the City of Palmdale's Transportation 
Center to expand the train platform to accommodate the need for 
additional Metrolink train cars. The project provides for an extension 
of the existing Metrolink platform by 170 feet, from 510 feet to 680 
feet, to conform to current Metrolink standards, which were adopted 
after construction of the center. Construction of 170 feet of platform 
would also include shelters, lighting, signage and drainage. Since 
2005, the number of visitors has increased dramatically, especially 
Metrolink train riders. It is estimated that the train riders occupy 
80% of the available parking spaces at the Center (approximately 600 of 
the 730 spaces).
  Metrolink estimates that there are 6,100 riders during the weekday 
and that number is anticipated to grow 6-8% each year, necessitating 
additional train cars. Currently the train platform can only 
accommodate 6 Metrolink train cars (which is the current configuration 
for this line), while the latest standards call for a train platform to 
accommodate 8 train cars (the platform was constructed to Metrolink's 
standards in effect at the time). Local funding for the project 
includes: $5.64 million from Metropolitan Transportation Authority 
(Metro); $320,000 from Antelope Valley Air Quality District; $208,000 
from Antelope Valley Transit Authority; $200,000 from Los Angeles 
County; and $129,000 from Antelope Valley Union High School District.
  Requesting Member: Congressman Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105, Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009
  Account: Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, 
Training and Employment Services
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: City of Palmdale, California
  Address of Requesting Entity: 38300 Sierra Highway, Palmdale, CA 
93550
  Description of Request: I requested and received a Member priority 
request totaling $238,000 for the City of Palmdale and the South Valley 
WorkSource Center (SVWC) to further develop and fully implement the 
second year of the Business Resource Network. In early 2008, the City 
of Palmdale was notified of being awarded $147,000 ($360,000 was 
requested) toward the first year start-up of this program. It is an 
economic development support program that will connect area small 
businesses to organized public and private business resources offered 
by the South Valley WorkSource, Business Advisory Board, private sector 
partners, business and economic development organizations, educational 
institutions, City Government Business Outreach Department, and 
Department of Rehabilitation. This project will address the need to 
increase and augment business recruitment and retention of small 
businesses (1 to 25 employees) in the City of Palmdale and surrounding 
areas. The project will enhance connections between area firms and 
available public and private business resources, which are designed to 
increase worker skills preparedness, reduce the potential for employee 
lay-offs and business closures, and promote continuing local economic 
development and growth.
  Requesting Member: Congressman Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105, Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009
  Account: Department of the Interior, Environmental Protection Agency, 
State and Tribal Assistant Grants, Training and Employment Services
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: County of Los Angeles Department of 
Public Works
  Address of Requesting Entity: 900 South Fremont Avenue, Alhambra, CA 
91803-1331
  Description of Request: I requested and received a Member priority 
request totaling $900,000 for the County of Los Angeles Department of 
Public Works consisting to construct Phase 1B of the North Los Angeles 
County Regional Recycled Water Project (Regional Project). 
Approximately 8.5 miles of 24-inch-diameter recycled water pipeline, a 
1.5 million-gallon storage reservoir, and a pump station will be 
constructed to add to Phase lA of the Regional Project that was 
previously constructed cooperatively by the City of Lancaster and Los 
Angeles County Waterworks District No. 40, Antelope Valley (District). 
Phase 1B will add a recycled water pipeline that runs along Division 
Street to Avenue K, along Sierra Highway to Rancho Vista Boulevard, and 
along Rancho Vista Boulevard to 10th Street West. The storage reservoir 
will be constructed at an existing tank site near Rancho Vista 
Boulevard and 10th Street West, and the pump station will be 
constructed near Avenue E and Division Street.
  Phase 1B represents a critical component of the estimated $120 
million Regional Project to construct a recycled water backbone 
distribution system to serve the cities of Lancaster, Palmdale, and 
surrounding unincorporated communities in the Antelope Valley. Phase 1B 
includes the necessary infrastructure to serve recycled water to 
customers with identified uses for 2 billion gallons of recycled water 
per year. The beneficial use of recycled water will increase the 
reliability of the Antelope Valley's limited water supplies, decrease 
reliance on imported water and local groundwater supplies, and provide 
a viable means for reusing treated wastewater.
  The County's request for the project will be matched by $17.5 million 
in non-Federal funds.
  Requesting Member: Congressman Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105, Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009
  Account: Army Corps of Engineers, Construction
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Castaic Lake Water Agency (CLWA)
  Address of Requesting Entity: 27234 Bouquet Canyon Road, Santa 
Clarita, CA 91350
  Description of Request: I requested and received a Member priority 
request totaling $1.148 million to implement the cleanup of perchlorate 
groundwater contamination at the former Whittaker-Bermite site in the 
City of Santa Clarita. Characterization studies and treatment system 
design have been completes by December 2008 and commencement of 
operations to clean up the contaminated groundwater from the wells is 
anticipated to start by January 2009. CLWA will provide in-kind 
services amounting to at least $2,156,000. This project was authorized 
as part of H.R. 1495, the Water Resources Development Act of 2007, and 
has received a total of $10,651,000 from FY 2001-FY 2008.
  Requesting Member: Congressman Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105, Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009
  Account: Army Corps of Engineers, Investigations
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: The City of Santa Clarita
  Address of Requesting Entity: 23920 Valencia Blvd. #300 Santa 
Clarita, CA 91355
  Description of Request: I requested and received a Member priority 
request totaling

[[Page E408]]

$239,000 to continue with the initial Project Management Plan component 
of the Feasibility Phase of the Santa Clara River Study being conducted 
with the Army Corps of Engineers. Work being funded would include a 
groundwater characterization study, public outreach and partnership 
formation with key community groups, development of baseline data, and 
environmental studies. In November 2002, the Army Corps of Engineers 
approved the Santa Clara River Reconnaissance Study. The study's focus 
includes potential habitat restoration, flood protection and ancillary 
recreation opportunities for the Santa Clara River, located in Southern 
California.
  Requesting Member: Congressman Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105, Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009
  Account: Department of Transportation, Federal Highway 
Administration, Transportation and Community and Systems Preservation
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: The City of Santa Clarita
  Address of Requesting Entity: 23920 Valencia Blvd. #300 Santa 
Clarita, CA 91355
  Description of Request: I requested and received a Member priority 
request totaling $570,000 to complete the last remaining section of the 
Cross Valley Connector. The last portion of this vital highway project 
consists of an 1100-foot bridge over the Santa Clara River. The bridge 
recently completed an environmental review and construction commenced 
in the fall of 2008 with completion expected in early 2010. This 
request is consistent with the intended purposes and authorization of 
the Federal highway Administration as it fulfills local transportation 
planning. The project will provide much needed regional congestive 
relief as well as provide additional capacity.
  Requesting Member: Congressman Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105, Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009
  Account: Department of Transportation, Federal Highway 
Administration, Transportation and Community and Systems Preservation
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: The Autry National Center for the 
American West
  Address of Requesting Entity: 23920 Valencia Blvd. #300 Santa 
Clarita, CA 91355
  Description of Request: I requested and received a Member priority 
request totaling $167,000 for the Autry National Center for the 
American West. This funding would assist with the construction of a new 
Southwest Museum facility at the Museum's Griffith Park campus.
  Support will allow the design and creation of new facilities along 
with planning, design, and public programming of educational immersion 
environments and visible collections storage. These interactive spaces 
will allow the Autry to teach local, national, and international 
visitors about the many diverse cultures who have shaped the American 
West.

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