[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 33 (Wednesday, February 25, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E432-E435]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          EARMARK DECLARATION

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MIKE ROGERS

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 25, 2009

  Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, in accordance with the 
Republican Conference standards regarding Member initiatives, I am 
submitting the following information regarding the earmark I received 
as part of H.R. 1105--Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009.
  Requesting Member: Congressman Mike Rogers (AL)
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105
  Account: Labor, Health and Human Services bill, FIPSE account
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, 
Alabama
  Address of Requesting Entity:
  Description of Request: It is my understanding that the funding would 
be used to develop and implement curriculum and research for graduate 
level alternative energy research in the areas of solar, biofuels, 
fuels, and batteries energy.
  Requesting Member: Congressman Mike Rogers (AL)
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105
  Account: Labor, Health and Human Services bill, FIPSE account
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Alabama Institute for the Deaf and 
Blind
  Address of Requesting Entity: 205 East South Street Talladega, 
Alabama 35160
  Description of Request: It is my understanding that the funding would 
be used to develop and implement a collaborative employer training and 
job development program on behalf of the most significantly disabled 
citizens of Alabama. The Employer Education and Employment Development 
Program will target individuals who are deaf, blind and deaf-blind, as 
well as individuals who have developmental disabilities in conjunction 
with sensory impairment. Likewise, the Program will educate employers, 
statewide, on the benefits of hiring persons with disabilities. 
Assistive technology will also be a key dimension of the program for 
both the employer and employees--used to level the professional and 
educational playing field for persons with disabilities and enhance 
long term job performance and stability. This program will be part of a 
comprehensive worker credentialing program that will incorporate 
WorkKeys assessments and a standardized curriculum for basic workplace 
skills. WorkKeys, developed by ACT, is a national system for 
documenting and improving workplace skills. The program consists of 
three primary components: Job Profiling, Assessments and instructional 
support. Currently AIDB is the only known entity in Alabama providing 
this nationally recognized program to individuals with disabilities.
  Requesting Member: Congressman Mike Rogers (AL)
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105
  Account: Labor, Health and Human Services bill, ACF account
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Cherokee County Commission, Alabama 
Address of Requesting Entity: 100 Main Street Room 100 Centre, AL 35960
  Description of Request: It is my understanding that the funding would 
be used to provide a central location where citizens can

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access information and community services that will empower, 
strengthen, improve the quality of life, and promote self-sufficiency 
by striving to meet the physical, emotional, developmental, and 
personal needs of all family members.
  Requesting Member: Congressman Mike Rogers (AL)
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105
  Account: Commerce, Justice, Science, International Trade 
Administration account
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama
  Address of Requesting Entity: 102 Samford Hall Auburn, AL 36849
  Description of Request: It is my understanding that the funding would 
be used to acquire state-of-the-art equipment for polymer 
characterization and processing. Faculty will conduct research on the 
use of novel polymeric materials in transportation, structure, 
construction, and other applications, including nanotechnology. Focus 
will be on development of antimicrobial fibers and films for use in the 
medical industry and personal protective clothing.
  Requesting Member: Congressman Mike Rogers (AL)
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105
  Account: Commerce, Justice, Science, COPS Tech account
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: City of Auburn, Alabama
  Address of Requesting Entity: 144 Tichenor Avenue, Suite 1 Auburn, AL 
36830
  Description of Request: It is my understanding that the funding would 
be used for a mobile data system for Auburn's Police Division. This 
consists of in-car computers and associated equipment (routers, 
wireless networking, e.g.) to equip all of our police vehicles.
  Requesting Member: Congressman Mike Rogers (AL)
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105
  Account: Commerce, Justice, Science, COPS Tech account
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: City and County of Montgomery, 
Alabama
  Address of Requesting Entity: P. O. Box 1111, Montgomery, AL 36101 
and P. O. Box 1667, Montgomery, AL 36102
  Description of Request: It is my understanding that the funding would 
be used to implement an in-car digital video and server solution for 
City of Montgomery police vehicles and Montgomery County sheriff 
vehicles. This system will replace outdated VHS systems that are 
currently in police and sheriff vehicles and provide new installations 
in vehicles that are currently without a system. The ultimate goal is 
to have one upgradeable digital in-car system for the entire fleet and 
a central depository that will provide video evidence for courtroom 
presentation.
  Requesting Member: Congressman Mike Rogers (AL)
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105
  Account: Commerce, Justice, Science, Byrne account
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama
  Address of Requesting Entity: 102 Samford Hall Auburn, AL 36849
  Description of Request: It is my understanding that the funding would 
be used in support of a program to provide local Law Enforcement 
Organizations with state-of-the-art detector-dog team training for 
enhancing public safety. The detector-dog and handler team remain the 
most capable tool for the interdiction of explosive materials and 
illicit drugs. The capability of such teams is entirely dependent upon 
the quality of the dog, the dog's training, and instruction of its 
handler. Auburn University will develop protocols for proper training 
and conditioning of dog-handler teams, evaluate capabilities of canines 
and teams, and additionally provide trained teams for local law 
enforcement in Alabama as a model for national training standards.
  Requesting Member: Congressman Mike Rogers (AL)
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105
  Account: Commerce, Justice, Science, COPS Tech account
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Alabama Department of Corrections, 
Montgomery, Alabama
  Address of Requesting Entity: 301 South Ripley Street, Montgomery, 
Alabama 36104
  Description of Request: It is my understanding that the funding would 
be used for 3D virtual training for officers in high-risk maximum 
security facilities.
  Requesting Member: Congressman Mike Rogers (AL)
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105
  Account: Commerce, Justice, Science, Byrne account
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Alexander City, Alabama
  Address of Requesting Entity: P.O. Box 552, Alexander City, Al. 
35011-0552
  Description of Request: It is my understanding that the funding would 
be used for security upgrades for the old Courthouse building to become 
a functional Police/Judicial Courtroom/Jail facility while still 
maintaining the facility's historic integrity.
  Requesting Member: Congressman Mike Rogers (AL)
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105
  Account: Commerce, Justice, Science, Byrne account
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Montgomery County Commission, 
Alabama
  Address of Requesting Entity: 100 South Lawrence St., Montgomery, AL 
36104 P.O. Box 1667, Montgomery, AL 36102-1667
  Description of Request: It is my understanding that the funding would 
be used for the installation of security cameras and security card 
readers at Courthouse and Annexes, and connection of Annex facilities 
to central monitoring. Sheriff's Office vehicles will be outfitted with 
upgradeable digital in-car video system to provide video evidence for 
courtroom presentation.
  Requesting Member: Congressman Mike Rogers (AL)
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105
  Account: Financial Service, SBA account
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Jacksonville State University, 
Jacksonville, Alabama
  Address of Requesting Entity: Bibb Graves Hall 700 Pelham Road, North 
Jacksonville, AL 36256
  Description of Request: It is my understanding that the funding would 
be used to significantly improve the technology infrastructure that is 
used for teaching and research on the Jacksonville State University 
(JSU) main campus and remote campus locations, and for delivery of 
courses to distance education students that otherwise would not have 
access to university courses. The project will include initiatives to: 
implement improvements to the campus network infrastructure (switches, 
cabling, network appliances, fiber backbone); enhance internet 
connectivity--increase bandwidth available to students, faculty and 
staff for internet access; evaluate capabilities of the 2.5 gigahertz 
frequency channels licensed to JSU by the Federal Communications 
Commission (FCC); acquire hardware and software to develop applications 
that utilize the city-wide fiber network to implement collaborative 
initiatives with local K-12 school systems; and acquire and install 
components to expand the wireless network and internet connectivity 
throughout the campus, to remote campus locations and area schools.
  Requesting Member: Congressman Mike Rogers (AL)
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105
  Account: Agriculture Appropriations bill, Agricultural Research 
Service, Salaries and Expenses account
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Auburn University
  Address of Requesting Entity: 202 Samford Hall Auburn, AL 36849
  Description of Request: It is my understanding that the funding would 
be used for ongoing cooperative research between USDA, Agriculture 
Research Service (ARS) and the Department of Fisheries and Allied 
Aquacultures, Auburn University will develop genomic information. The 
virulence factors and genomic dissection of resistance genes for 
various diseases are very important for the resolution of disease 
problems. The development of a genomic map will provide researchers 
with a road map to development of more disease resistant catfish and 
vaccines that are more effective. The role of Auburn University will be 
to provide assistance, conduct laboratory and field tests at its 
catfish ponds and farms in Alabama. Auburn University has extensive 
catfish ponds and expertise in working with Alabama catfish producers 
on fish health problems.
  Requesting Member: Congressman Mike Rogers (AL)
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105
  Account: Agriculture Appropriations bill, Agricultural Research 
Service, Salaries and Expenses account
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Auburn University
  Address of Requesting Entity: 202 Samford Hall Auburn, AL 36849
  Description of Request: It is my understanding that the funding would 
be used for an ongoing statewide initiative that is coordinated by 
USDA-ARS and the funds are shared with ARS, Auburn University (Agronomy 
and Soils Department & Plant Pathology), Tuskegee University and 
Alabama A&M. The funds to AU, Tuskegee, and A&M support cooperative 
projects working on integration of conservation tillage, precision 
agriculture and management of poultry litter. The AU funding is also 
used to maintain a state of the art soil testing lab and web based 
access information system for producers and homeowners throughout 
Alabama. Increased request for this year is to expand reniform nematode 
research throughout the state, develop more intense mature management 
research and expand research on the development of alternative 
substrates for nursery crop production and biofuel production. Results 
and future plans are made available to commodity groups and discussed 
at formal commodity meetings each fall.

[[Page E434]]

  Requesting Member: Congressman Mike Rogers (AL)
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105
  Account: Agriculture Appropriations bill, Agricultural Research 
Service, Salaries and Expenses account
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Auburn University
  Address of Requesting Entity: 202 Samford Hall Auburn, AL 36849
  Description of Request: It is my understanding that the funding would 
be used for ongoing cooperative research between USDA, Agriculture 
Research Service (ARS) and the Department of Fisheries and Allied 
Aquacultures, Auburn University will develop multivalent vaccines 
against three major concurrent diseases of catfish. Vaccine 
formulations will be developed and laboratory and field tested for the 
absence of inference between the different vaccine components, and to 
be safe and effective against all three diseases. The role of Auburn 
University will be to provide assistance in vaccine formulation, 
conduct laboratory and field tests at its catfish ponds and farms in 
Alabama. Auburn University has extensive catfish ponds and expertise in 
working with Alabama catfish producers on fish health problems and 
vaccination.
  Requesting Member: Congressman Mike Rogers (AL)
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105
  Account: Agriculture Appropriations bill, Cooperative State Research 
Education and Extension Service, Research and education account
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Auburn University
  Address of Requesting Entity: 202 Samford Hall Auburn, AL 36849
  Description of Request: It is my understanding that the funding would 
be used for the Auburn University Research Center on Detection and Food 
Safety. The ARC vision is to improve the safety of the U.S. food system 
by developing the science and engineering required to rapidly identify, 
pinpoint and characterize, through an integration of sensor and 
information technology, problems that arise in the food supply chain.
  Requesting Member: Congressman Mike Rogers (AL)
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105
  Account: Agriculture Appropriations bill, Cooperative State Research 
Education and Extension Service, Research and education account
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Auburn University
  Address of Requesting Entity: 202 Samford Hall Auburn, AL 36849
  Description of Request: It is my understanding that the funding would 
be used in developing geospatial tools to allow more site specific 
management of forests, agriculture, and natural resources. This project 
utilizes geospatial technologies (GPS and GIS) developed by the 
military and aerospace industries to improve the profitability and 
efficiency of the forest products industry, agriculture, and other 
natural resource based enterprises. The project will build on ongoing 
work in Precision Agriculture.
  Requesting Member: Congressman Mike Rogers (AL)
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105
  Account: Agriculture Appropriations bill, Cooperative State Research 
Education and Extension Service, Research and education account
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Auburn University
  Address of Requesting Entity: 202 Samford Hall Auburn, AL 36849
  Description of Request: It is my understanding that the funding would 
be used for the Tri-State Peanut Research to develop data needed to 
accomplish the desired impacts, field trials were established in 
Alabama, Florida and Georgia. Each location conducts similar trials, 
but decisions concerning best management practices vary with soil types 
and required baseline data is collected from each location. Six major 
research sites have been established, two at Auburn's Wiregrass 
Research Center in Headland, Alabama. One is a farm scale 52 acre 
irrigated field and the other is a small replicated experimental site. 
At the University of Georgia's Coastal Plain Experiment Station, 
Tifton, a 12 acre irrigated experimental plot and a 5 acre experimental 
site were established. Three sites were established in Florida, two at 
the North Florida Research and Education Center--a 12 acre site in 
Quincy and a 150 acre site in Marianna. Another 120 acre site was 
established on a grower's field.
  Requesting Member: Congressman Mike Rogers  (AL)
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105
  Account: Energy and Water Appropriations bill, Corps of Engineers, 
section 206 account
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: City of Phenix City, AL
  Address of Requesting Entity: 601 12th Street Phenix City, AL 36867
  Description of Request: It is my understanding that the funding would 
be used to fund the Fall Line Ecosystem Restoration Project to remove 
two small and underutilized dams to restore fish habitat.
  Requesting Member: Congressman Mike Rogers  (AL)
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105
  Account: Energy and Water Appropriations bill, Department of Energy, 
EERE biomass and biorefinery systems R&D account
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Auburn University
  Address of Requesting Entity: 202 Samford Hall Auburn, AL 36849
  Description of Request: It is my understanding that the funding would 
be used by Auburn scientists and engineers to perform integrated 
investigations of the entire biomass to an energy processing system 
using thermochemical approaches. Agricultural and forest researchers 
will optimize the biomass supply chain by testing new methods for 
harvesting, transporting, and processing forest and agricultural 
biomass in preparation for gasification. Scientists and engineers will 
also investigate gasification processes to determine optimal 
gasification configurations and the corresponding operating parameters. 
Another component of this research program will focus on the 
development of cost effective hot gas cleanup technologies necessary 
for production of high quality synthesis gases suitable for power 
generation and liquid fuel production.
  Requesting Member: Congressman Mike Rogers  (AL)
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105
  Account: Interior and Environment Appropriations bill, National Park 
Service, Save America's Treasures account
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Jackson-Community house Historic 
Foundation
  Address of Requesting Entity: 409 South Union Street, Montgomery, AL 
36104
  Description of Request: It is my understanding that the funding would 
be used to complete the third phase of the restoration project of the 
155 year old Jackson-Community house including landscaping, lighting, 
driveways, plants, and window treatments.
  Requesting Member: Congressman Mike Rogers  (AL)
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105
  Account: Interior and Environment Appropriations bill, Environmental 
Protection Agency, STAG water and wastewater infrastructure project 
account
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: City of Alexander City, AL
  Address of Requesting Entity: P.O. Box 552, Alexander City, AL 35011
  Description of Request: It is my understanding that the funding would 
be used to provide connector transmission water mains to provide 
potable water to rapidly developing lakefront areas in south Tallapoosa 
and north Elmore counties that are currently unserved or underserved.
  Requesting Member: Congressman Mike Rogers  (AL)
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105
  Account: Interior and Environment Appropriations bill, Environmental 
Protection Agency, STAG water and wastewater infrastructure project 
account
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: City of Opelika, AL
  Address of Requesting Entity: P.O. Box 390, Opelika, AL 36803
  Description of Request: It is my understanding that the funding would 
be used for construction of a package treatment plant to serve existing 
and future industrial development. This facility will provide the 
needed sewer capabilities at the Industrial Park and other areas around 
1-85. This will increase overall capacity in the City and ensure that 
new industry has the infrastructure it needs immediately upon choosing 
the Opelika Park.
  Requesting Member: Congressman Mike Rogers  (AL)
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105
  Account: Transportation, HUD Appropriations bill, Federal Highway 
Administration, Transportation & Community & System Preservation 
account
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Jacksonville State University
  Address of Requesting Entity: Bibb Graves Hall 700 Pelham Rd, North, 
Jacksonville, AL 36256
  Description of Request: It is my understanding that the funding will 
be used for design and construction of a pedestrian bridge on HWY 21. 
Highway 21 is a major north/south corridor with excessive vehicle and 
truck traffic coupled with student, faculty and other local traffic. 
Pedestrian safety is paramount on a University campus. The design and 
construction of a pedestrian overpass system across State Highway 21 to 
improve and ensure student safety is an integral part of Jacksonville 
State University's Master Campus Plan that includes a safe pedestrian 
student pathway artery linking major campus destinations. The design 
and construction of a pedestrian overpass system will greatly protect 
the students of Jacksonville State University and

[[Page E435]]

improve traffic flow through the city of Jacksonville. Funding would be 
spent in two phases: 1) on design and 2) actual construction of the 
overpass system.
  Requesting Member: Congressman Mike Rogers  (AL)
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105
  Account: Transportation, HUD Appropriations bill, Housing and Urban 
Development, Economic Development Initiatives account
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Pike Road, AL
  Address of Requesting Entity: 4902 Old Pike Road, Pike Road, AL 36064
  Description of Request: It is my understanding that the funding will 
be used for the Town of Pike Road to conduct economic, community, 
transportation, and infrastructure planning, including a study on light 
rail using existing rail lines between Pike Road and Gunter and Maxwell 
Air Force bases. The Town of Pike Road has developed a four-part 
strategic outline that its citizens endorsed at a town hall meeting. 
The plan calls for: (a) visionary community and economic planning; (b) 
excellence in public education; (c) recreation that fits the natural 
resources of the area; and (d) public safety and services that maintain 
a high quality of life.
  Requesting Member: Congressman Mike Rogers  (AL)
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105
  Account: Transportation, HUD Appropriations bill, Housing and Urban 
Development, Economic Development Initiatives accounts
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Valley, Alabama
  Address of Requesting Entity: P.0. 186 Valley, Alabama 36854
  Description of Request: It is my understanding that the funding would 
be used for instillation of elevator to increase access of the 
Sportsplex to the elderly and disabled population.
  Requesting Member: Congressman Mike Rogers  (AL)
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105
  Account: Transportation, HUD Appropriations bill, Federal Highway 
Administration, Interstate Maintenance Discretionary account
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: City of Auburn, AL
  Address of Requesting Entity: 144 Tichenor Avenue, Suite 1, Auburn AL 
36803
  Description of Request: It is my understanding that the funding would 
be used for the development of a 430-acre Auburn Technology Park West, 
including land acquisition and infrastructure construction, both on-
site and off-site. Specifically, federal funding is requested for the 
construction of an extension of West Veterans Boulevard and part of the 
Outer Loop road to connect with the Technology Park. This road 
connection would provide a western connection between the City, the 
Technology Park and a new 1-85 interchange currently being designed. To 
this end, the City has provided $11,300,000 to fund the development of 
the West Technology Park, but we still need additional resources to 
provide the road connectivity needed for access between the Technology 
Park, the City, and the interstate.
  Requesting Member: Congressman Mike Rogers  (AL)
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105
  Account: Transportation, HUD Appropriations bill, Federal Highway 
Administration, Transportation & Community & System Preservation 
account
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: City of Opelika, AL
  Address of Requesting Entity: P.O. Box 390, Opelika, AL 36803
  Description of Request: It is my understanding that the funding would 
be used to plan and design a perimeter or northern transportation 
corridor in Opelika. A northern perimeter is needed due to tremendous 
population growth primarily in the northern sector of Opelika resulting 
from strong economic growth in every sector-residential, commercial, 
and industrial. The corridor would ultimately connect US Highway 280 in 
northeast Opelika with Interstate 85 in northwest Opelika improving 
highway safety, reducing congestion on inner city streets, and connect 
new population centers with the growth of employment opportunities in 
the Northeast Industrial Park.
  Requesting Member: Congressman Mike Rogers  (AL)
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105
  Account: Transportation, HUD Appropriations bill, Federal Aviation 
Administration, Facilities and Equipment account
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Montgomery Airport Authority
  Address of Requesting Entity: 4445 Selma Highway, Montgomery, AL 
36108
  Description of Request: It is my understanding that the funding would 
be used to preserve valuable airport infrastructure. It consists of 
rehabilitation of the pavement structure of the airport's primary 
runway, Runway 10/28, whose condition is beginning to deteriorate. This 
runway is showing signs of advanced deterioration at this time and will 
not last beyond another year or two without major rehabilitation. Since 
airport runways do not receive the level of activity that keeps 
roadways fresh by constantly flexing the asphalt, they tend to oxidize 
and crack over a period of 10-12 years. This runway has not been 
rehabilitated since 1996.

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