[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 33 (Wednesday, February 25, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E456-E458]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          EARMARK DECLARATION

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. J. RANDY FORBES

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 25, 2009

  Mr. FORBES. Madam Speaker, consistent with Republican earmark 
standards, the following are detailed finance plans for each of my 
requested projects in H.R. 1105, the Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009:
  Requesting Member: Congressman J. Randy Forbes
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105
  Account: Commerce-Justice-Science, OJP Byrne JAG discretionary grants
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: City of Suffolk, Virginia
  Address of Requesting Entity: 441 Market Street, Suffolk, Virginia 
23434
  Description of Request: Provides $200,000 for the Suffolk Initiative 
on Youth (SIY) Crime Prevention Plan, which is a comprehensive effort 
to address youth crime and gang involvement in the City of Suffolk, 
Virginia. Over the last five years, the City of Suffolk has witnessed a 
significant rise in youth crime and violence, including assaults, 
burglary, property crimes, and homicide. In 2006, the Suffolk City 
Council appointed a task force of over 30 representatives of city 
agencies, local law enforcement, youth service providers, business 
leaders, faith-based organizations, teachers, parents, and youth to 
develop recommendations for developing positive alternatives to crime 
for Suffolk's youth. Among the recommendations is the creation of an 
Office on Youth, youth workforce development initiatives, new 
afterschool programs, and gang prevention awareness.
  Requesting Member: Congressman J. Randy Forbes
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105
  Account: Commerce-Justice-Science, COPS law enforcement technology
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Chesterfield County, Virginia
  Address of Requesting Entity: 9901 Lori Road, Chesterfield, Virginia 
23832
  Description of Request: Provides $300,000 to purchase a variety of 
technology related projects to upgrade outdated systems and improve 
operations. These projects include installing cameras, portable 
interoperability radio bridge system, watch tower, driving simulator 
and other law enforcement projects.
  Requesting Member: Congressman J. Randy Forbes
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105
  Account: Commerce-Justice-Science, OJP Byrne JAG discretionary grants
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: City of Chesapeake, Virginia
  Address of Requesting Entity: 306 Cedar Road, Chesapeake, Virginia 
23322
  Description of Request: Provides $100,000 for a Gang Coordinator 
within the Police Department and community prosecutor program to 
develop a comprehensive prevention, suppression and intervention 
strategies related to gangs and gang-related crimes. The City's law 
enforcement efforts need to be supplemented with front and back-end 
deterrence efforts. The Chesapeake Police Department estimates in 2006 
that there were 26 identified gangs in Chesapeake, with an estimated 
2,000 members. This number represents a significant increase from 15 
identified gangs with 1,300 estimated members in 2005. In recent years, 
there has been an observed increase in the presence of all-female and 
Hispanic gangs, with four of each now identified. The Police 
Department's Intelligence Unit has identified numerous major gangs and 
their affiliates operating throughout all five precincts within the 
City. In response to the identification of major gang activity, in May 
2006 the Mayor and City Council appointed the Mayor's Task Force for 
the Prevention of Gangs. The Task Force is comprised of community 
leaders representing major stakeholder organizations.
  Requesting Member: Congressman J. Randy Forbes
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105
  Account: Energy and Water, Operations and Maintenance
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: City of Chesapeake, Virginia
  Address of Requesting Entity: 306 Cedar Road, Chesapeake, Virginia 
23322
  Description of Request: Supports $1,692,000 in the President's budget 
request for the Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal (ACC), on the Atlantic 
Intracoastal Waterway, which is a naturally protected navigation route 
between the Southern Branch of the Elizabeth River and the VA-NC state 
line in the North Landing River, a distance of 27 miles. The ACC is of 
critical importance to transportation, especially to the U.S. Navy 
which transported over 55 million gallons of jet fuel yearly from the 
Craney Island to Oceana Naval Air Station in Virginia Beach. Failure to 
fund the ACC will result in the Navy being unable to meet the fuel 
demand of the Oceana Naval Station. The Navy has stated that trucking 
this much fuel would not be feasible on a long-term basis. In addition, 
commercial and recreation vessels travel the ACC in lieu of the 
Atlantic Ocean to prevent entry into the dangerous waters off Cape 
Hatteras. An average of over 1,000,000 tons of commerce passed though 
the Great Bridge Lock yearly. Funds will be used to continue to operate 
the navigation lock, swing bridge, and canal.
  Requesting Member: Congressman J. Randy Forbes
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105
  Account: Energy and Water, Operations and Maintenance
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Petersburg, Virginia
  Address of Requesting Entity: Petersburg, Virginia
  Description of Request Provides $527,000 for the Army Corps of 
Engineers to dredge the Appomattox River to restore the River's 
navigability. The dredging of the Navigation Channel will be of benefit 
to the region in that it will: (1) restore the Appomattox River to the 
free-flowing, fully navigable river that it was until the late 1970's; 
(2) reconnect the City's harbor to the navigable portions of the 
Appomattox River; (3) serve as a catalyst for the commercial and 
residential revitalization of historic downtown Petersburg; (4) enhance 
local and regional tourism and recreational opportunities; and (5) 
improve the environmental condition of the Appomattox River.
  Requesting Member: Congressman J. Randy Forbes
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105
  Account: Energy and Water, Investigations
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: City of Chesapeake, Virginia
  Address of Requesting Entity: 306 Cedar Road, Chesapeake, Virginia 
23322
  Description of Request: Provides $59,000 for the Dismal Swamp and 
Dismal Swamp Canal. The remnants of Hurricane Floyd (13 September 1999) 
caused significant flooding in the city of Chesapeake and the 
surrounding region. The Dismal Swamp is maintained as a swamp by fixed 
weirs across the drainage ditches to restrict the flow of water out of 
the swamp and inward to Lake Drummond in the middle of the Dismal 
Swamp. The water exiting Lake Drummond through a feeder ditch is used 
to maintain the level of water in the Dismal Swamp Canal, a portion of 
the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. When Lake Drummond spilled from its 
banks due to heavy rains, it inundated areas of the City. The public 
perceives that the Corps may have prevented or minimized the flooding 
by diverting the floodwaters from Lake Drummond through the navigation 
locks at Deep Creek, Virginia, and at South Mills, North Carolina. The 
feasibility study will address these concerns as well as opportunities 
to provide for environmental restoration.
  Requesting Member: Congressman J. Randy Forbes
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105
  Account: Energy and Water, Investigations
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: City of Chesapeake, Virginia
  Address of Requesting Entity: 306 Cedar Road, Chesapeake, Virginia 
23322
  Description of Request: Provides $478,000 for the Atlantic 
Intracoastal Waterway Bridge at Deep Creek, Virginia. The bridge, 
constructed in 1934, is a federally owned and operated facility and 
assists in navigation. The bridge passes over the Dismal Swamp Canal 
where U.S. Route 17 crosses in the city of Chesapeake. The city of 
Chesapeake requested the need to modify or replace the bridge. In 
October 1996, the approved Initial Appraisal concluded that the bridge 
is functionally obsolete because of its narrow roadway and poor 
alignment with the connecting roads, compounded by increasing traffic 
volumes. Nine pieces of fire apparatus are currently allowed to cross 
the bridge only during emergency situations. The preliminary plan is to 
replace the bridge with a five lane, split leaf pit bascule bridge. The 
City of Chesapeake (local sponsor) will assume ownership and OMRR&R 
responsibilities of the new bridge.
  Requesting Member: Congressman J. Randy Forbes

[[Page E457]]

  Bill Number: H.R. 1105
  Account: Energy and Water, Investigations
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: City of Franklin, Virginia
  Address of Requesting Entity: City of Franklin, Virginia
  Description of Request: Provides $96,000 for the Chowan River Basin. 
There are no federal flood control projects in the Chowan River Basin. 
In many locations within the basin, six of the top 10 historical high 
water marks have occurred from 1998 forward, including the flood of 
record (Hurricane Floyd in 1999), October 2006 cold core upper level 
low (second highest), and Hurricane Isabel in 2003 (5th highest). 
Damages from these storm events have ranged from $10M to over $100M 
(February 2008 dollars). The reconnaissance study will evaluate the 
Federal interest in ways to protect the water resources of this highly 
productive basin with particular emphasis on restoring wetlands and 
forested buffers lost from erosion and flooding, reducing flood damages 
throughout the basin, and improving navigation and to determine the 
Federal interest in conducting a more detailed feasibility study.
  Requesting Member: Congressman J. Randy Forbes
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105
  Account: Energy and Water, Operations and Maintenance
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: City of Chesapeake, Virginia
  Address of Requesting Entity: 306 Cedar Road, Chesapeake, Virginia 
23322
  Description of Request: Provides $898,000 to support the President's 
budget request for the Dismal Swamp Canal. The Dismal Swamp Canal on 
the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway is a naturally protected navigation 
route that parallels the Atlantic coast. The canal is the oldest 
operating artificial waterway in the United States. The DSC was placed 
on the National Register of Historical Places and registered as an ASCE 
Landmark in 1988 and in 2004 it was included in the National Park 
Service's Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Program. The 
authorized depth of the canal is 10 foot; however, the project is 
currently maintained at 6-7 feet. The DSC provides navigation needs for 
vessels to travel the protected waterways of the AIWW in lieu of 
traveling through the Currituck Sound. The project also consists of one 
highway drawbridge and navigation lock, one highway drawbridge and 
navigation lock, and three water control structures. Funds will be used 
to continue to operate the low level water control structures, 
navigation locks, bridges, and canal and perform some critical backlog 
maintenance.
  Requesting Member: Congressman J. Randy Forbes
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105
  Account: Energy and Water, Investigations
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: City of Chesapeake, Virginia
  Address of Requesting Entity: 306 Cedar Road, Chesapeake, Virginia 
23322
  Description of Request: Provides $93,000 to support the President's 
budget request for the Elizabeth River. The study area encompasses the 
entire Elizabeth River Basin. Urban, rural, industrial, and residential 
areas blend together along the Elizabeth River and its branches. More 
than 13,000 vessels use the Elizabeth River annually, many while 
navigating the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. Three hundred years of 
industry and commerce have made the river one of the nation's most 
contaminated waterways. Only limited wetlands in the 20-mile reach 
remain to support wildlife and filter pollution. This sub-estuary of 
the Chesapeake Bay provides spawning grounds for fish, habitat for rare 
terns, peregrine falcons and great egrets, and mud flats for shellfish. 
In 1993 the Chesapeake Bay Program identified the Elizabeth River as a 
``Region of Concern''--targeting it as one of three sites in the Bay 
watershed where contaminants pose the greatest threat to natural 
resources. Phase I consists of the sediment remediation for the 
Scuffletown Creek site.
  Requesting Member: Congressman J. Randy Forbes
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105
  Account: Interior & Environment, National Park Service, Save 
America's Treasures
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: City of Petersburg, Virginia
  Address of Requesting Entity: 135 N. Union Street, Room 202, 
Petersburg, Virginia 23803
  Description of Request: Provides $150,000 for the rehabilitation, 
stabilization and preservation of the former home of Colonel John 
Banister, member of the Continental Congress and framer of the Articles 
of the Confederation, for future use as a museum and historical tour 
site. Constructed in 1768 as the suburban villa of Col. Banister, 
Battersea has been recognized as nationally significant by the 
Department of the Interior, National Register of Historic Places. The 
City of Petersburg purchased the house with nearly 40 acres surrounding 
it in 1985 in order to preserve the structure because of nationally 
important architectural significance, and will use funds to perform 
conservation analysis and immediate conservation treatment for water 
penetration in the foundation of the building.
  Requesting Member: Congressman J. Randy Forbes
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105
  Account: Labor, HHS, Education, Department of Health & Human 
Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration 
(SAMHSA)--Mental Health
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Chesterfield County, Virginia
  Address of Requesting Entity: 9901 Lori Road, Chesterfield, Virginia 
23832
  Description of Request: Provides $143,000 for a Dual Treatment Track 
(DTT), a pretrial diversion program for non-violent defendants that 
suffer from both a mental illness and substance abuse addiction. 
Funding would assist in expanding the population served and conducting 
a comprehensive analysis of the program in order to establish a 
research based practice that can be replicated across the nation. The 
program uses ``best practices'' models to divert individuals from the 
local jail who are of minimal threat to the community, yet in serious 
need of both substance abuse and mental health services. The DTT 
program provides benefits for everyone involved in the criminal justice 
and mental health systems. It reduces the burden of specialized care 
that the jail is forced to provide. It gives the court a new tool in 
dealing with a population that is traditionally difficult to 
effectively sentence. This program enhances the quality of life in 
Chesterfield County by creating more accountability and effective 
service delivery for the specific population of dually diagnosed 
individuals who criminally offend. Most importantly, it creates change 
in the lives of the offenders and their families, as they lead more 
productive, healthy and responsible lives.
  Requesting Member: Congressman J. Randy Forbes
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105
  Account: Transportation, HUD, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), 
TCSP--Transportation & Community & System Preservation
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: U.S. Army
  Address of Requesting Entity: Fort Lee, Virginia
  Description of Request: Provides $1,425,000 for an Entry Access 
Control project to construct standard design permanent access control 
facilities at Lee Avenue Gate and Sisisky Boulevard Gate, two primary 
entrance points into the cantonment area. The existing Access Control 
Points do not meet Army standards. Due to the increased incidents of 
terrorist activities it has become imperative that this installation 
have the ability to close the post to unauthorized traffic. Fort Lee 
has six Access Control Points. Installations' Access Control Points 
must be upgraded with facilities and equipment necessary to achieve 
appropriate levels of security enhancements and risk reductions.

  Requesting Member: Congressman J. Randy Forbes
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105
  Account: Transportation, HUD, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), 
TCSP--Transportation & Community & System Preservation
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: City of Chesapeake, Virginia
  Address of Requesting Entity: 306 Cedar Road, Chesapeake, Virginia 
23322
  Description of Request: Provides $237,500 for the Gilmerton Bridge, 
which serves as the crossing of the Southern Branch of the Elizabeth 
River for U.S. Route 13/Military Highway. The Gilmerton Bridge is a 
narrow, four-lane bridge designed to accommodate 15,000 vehicles per 
day. The Gilmerton Bridge currently handles approximately 30,000 
vehicles per day--twice its design capacity. The existing bridge has 
exceeded the expected design life and is now functionally obsolete. Due 
to structural deterioration, weight restrictions for heavy truck and 
commercial traffic have been imposed. With the anticipated growth in 
this area, it is projected that the traffic volume will increase to 
approximately 41,000 vehicles per day by the year 2021. Funding would 
be used to construct a new four-lane bridge with 12' shoulders that can 
be converted to additional travel lanes in the future.
  Requesting Member: Congressman J. Randy Forbes
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105
  Account: Transportation
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Chesterfield County, Virginia
  Address of Requesting Entity: 9901 Lori Road, Chesterfield, Virginia 
23832
  Description of Request: Provides $475,000 for a project involving 
construction of an interchange on I-295 at the intersection of 
Meadowville Road. The area surrounding Rt. 10/I-295 is growing into a 
large industrial hub for the region, and the interchange will provide 
necessary access to accommodate freight access into and out of the 
area. The project is included in the Richmond Region MPO's Long Range 
Transportation Plan.

[[Page E458]]

  Requesting Member: Congressman J. Randy Forbes
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105 Account Transportation
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: City of Chesapeake, Virginia
  Address of Requesting Entity: 306 Cedar Road, Chesapeake, Virginia 
23322
  Description of Request: Provides $237,500 for Dominion Boulevard, 
which connects Interstates 64 and 464 with U.S. Route 17 South. This 
project would replace the existing two-lane drawbridge over the 
Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway with a high rise, fixed span bridge, and 
would also widen the existing road section to four lanes. The roadway 
is also part of the National Highway System and is included in Virginia 
Department of Transportation Six-Year plan.
  Requesting Member: Congressman J. Randy Forbes
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105
  Account: Transportation, HUD, Housing and Urban Development (HUD), 
Economic Development Initiatives (EDI)
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: City of Chesapeake, Virginia
  Address of Requesting Entity: 306 Cedar Road, Chesapeake, Virginia 
23322
  Description of Request: Provides $142,500 for a visitor center to 
preserve the historical site of the Battle of Great Bridge, a pivotal 
moment in the Revolutionary War. The visitor center will be located 
along the Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal in Chesapeake, Virginia. The 
center will draw tourists and visitors to the region who will find 
permanent and changing exhibits and programs at the center. The 
economic and cultural contributions of the center will benefit the 
Hampton Roads area. The center will receive both marine and vehicular 
traffic, provide resources for historical research, meeting spaces and 
a 100 seat theater. The park will contain interpretive signage, 
reconstructions of the historic causeway and will be ideal for events 
and re-enactments.

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