[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 33 (Wednesday, February 25, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E416-E418]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          EARMARK DECLARATION

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. FRED UPTON

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 25, 2009

  Mr. UPTON. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership 
standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information for 
publication in the Congressional Record regarding earmarks I received 
as part of HR 1105, the Omnibus spending bill for Fiscal Year 2009.
  Requesting Member: Congressman Fred Upton
  1. Dredging of St. Joseph Harbor
  Department: Army Corps of Engineers
  Account: Operations & Maintenance
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Berrien County, Michigan
  Address of Requesting Entity: Berrien County Administration Center 
701 Main St., St. Joseph, MI 49085
  Description of Request: This request is for securing funds for 
dredging both the inner and outer harbor of St. Joseph, Michigan. The 
inner harbor is a key port for raw materials such as limestone, sand 
and gravel for state highways. Road and building construction projects 
in the area receive a majority of their aggregate materials through the 
three commercial docks located in this harbor. Additionally, it is a 
major hub for recreational boaters, with over 1,600 boat slips. This 
project has been authorized through many WRDA acts, is vital to the 
economic viability of Southwest Michigan, and has the support of the 
entire community. This project is consistent with the mission of the 
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and has been authorized through multiple 
WRDA Acts. Maintaining commerce in St. Joseph Harbor is vital to the 
economic well-being of Southwest Michigan.
  Amount: $793,000
  Financial Breakdown: The entirety of this funding will go towards 
Dredging to 21 feet in

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the entrance and inner channel of the harbor and 18 feet in the inner 
river channel and turning basin. Supplemental funds will be provided by 
Berrien County and local municipalities.
  2. Western Michigan University Geological Carbon Sequestration 
Research and Education Program
  Department: Energy
  Account: Office of Science Biological and Educational Research 
Account Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Western Michigan University 
Address of Requesting Entity: Michigan Avenue, Kalamazoo, MI 49008
  Description of Request: This request is for MICHCARB, a Geological 
Carbon Sequestration Research and Education Program for Michigan. The 
program will develop partnerships with Michigan industry, energy 
utility companies and State and local governments to create and present 
educational and research programs to help government decision makers 
and industry leaders identify and evaluate local and regional potential 
for Geological Carbon Sequestration in deep Michigan geological 
formations. There is a national need to remain competitive in a global 
marketplace by motivating and training geosciences professionals 
skilled in the area of carbon sequestration. Our nation needs to 
explore all options to reduce our dependence on foreign sources of 
energy, and the work being done at the MGRRE is an important step 
toward that goal.
  Amount: $618,475
  Financial Breakdown: Faculty, post doctorate, student and 
professional staff, 36%; materials and supplies for public outreach and 
K-12 classrooms, 13.6%; travel for public outreach and K-12, 5%; 
research analytical services and supplies, 13.6%; piggyback drilling, 
analysis and testing in wells, 31.8%.
  3. Benton Harbor Workforce Transformation Program
  Department: Labor
  Account: Employment and Training Administration Training and 
Employment Services
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Michigan Works Benton Harbor, MI
  Address of Requesting Entity: Michigan Works, 499 W. Main St., Benton 
Harbor, MI 49022
  Description of Request: Michigan Works, a state-supported job 
recruitment and training organization, is starting a job-training 
program designed to work in tandem with the upcoming $500 million 
Harbor Shores mixed-use economic development project being undertaken 
by Benton Harbor. The basic workforce transformation program, which 
would be funded by the monies requested here, includes at least three 
core elements: basic skills training, including workforce literacy 
remediation; skills training for in-demand, high-growth occupations; 
and transitional job services. All activities will be based on proven 
programs administered by workforce training professionals as part of 
the region's existing and ongoing workforce development activities. All 
programs will be designed to reduce the unemployment rate, increase the 
local labor participation rate, increase job readiness, place people 
into jobs, and increase per capita income. These funds are consistent 
with the mission of the Employment and Training Administration. Benton 
Harbor, Michigan is the poorest city in one of the most economically 
challenged states in America. The magnitude of Benton Harbor's problems 
is stunning--a workforce with an average 6th grade literacy level and 
an 80% high school dropout rate by young males. In Benton Harbor 42% of 
the available workers are out of the workforce, a fact exacerbated by 
the lack of basic skills needed to maintain employment which has only 
served as a barrier to attract new employers into the area.
  Amount: $381,000
  Financial Breakdown: The majority of this funding (around 70%) will 
go to staffing services, stipends for program participants, as well as 
literacy remediation services. The remainder of the funding will be 
provided for training scholarships, community outreach, participant 
assessments and support services. Michigan Works will provide 
supplemental funds.
  4. Kalamazoo Community Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services 
Nursing Distance Learning Initiative
  Department: Health
  Account: Health Resources and Services Administration--Health 
Facilities and Services
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Kalamazoo Community Mental Health & 
Substance Abuse Services Address of Requesting Entity: 3299 Gull Rd., 
Kalamazoo, MI 49048
  Description of Request: The Kalamazoo Community Mental Health and 
Substance Abuse Services agency will partner with Wayne State 
University's School of Nursing, the only nursing school in Michigan 
offering an Advanced Psychiatric and Community Public Health Nurse 
Practitioner degree program, to bring the opportunity through the use 
of distance learning technology for nurses in Kalamazoo and surrounding 
communities to participate in this three-year program right in their 
home communities, rather than have to travel all the way across the 
State to Detroit. The plan would provide scholarships to local nurses 
who wish to participate in exchange for a commitment to remain in and 
serve their Southwest Michigan communities. Southwest Michigan is a 
medically underserved area, with a shortage of nurses, and a 
particularly acute shortage of nurses with advanced training to meet 
community mental health needs. The Kalamazoo Community Mental Health 
and Substance Abuse Services Nursing Distance Learning proposal 
promises to be an innovative and successful way to address this 
pressing need.
  Amount: $285,000
  Financial Breakdown: The majority of funding for this project (around 
60%) will go to nursing faculty, with supplemental funding going to 
polycom and video conferencing equipment, as well as scholarships for 
nursing students.
  5. Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport Terminal Improvement 
Project
  Department: Transportation
  Account: FAA--Airport Improvement Program
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Kalamazoo Aeronautics Board of 
Trustees Address of Requesting Entity: 5235 Portage Road, Kalamazoo, MI 
49002
  Description of Request: Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport 
is undergoing the initial planning and design phases for the 
construction of a new terminal building. The existing terminal, built 
in 1958, has undergone three expansion projects during its lifetime and 
is still over capacity and continues to grow. Expansion of terminal 
capacity and enplanement levels is critical for the airport to be able 
to continue to provide efficient service. Additionally, the new 
terminal will be a ``green'' building, and as such, will lower 
operating costs for businesses that utilize it. This request is 
consistent with the mission of the FAA's Airport Improvement Program. 
The terminal has been in the works for years, and will provide much 
needed economic development for Kalamazoo.

  Amount: $1,615,000
  Financial Breakdown: This funding will go toward costs associated 
with construction of the terminal, which is a project totaling 
$34,000,000. A portion of matching funds will be contributed by the 
Airport in the form of bonds; Airport capital; PFC funds; and State of 
Michigan funds.
  6. Kalamazoo Metropolitan Transit Authority Facility Expansion
  Department: Transportation
  Account: FTA--Bus and Bus Facilities
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: City of Kalamazoo
  Address of Requesting Entity: 530 N. Rose St. Kalamazoo, MI 49007
  Description of Request: The Kalamazoo Metro Transit Authority is 
undertaking a facility expansion to accommodate their consolidation of 
all mass transit in the county. The expanded facility will allow the 
new transit authority to more efficiently serve its riders. This 
request is consistent with the mission of the FTA's Bus and Bus 
Facilities account.
  Amount: $950,000
  Financial Breakdown: Proposal includes administrative office 
expansion and vehicle storage for countywide demand/response program 
currently offered by Kalamazoo Metro Transit. Kalamazoo is providing 
their required matching funds.
  7. St. Joseph County Bus Replacement and Software Purchase
  Department: Transportation
  Account: FTA--Bus and Bus Facilities
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: St. Joseph County Transportation 
Authority
  Address of Requesting Entity: 810 Webber Avenue, St. Joseph, MI 49093
  Description of Request: The St. Joseph County Transportation 
Authority is seeking to replace one medium-duty bus that has met its 
useful life and is in need of replacement. They will also use a small 
part of the request for the purchase of new routing software to improve 
the efficiency of scheduling and bus routing. This request is 
consistent with the mission of the FTA's Bus and Bus Facilities 
account.
  Amount: $142,500
  Financial Breakdown: Most of the money ($115,000) will be used to 
purchase one medium duty bus. The rest of the money will be used for 
upgraded routing software. St. Joseph County will be providing their 
required matching funds.
  8. Van Buren County Bus Replacement and Routing Software Purchase
  Department: Transportation
  Account: FTA--Bus and Bus Facilities
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Van Buren County Public Transit
  Address of Requesting Entity: 610 David Walton Dr., Bangor, MI 49079
  Description of Request: The Van Buren County Transportation Authority 
is seeking to replace one medium-duty bus that has met its useful life 
and is in need of replacement. They will also use a small part of the 
request for the purchase of new routing software to improve the 
efficiency of scheduling and bus routing.

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This request is consistent with the mission of the FTA's Bus and Bus 
Facilities account.
  Amount: $142,500
  Financial Breakdown: Most of the money ($115,000) will be used to 
purchase one medium duty bus. The rest of the money will be used for 
upgraded routing software. Van Buren County will be providing their 
required matching funds.
  9. Niles Dial-a-Ride Bus Acquisition
  Department: Transportation
  Account: FTA--Bus and Bus Facilities
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: City of Niles
  Address of Requesting Entity: 623 N. Second St., Niles, MI 49120
  Description of Request: The City of Niles is seeking to purchase two 
medium-sized busses to accommodate a new route that will stop at all 
major retail centers between Niles, MI and South Bend, IN. This request 
is consistent with the mission of the FTA's Bus and Bus Facilities 
account.
  Amount: $228,000
  Financial Breakdown: The entirety of this money will be used to 
purchase two medium-sized busses. The city of Niles will be providing 
their required matching funds.
  10. Apple Fire Blight
  Department: Agriculture
  Account: Cooperative State Research Education and Extension Service
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Michigan State University
  Address of Requesting Entity:
  Description of Request: Fire Blight is a major threat to Michigan's 
apple trees and has reduced apple acreage in Michigan by an astounding 
24%. Michigan and New York researchers are taking aggressive measures 
against fire blight including development of blight-resistant varieties 
and new, environmentally responsible control strategies. Finding ways 
to control and curb fire blight is of critical importance to apple 
growers in my district and elsewhere. This research is very promising, 
and its results will help apple growers significantly increase their 
yields.
  Amount: $346,000
  Financial Breakdown: Approximately, $148,000 is for the salaries of 
laboratory and field research personal; and $36,000 is for materials 
and supplies. Michigan State University has obtained funding from the 
Michigan Apple Committee and industry sources and will continue to fund 
the tire blight research at MSU at a level of $52,500 in FY09.
  12. Phytopthora Research
  Department: Agriculture
  Account: Cooperative State Research Education and Extension Service
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Michigan State University
  Address of Requesting Entity:
  Description of Request: Researchers at Michigan State University are 
leaders in the fight to control Phytophthora capsici, a fungal-like 
pathogen that lives in the soil and causes numerous plants to rot. 
Phytophthora management has been complicated by its longevity in soils 
(10 or more years), its ability to spread in water, its resistance to a 
key fungicides and lack of disease resistant varieties. Michigan State 
University has developed new techniques for control and resistant 
varieties. However, losses caused by Phytophthora have become so large 
throughout the nation in recent years that the economic viability of 
the vegetable industries in many states is at risk, and more research 
is necessary. Since 1996, researchers have leveraged private, state and 
federal funds to significantly advance disease management. The 
widespread crop loss caused by Phytophthora capsici will be lessened, 
keeping family farms and their communities viable. Spread of 
Phytophthora to new sites will be stopped. Ways to remediate/treat 
infested ground and water sources will be identified. Integrated 
management strategies that emphasize cultural methods and 
environmentally friendly practices will be developed.
  Amount: $346,000
  Financial Breakdown: This money will provide 346,000 in funding for 
Phytophthora research at Michigan State University. Approximately 85 
percent of the funding will go to researchers, technicians and 
students. Approximately 15 percent will be used for materials, supplies 
and administration. Michigan State University has received outside 
sources of funding for Phytophthora research as well. This funding is 
consistent with the authorized purpose of the Cooperative State 
Research, Education and Extension Service.

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