[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 91 (Wednesday, June 17, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1434-E1435]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          EARMARK DECLARATION

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. SAM GRAVES

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 16, 2009

  Mr. GRAVES. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership 
standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information 
regarding earmarks I received as part of H.R. 2487, the Commerce, 
Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010:
  Congressman Sam Graves (MO-6) Department of Justice, COPS--$660,000 
to the Clay County Sheriff for Clay and Platte Counties Communications 
Interoperability Project (Clay County: 1 Courthouse Square, Liberty, MO 
64068, Platte County: 415 Third Street, Platte City, MO 64079)
  One of the lessons learned from the tragedy of September 11th was the 
inability of first responders and public safety agencies to 
communicate. To meet the requirements of the National 
Telecommunications & Information Administration mandated that Tactical 
Interoperable Communications be operational by 2012, as designated by 
APCO.
  As such, Clay and Platte counties in my congressional district have 
developed a Communications Interoperability Project (CIP). CIP will 
maximize resources by engineering and building extensive communication 
infrastructure capabilities, connecting more than 40 regional front 
line stakeholders together through a comprehensive integrated 
communications network. CIP's strategic plan encompasses all areas of 
public service, including but not limited to local law enforcement, 
fire and ambulance agencies, emergency management task force 
responders, hospitals, highway and road agencies, parks and water 
districts, as well as other public agencies engaged in delivering 
services to citizens.
  In recent years, Clay and Platte counties have experienced a number 
of natural disasters, including flooding and tornadoes. These events 
impair first responder communication among municipal police, fire 
agencies and other public safety agencies, ultimate hampering rescue 
efforts.
  As regional responders continue to tackle these problems head-on, 
funds have fallen short to ensure they are able to comply with the 2012 
deadline. Based upon a 2005-2006 cross-county survey, a total of 3,373 
units of varietal communication equipment are needed, plus 5 
communication towers for Clay County and a minimum of 5 towers in 
Platte County. Due to Platte County's topography, up to 3 additional 
towers may be necessary for thorough, unimpaired interoperability 
communication coverage. The federal funds I have obtained will enable 
Clay and Platte counties to begin implementing plans to establish the 
only comprehensive communication infrastructure north of the Missouri 
River in the Kansas City regional area.
  Congressman Sam Graves (MO-6)
  Department of Justice, Byrne Grants--$200,000 to the Northwest 
Missouri Interagency Team Response Operation for the Multi-
Jurisdictional Drug and Violent Offender Task Force (101 North Main, 
Cameron, MO 64429)
  The Northwest Missouri Interagency Team Response Operation (NITRO) is 
a multi-jurisdictional drug and violent offender task force that began 
operating in 2002. NITRO, which includes a 16-county area of Northwest 
Missouri and MO-6th, is staffed by full-time law enforcement officers 
from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the Missouri State 
Highway Patrol, the Maryville Public Safety Department and the Cameron 
Police Department. Additional law enforcement agencies participate on a 
case-by-case basis in their jurisdictions.
  The federal funding obtained will be used to add four officers to the 
task force. Most local law enforcement agencies do not have the 
resources to provide for a narcotic investigative unit, therefore NITRO 
provides a trained unit to the jurisdictions concentrating on drug 
traffickers and violent offenders.
  The number one problem in Missouri is fighting the methamphetamine 
epidemic. Due to this problem, a few years ago I worked to get a DEA 
agent stationed in Northwest Missouri. These critical funds will assist 
my previous efforts and allow the task force to respond to regional 
emergencies, particularly when responding to methamphetamine lab busts. 
This team has been enormously effective in coordinating with local law 
enforcement in Northwest Missouri and helps makes our neighborhoods and 
schools safer for our children.
  Congressman Sam Graves (MO-6)
  Department of Justice, Byrne Grants--$140,000 to Synergy Services for 
Community Response to Domestic Violence (400 East 6th Street, 
Parkville, MO 64152)
  Synergy Services began in 1970 as Synergy House, the only shelter for 
runaway and homeless youth in western Missouri. Through the years the 
organization has expanded to provide a full continuum of care to assist 
individuals and families with immediate respite from violence, and 
services which provide these individuals with the tools they need to 
ensure future safety and success.
  In 2008, Missouri law enforcement agencies confirmed over 32,000 
incidents of domestic violence in the state, and this does not include 
the thousands of unreported incidents. In 2009, the total number of 
domestic violence incidents that were reported in Synergy's primary 
service area of Clay, Platte, Ray, and Jackson counties was 
approximately 2,700. This important federal funding will allow Synergy 
to expand its advocacy efforts and assist an additional 500 to 700 
domestic violence victims in Missouri's 6th Congressional District.
  The Community Response to Domestic Violence project, initiated by 
Synergy Services, consists of the agency's Court Services and Bridge/
Safe Patient Advocacy Network (SPAN) programs to provide safety and 
security for women victims of domestic violence and prevent future 
incidences of family violence through improving coordinated community 
responses to victims in the civil/municipal courts and healthcare 
systems. First, the project will provide advocacy on a two-front 
approach, aimed at reaching and supporting more victims of domestic 
violence who are steering their way through the judicial. Secondly, 
since research has found most victims disclose domestic violence 
incidents to their healthcare providers, the Bridge/SPAN program 
provides comprehensive training and advocacy in area hospitals and 
clinics so that trained healthcare providers are able to respond 
effectively.
  This coordinated community response will result in a more cost-
effective means for providing critical advocacy services to victims of 
domestic violence, facilitate victims through the judicial process in a 
timely and less costly manner, and arrive at a conviction with stiffer 
penalties more quickly. The ultimate desired outcome is a decrease in 
recidivism once prosecution is successful.

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