[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 100 (Tuesday, July 7, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1645-E1646]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          EARMARK DECLARATION

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BILL SHUSTER

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 7, 2009

  Mr. SHUSTER. Madam Speaker, consistent with the Republican 
Leadership's policy on earmarks, I am placing the following:
  Requesting Member: Congressman Bill Shuster (PA-9)
  Bill Number: H.R. 2997--Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug 
Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, FY2010


   Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and 
                       Related Agencies Projects

  Project Name: Sustainable Agriculture and Natural Resources, PA
  Account: National Institute of Food and Agriculture/SRG
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Pennsylvania State University
  Address of Requesting Entity: 117 Old Main, University Park, PA 16802
  Description of Request/Justification of Federal Funding: $133,000 for 
Sustainable Agriculture and Natural Resources, PA
  It is my understanding that funding for this project will support a 
collaborative research and education program to assist diverse farm 
operations better adopt more sustainable farming practices. This 
project will increase field research and demonstration to increase the 
exposure of farm advisors and farmers to sustainable cropping system 
practices. Additionally, the project will support research on specific 
techniques to infuse environmentally and economically sustainable 
practices into a wide variety of agricultural production systems.
  This project is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because increased 
farmer understanding and adoption of sustainable farming practices is 
critical to meeting future agricultural and natural resources 
challenges in both the United States and worldwide. Sustainability in 
agricultural production is a national theme that resonates broadly with 
national targets of sustainability and responsible use of natural 
resources. Increasing production without causing permanent ecological 
damage benefits farmers, consumers, and the environment. It is also my 
understanding that approximately 25 percent of funding will be used to 
salaries, approximately 25 percent for graduate students, approximately 
48 percent for other direct costs, and approximately 2 percent for 
travel.
  Project Name: Milk Safety, PA
  Account: National Institute of Food and Agriculture/SRG
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Pennsylvania State University
  Address of Requesting Entity: 117 Old Main, University Park, PA 16802
  Description of Request/Justification of Federal Funding: $771,000 for 
Milk Safety, PA
  It is my understanding that funding for this project will support 
research that protects the safety of dairy products for Pennsylvania 
and the nation. Research will address the continued threat of natural 
or intentional contamination of the fluid milk supply. The project will 
focus on continuing to develop more sensitive, accurate, and cost-
effective diagnostic tools to identify pathogens and toxins.
  Additionally, research will support developing and evaluating 
alternative preservation techniques that ensure the safety of dairy 
products while preserving food quality attributes, evaluating the 
benefits and risks associated with consumer and producer interest in 
raw milk products, and examining the integrity of the supply chain that 
moves diary products from the farm gate to the consumer.
  This project is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because new 
technical approaches to solving crucial problems in dairy farming have 
high impact and are critical given the importance of the dairy 
production sector and the multiplier effect of dairy-derived income. 
Current challenges have placed the dairy production sector and related 
industries at risk. Milk safety funding provides a tool for the federal 
government to respond quickly to emerging issues within the dairy 
industry and is necessary to maintain consumer protection and 
confidence. Improvements can be transferred to producers, processors, 
distributors, and retailers.
  It is also my understanding that approximately 32 percent of funding 
will be used for salaries, approximately 13 percent for graduate 
students, approximately 16 percent for wages, approximately 1 percent 
for travel, approximately 10 percent for equipment, and approximately 
28 percent for other direct costs.

  Project Name: Improved Dairy Management Practices, PA
  Account: National Institute of Food and Agriculture/SRG
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Pennsylvania State University
  Address of Requesting Entity: 117 Old Main, University Park, PA 16802
  Description of Request/Justification of Federal Funding: $243,000 for 
Improved Dairy Management Practices, PA
  It is my understanding that funding for this project will provide 
research to address improved dairy management practices and 
specifically nutrient and emissions management. The project will be 
focused on addressing issues associated with dairy production by 
utilizing technology to improve water quality, lowering the impacts of 
emissions, and supporting efficient energy use.
  This project is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because current 
challenges have placed the dairy production sector and related 
industries at risk. Evaluating new management tools for their impact on 
dairy farm profitability and delivering new tools to the industry based 
on sound scientific study is vital to the future of U.S. dairy 
production. New technical approaches to solving crucial problems in 
dairy farming have high impact and are critical given the importance of 
the dairy production sector and the multiplier effect of dairy-derived 
income.
  It is also my understanding that approximately 24 percent of funding 
would be used for salaries, approximately 23 percent for graduate 
students, approximately 22 percent for wages, approximately 2 percent 
for travel, and approximately 29 percent for other direct costs.
  Project Name: Dairy Farm Productivity, PA
  Account: National Institute of Food and Agriculture/SRG
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Pennsylvania State University
  Address of Requesting Entity: 117 Old Main, University Park, PA 16802
  Description of Request/Justification of Federal Funding: $349,000 for 
Dairy Farm Profitability, PA
  It is my understanding that funding for this project will provide 
assistance to improve dairy farm profitability. This project will 
provide technological solutions to real-world problems that are 
reducing the profitability of dairy farms in Pennsylvania and across 
the nation. Technologies will be validated for their economic impact 
and delivered as part of a broader economic analysis of individual 
farms.
  This project is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because the local 
dairy farm is part of a complex system which extends from local issues 
of decisions regarding nutrient management, animal genetics, and 
operation diversity to global issues of supply and demand for dairy 
products. New technical approaches to solving crucial problems in dairy 
farming have high impact and are critical given the importance of the 
dairy production sector and the multiplier effect of dairy-derived 
income.
  It is also my understanding that approximately 24 percent of funding 
would be used for salaries, approximately 15 percent for graduate 
students, approximately 27 percent for wages, approximately 3 percent 
for travel, and approximately 31 percent for other direct costs.
  Project Name: Agricultural Entrepreneurial Alternatives, PA
  Account: National Institute of Food and Agriculture/SRG
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Pennsylvania State University
  Address of Requesting Entity: 117 Old Main, University Park, PA 16802
  Description of Request/Justification of Federal Funding: $233,000 for 
Agricultural Entrepreneurial Alternatives, PA
  It is my understanding that funding for this project will provide 
assistance for agricultural entrepreneurship development. This project 
is important both regionally and nationally because it focuses on 
education and other support necessary to help farmers make a transition 
from ``traditional'' types of farming to value-added agricultural 
enterprises.
  This project is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because developing 
the entrepreneurial skills of agricultural producers assists in 
providing higher profits on farms, a decline in farm consolidation, and 
increased opportunities for consumers to obtain products that meet 
their lifestyles. Growth of entrepreneurial skills strengthens farmers' 
ability to act on consumer-based opportunities. This strengthens the 
agricultural industry, local communities, and provides consumers with 
goods and services they are willing and able to buy. Because of its 
unique production characteristics and market access, Pennsylvania is an 
ideal location for this project.
  It is also my understanding that approximately 75 percent of funding 
would be used

[[Page E1646]]

for salaries and approximately 25 percent for travel, communications, 
and program development.

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