[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 113 (Friday, July 24, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1921]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          EARMARK DECLARATION

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                           HON. RALPH M. HALL

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 23, 2009

  Mr. HALL of Texas. 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. 3288--
Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act 2010:
  Requesting Member: Congressman Ralph M. Hall
  Bill Number: 3288--Transportation, Housing and Urban Development 
Appropriations Act 2010
  Account: Surface Transportation Priorities
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Federal Highway Administration
  Address of Requesting Entity: 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE, Washington 
DC, 20590
  Description of Request: I have secured $500,000 for I-69 with Federal 
Highway Administration. For more than 15 years, the I-69 Corridor has 
been under development and has been consistently recognized by Congress 
as a national transportation priority. Funding for this project in 
Texas will help expand interstate highways 77, 281, and 59, to support 
local, interregional and international traffic. It will provide direct 
access to the Port of Houston and relieve congestion for the 
communities all along the route, providing the most direct route from 
Mexico and Canada for major commercial centers in the U.S., easing 
traffic on I-35. Funds will also ensure FHWA and in turn the resource 
agencies with responsibility for environmental clearances--US Fish & 
Wildlife and the Army Corps of Engineers--have additional staff to 
expedite the environmental reviews of projects along congressionally 
designated High Priority Corridors, including I-69 in Texas which is 
defined by statute as US 59, 77 and 281. Without such resources, the 
ongoing delay of environmental clearances will continue to 
significantly increase the cost of construction of I-69 and other High 
Priority Corridors. I certify that I do not have any financial interest 
in this project.
  Requesting Member: Congressman Ralph M. Hall and Congressman Mike 
Ross
  Bill Number: 3288--Transportation, Housing and Urban Development 
Appropriations Act 2010:
  Account: Airport Improvement Program
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Texarkana Regional Airport
  Address of Requesting Entity: 201 Airport Dr., Texarkana, AR 71854
  Description of Request: I have secured $750,000 for Texarkana 
Regional Airport Fire Station Project with the Texarkana Regional 
Airport. Funding for this project will be used to construct an aircraft 
rescue fire station to save lives in the event of an aircraft accident. 
This project would complete an Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) 
station that has been constructed in four phases using incremental 
funding (continuing resolutions). Without the remaining funds, the 
facility is not useable. Until recently, airport firefighters shared an 
off-airport station with city fire crews. Response times to the 
airfield from the city station did not meet FAA standards for a 
commercial service airport. The ARFF crews have been temporarily 
relocated to a maintenance hangar to meet response timing, but the 
hangar does not meet FAA standards for an ARFF station. The hangar is 
located in an area where taxiing aircraft may delay ARFF response and 
aircraft engine noise limits the firefighters' training, rest and 
ability to hear the crash phone. I certify that I do not have any 
financial interest in this project.

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