[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 55 (Wednesday, April 1, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E849]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           EARMARK DISCLOSURE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. RODNEY ALEXANDER

                              of louisiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, April 1, 2009

  Mr. ALEXANDER. Madam Speaker, pursuant to Republican Leadership's 
policy on earmarks, I hereby submit for the Congressional Record the 
following disclosure on earmarks that were included in H.R. 1105:
  Requesting Member: Congressman Rodney Alexander
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105
  Account: Interior, U.S. Geological Survey
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Tulane University
  Address of Requesting Entity: 6823 St. Charles Avenue, New Orleans, 
LA 70118
  Description of Request: The Long-term Estuary Assessment Group (LEAG) 
comprises scientific researchers based at Tulane, Xavier, Nicholls 
State, and LUMCON working together to provide accurate scientific and 
technological advances needed to improve the knowledge of the physical, 
chemical, geological, biological, and cultural baseline conditions in 
the coastal Louisiana ecosystem and related natural and built assets. 
LEAG requests funding support to transition its productive six years of 
investigation and team building to a level that allows USGS and other 
local, state and Federal agency managers to make the best possible 
decisions in support of: (1) implementing Louisiana Coastal Restoration 
and Hurricane protection projects authorized by the Water Resources 
Development Act (WRDA) 2007 and other Federal acts; (2) the Louisiana 
Coastal Area, Section 7006, Construction, Science and Technology 
Program established by WRDA 2007; and, (3) science and engineering 
support for the State of Louisiana's master plan for coastal 
restoration and hurricane protection. This revised Coastal Consortium 
project proposes that LEAG and other existing coastal restoration 
academic, industry, and public partners provide the joint leadership to 
establish and coordinate a new entity, the Consortium for Coastal 
Restoration consisting of the LEAG partners, scientists from the USGS, 
Louisiana State University (LSU), University of Louisiana in Lafayette 
(ULL), University of New Orleans (UNO), Rand Corporation investigators, 
engineers from key local engineering companies, and policy groups such 
as the Tulane Institute of Water Policy and Law, and the Barataria-
Terrebonne National Estuary Program. Key investigators at other 
universities such as UNO and LSU will also be invited to join a full 
partnership consortium The overall strength and capacity of the 
Consortium for Coastal Restoration will make it a viable partner with 
other state and Federal entities [including the USGS National Wetland 
Research Center (NWRC) and the Coastal Restoration, and Enhancement for 
Science and Technology (CREST) consortium] to make the best possible 
development and implementation decisions for WRDA 2007 and other 
coastal restoration/protection authorities for Louisiana and the 
surrounding region. With the enactment of WRDA 2007, and other Federal 
authorizations, it is imperative that ``stove-pipe'' coastal 
restoration/protection policy, implementation, and projects be replaced 
by a comprehensive, fully coordinated team/partnership consortium to 
effectively and correctly implement WRDA 2007 and other Federal 
authorizations for Louisiana coastal restoration and protection. The 
aim of this alliance is to create a cooperative science, engineering, 
and technology program to help policymakers, planners and coastal 
resource managers use the latest objective information on the built and 
natural environment to ensure sustainable and productive coastal 
habitats and communities.
  Requesting Member: Congressman Rodney Alexander
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105
  Account: Energy and Water, Corps of Engineers, Construction
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Corps of Engineers
  Address of Requesting Entity: P.O. Box 60267 New Orleans, LA 70160-
0267
  Description of Request: East Baton Rouge Flood Control project 
encompasses the major streams of East Baton Rouge Parish and the Amite 
River Basin. Authorization: WRDA 1996, Sec. 101(a)(21); WRDA 2007, Sec. 
5005e(30) FY08 Funding: $951,000.
  Requesting Member: Congressman Rodney Alexander
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105
  Account: Energy and Water, Corps of Engineers, Construction
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
  Address of Requesting Entity: P.O. Box 80 Vicksburg, MS 39181
  Description of Request: A reconnaissance level general reevaluation 
study is needed to determine whether authorized cutoffs on the Ouachita 
River are economically feasible, environmentally sustainable, and 
publicly acceptable. Statutory Authorization for requested project: 
Senate Document Numbered 117, Eighty-first Congress as amended. 
Significant problems with navigation on the Ouachita River have been 
experienced in recent years because authorized cut-offs were never 
constructed and the existing radius of bend ways above Monroe, LA is 
too small for tows to make the turns without ``light loading'' of 
barges. Waterway users indicate that resulting increases in 
transportation costs are affecting production costs and the ability to 
maintain adequate raw material supplies.
  Requesting Member: Congressman Rodney Alexander
  Bill Number: H.R. 1105
  Account: Financial Services, SBA
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Greater North Louisiana Community 
Development Corporation
  Address of Requesting Entity: 103 Fourth Street, Jonesboro, LA 71251
  Description of Request: A The primary goals of the Greater North 
Louisiana Community Development Corporation are to: a) stimulate 
creation, attraction, retention and expansion of business and industry 
in North Louisiana, b) provide access to financial capital, c)promote 
the growth of ``homegrown'' business using technology to provide rural 
isolated entrepreneurs with access to information, technical 
assistance, professional services and expertise. The Rural U.S. is home 
to over 56 million Americans who live in some of the country's poorest 
regions. As nationally publicized by all mediums, the state of 
Louisiana is involved in a long-running battle to find solutions to 
poverty and combating literacy (see attachments A & B--GNLCDC Service 
Area Demographics and Maps). The primary employers in the targeted 
parishes are light manufacturing companies. It is expected that 
manufacturing jobs will continue to decline in the 21st Century, 
therefore diversification is critical to the stimulation and survival 
of rural communities. The ``No Child Left Behind'' initiative must be 
extended to include educational opportunities to all citizens in under 
represented and impoverished areas, thus giving a sense of hope and 
empowerment to reach beyond the grips of despair and hopelessness. The 
GNLCDC serves as a door opener and an opportunity where currently none 
exists.

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