[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 37 (Tuesday, March 3, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E529-E530]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          EARMARK DECLARATION

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. VERN BUCHANAN

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 3, 2009

  Mr. BUCHANAN. 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 H.R. 1105, the Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009:
  Requesting Member: Congressman Vern Buchanan
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105
  Account: Cooperative State Research Education and Extension Service--
SRG
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Florida Citrus Mutual
  Address of Requesting Entity: Lakeland, FL 33802
  Description of Request: I secured $1,217,000 for the continuation of 
vital citrus canker research by the UF-IFAS, through the Cooperative 
State Research Extension and Education Service (CSREES), to improve 
technologies for treatment and detection, methods of movement and 
containment, and means to control and eliminate this devastating citrus 
disease.
  In 2005, USDA-Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS) 
detected citrus greening in Florida. This is yet another severe citrus 
disease that must be addressed. USDA-APHIS and ARS are working in 
conjunction with Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer 
Services Division of Plant Industry (FDACS-DPI) and UF-IFAS to develop 
a joint citrus health production plan for an interim period, while the 
scientific community works to find disease resistance and/or a cure for 
these diseases. Research efforts will include management of citrus 
canker and greening to minimize tree mortality and yield loss in a cost 
effective manner, as well as the economic implications of these 
diseases in world citrus markets. This joint, coordinated research is 
not only imperative to Florida citrus, but also important to all U.S. 
citrus production.
  Requesting Member: Congressman Vern Buchanan
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105
  Account: Health Resources and Services (HRSA) Health Facilities and 
Services
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: University of South Florida 
Sarasota-Manatee
  Address of Requesting Entity: 8350 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 
34243
  Description of Request: I secured $143,000 to address nursing 
shortages by supporting educational development at the University of 
South Florida Sarasota-Manatee Campus
  Critical nursing shortages throughout the United States continue to 
grow as the population ages and the nursing workforce approaches 
retirement age. The University is in the initial stages of preparing 
for separate academic accreditation. Once this is achieved, their 
highest priority will be to establish a College of Nursing on the 
campus. With a nursing program in place we will be able to reach and 
educate the southern-most portions of Florida. The funds from this 
proposal will be spent to support the development of a teaching 
simulation laboratory (equipment and simulation models) on our campus, 
for equipping a videoconference classroom, and the development of web, 
on-site, and blended courses.

[[Page E530]]

  Requesting Member: Congressman Vern Buchanan
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105
  Account: STAG Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Project
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Sarasota County
  Address of Requesting Entity: 1660 Ringling Boulevard, Sarasota, FL. 
34236
  Description of Request: I secured $500,000 for the Phillippi Creek 
Septic System.
  Obsolete septic tanks are a source of wastewater pollution in 
Phillippi Creek, and thus, all of lower Sarasota Bay, along with its 
estuaries. The Phillippi Creek Septic Tank Replacement Program is 
underway to replace failing septic systems and connect approximately 
15,000 low-income homes and businesses to central sewer in the 
Phillippi Creek Basin.
  Requesting Member: Congressman Vern Buchanan
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105
  Account: Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)--Health 
Facilities and Services
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Manatee Community College
  Address of Requesting Entity: 5840 26th Street West, Bradenton FL 
34207
  Description of Request: I secured $95,000 for a Medical Technology 
and Simulation Center at Manatee Community College (MCC).
  Through state and private initiatives over many years, MCC has been 
able to secure funding to construct a Medical Technology and Simulation 
Center. What is now needed are resources to outfit the Center with the 
equipment to operate a functional teaching program and Community Health 
Clinic. The proposed expansion of MCC's nursing program will 
accommodate up to 48 new nursing students each year and help provide 
the community with additional health care services it requires. This 
investment in classroom and clinical infrastructure will allow the 
College to immediately expand its program in terms of both student 
enrollment and reach. Without additional funding the prohibitive costs 
associated with nursing programs would create an indefinite barrier to 
the College's ability to meet this community need.
  Requesting Member: Congressman Vern Buchanan
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105
  Account: Department of Education--Higher Education
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: New College of Florida
  Address of Requesting Entity: 5800 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota, Fl. 
34243
  Description of Request: I secured $95,000 for a Smart Library for New 
College in my district.
  Libraries are no longer about books and journals, microfiche and card 
catalogs. The libraries of the future will deal with the business of 
information management. They are becoming centers for community 
research and civic engagement. New College of Florida is poised to 
engage and enhance the digital assets at the Jane Bancroft Cook 
Library, a joint-use facility for New College of Florida, the 
University of South Florida Sarasota/Manatee, Manatee Community 
College, and citizens in the Manatee and Sarasota communities. The Cook 
Library/Smart Library plan will include:
  Creating a variety of digital collections open to students, faculty, 
staff, and the community;
  Acquiring basic sets of digital images to enrich the curriculum 
(environmental studies, art history, music, history, anthropology, 
biology, math, physics, business, education, criminal justice, etc.) 
and for use in educational and community outreach;
  Purchasing equipment to digitize, analyze, and archive images and 
video created for research and teaching purposes;
  Managing a full complement of digital assets, including audio, video, 
internet and metadata;
  Developing educational, public outreach programs and facilitating 
public forums;
  Providing a variety of workstation (PC, Mac) to allow for ease of 
access by faculty/students/staff/public;
  Establishing Smart Collaborative Spaces where groups can interact 
using the best technology available.
  Located on the Sarasota-Manatee county border, Cook Library is 
strategically placed to be an information hub for all the higher 
education institutions and the citizens of the counties they serve.

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