[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 118 (Friday, July 31, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2124-E2126]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          EARMARK DECLARATION

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. RODNEY ALEXANDER

                              of louisiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 30, 2009

  Mr. ALEXANDER. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership 
standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information 
regarding earmarks I received as part of the Commerce, Justice Science, 
and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010, H.R. 2847.
  Congressman Rodney Alexander
  H.R. 2997
  ARS
  Louisiana State University located at 156 Thomas Boyd Hall, Baton 
Rouge, LA 70803
  Formosan Subterranean Research--$2,600,000. The Formosan subterranean 
termite has infested 32 of the 64 parishes in Louisiana, with the most 
severe infestations in the New Orleans and Lake Charles areas. This 
insect has caused millions of dollars worth of damage including over 
$300 million in New Orleans alone. Clearly, it is the most costly

[[Page E2125]]

pest in the state and the management of this termite is essential to 
Louisiana's economic well-being. For the last seven years, the LSU 
AgCenter has participated in the USDA/ARS project, Operation Fullstop. 
The AgCenter is the lead agency in management programs for this termite 
in the French Quarter and 16 public schools in Orleans and Jefferson 
parishes. The AgCenter has received approximately $10.4 million since 
the initial appropriation in FY 1998. Sixty-six percent (66%) or 
($6,874,724) of these funds has been pass-through money to the pest 
management professionals (PMPs) and thirty-four percent (34%) or 
($3,520,606) has been used to conduct research and extension 
educational programs. During the past year, the AgCenter received 
$750,000 for research and extension activities. Plans for 2010 include 
expansion from 77 blocks currently to the entire French Quarter (95 
blocks), funding permitting. Termite numbers in the French Quarter have 
been reduced 75% in Part 1 blocks and 50% in other blocks after two 
years in the program. Plans for 2010 also include an education program 
with residents in New Orleans to develop neighborhood programs, in 
which residents would receive education, inspections, and program 
evaluation from the AgCenter. Significant numbers of property owners 
outside the program are adopting the French Quarter model of the 
program. Research would include use of molecular methods (mainly 
microsatellite genotyping) to determine colony affiliations of 
termites. This permits tracking of colony movement and permits 
assessment of colony elimination after treatment and floods (Katrina), 
i.e., are colonies detected after treatment survivors or new colonies. 
Research would also include use of molecular markers to establish 
colony origin and flight range of alates. This aids in understanding 
termite swarm behavior. Extension would continue to provide the 
critical tasks of educating the citizenry on all aspects of integrated 
pest management (IPM) of structural pests. Results of research and 
education outreach conducted within this request will benefit the State 
of Louisiana and the rest of the nation in combating the spread of the 
Formosan Subterranean Termite and in educating the public regarding its 
control.
  Congressman Rodney Alexander
  H.R. 2997
  ARS
  USDA Sugarcane Lab, 5883 USDA Road, Houma, La
  ARS Sugarcane Research $3,654,000. The domestic sugarcane industry 
and others are interested in developing cellulosic opportunities to 
reduce our dependence on foreign sources of fossil fuel. The ARS's 
Sugarcane Research Laboratory (SRL) scientists at Houma are involved in 
a multidisciplinary team effort to develop superior varieties of 
sugarcane, for both sugar production and for the bio-energy industry 
that is evolving across the southeast. Additionally, the SRL is 
developing production practices needed for profitable production of 
sugarcane for both sugar and energy. The current facilities are not 
designed to handle an expanded program and lack many of the safeguards 
(environment, employee, and security) required by current federal 
standards.
  Congressman Rodney Alexander
  H.R. 2997
  NIFA SRG
  Louisiana State University located at 156 Thomas Boyd Hall, Baton 
Rouge, LA 70803
  Aquaculture $150,000. Louisiana contains one of the most diverse 
aquaculture industries in the U.S. The state continues to lead the 
nation in production of crawfish, oyster, alligator, and pet turtle 
sales. Catfish production has declined in recent years but is still 
important. The total farm-gate value of aquaculture production in 2007 
exceeded $281.6 million. Research is needed to: 1) enhance crawfish 
harvesting technology and efficiency and to improve crawfish broodstock 
reproduction, 2) to further develop tools to facilitate genetic 
improvement of cultured finfish, 3) to determine the economic potential 
and effective culture techniques to facilitate the development of a 
marine baitfish industry, 4) to further refine finfish nutrition and 
feeding practices so that feed cost is reduced and water quality is 
improved, 5) to further protect cultured aquatic species from disease, 
and 6) to develop new value-added aquaculture food products and waste 
by-products.
  Congressman Rodney Alexander
  H.R. 2997
  NIFA SRG
  Louisiana State University located at 156 Thomas Boyd Hall, Baton 
Rouge, LA 70803
  Tillage Silviculture $188,000. This special grant addresses critical 
environmental concerns in Louisiana. Alternatives to traditional 
tillage in southwest Louisiana rice production are needed to improve 
floodwater quality, reduce soil erosion, and reduce production costs. 
Stand establishment and early-season plant density have been shown to 
be critical components of a reduced tillage system. Development of 
herbicide-resistant rice varieties has allowed drill seeding of rice, 
which increases flexibility with nutrient and vegetation management. 
However, the effect of rotational crops on rice grain yield and soil 
physical condition is not well understood and requires more research. 
Cotton and corn production are major components of the agricultural 
economy in northeast Louisiana. Reduced tillage practices and herbicide 
tolerant crops are being adopted to sustain soil productivity and 
reduce surface water contamination and are improving production 
efficiency. However, conservation tillage systems provide a favorable 
microenvironment for insect populations, which have the potential to 
limit economic value. Basic biological information is needed on insect 
population dynamics in reduced tillage systems. The animal waste 
management component of this project will develop data and systems that 
allow proper use of waste products and dairy lagoon effluent in two 
areas of the state. The dairy industry in southeast Louisiana and the 
poultry industry in north Louisiana will benefit from research on 
pasture runoff, background indicator organisms, optimum land disposal 
rates for poultry litter, and new uses for poultry litter particularly 
as it relates to forest productivity. Treatment alternatives that 
generate additional revenue to the dairy and poultry operator will also 
be explored. Critical environmental concerns relative to agriculture 
and forestry production practices on water quality will also be 
addressed. Enhanced research on Best Management Practices (BMPs) will 
help reduce both point and non-point source discharges associated with 
crop, animal, and timber production activities.

  Congressman Rodney Alexander
  H.R. 2997
  NIFA SRG
  Louisiana State University located at 156 Thomas Boyd Hall, Baton 
Rouge, LA 70803.
  Wetland Plants $188,000. Since the 1930s, 1,000,000 acres of 
Louisiana wetlands have been lost by human activities and natural 
forces such as the hurricanes of 2005. This directly affects U.S. 
security, navigation, energy consumption, and food supply. The 
potential for loss of life, industry, ecosystems, and infrastructure is 
enormous. The Coastal Plants Program (CPP) represents a major 
commitment to focus proven scientific technologies and outreach 
capabilities on issues critical to restore the coastal wetlands of 
Louisiana. This program combines the expertise of AgCenter plant 
breeders, ecologists, and other plant and soil scientists to facilitate 
the development and utilization of improved native plant resources to 
preserve remaining marshes and stabilize those that are being re-
created. This project will develop strategies for genetic improvement 
leading to the economic and rapid establishment of critically important 
wetland plant species over large areas of threatened and reclaimed 
coastal wetlands. Native populations will be characterized and a 
genetic improvement program conducted to develop superior varieties/
populations with enhanced value in the restoration and protection of 
wetlands. Plant cloning and molecular biology will facilitate genetic 
characterization and genetic improvement and provide superior plant 
materials to Louisiana's developing commercial wetland plant and seed 
industry. On-site marsh research will address issues concerning 
beneficial use of dredge material, sediment nourishment of 
deteriorating wetlands, and factors influencing vegetative response.
  Congressman Rodney Alexander
  H.R. 2997
  Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
  Louisiana State University located at 156 Thomas Boyd Hall, Baton 
Rouge, LA 70803
  Blackbird Management $94,000. Blackbird depredation of rice is a 
serious economic problem facing rice producers in Louisiana. 
Depredation of rice occurs at planting and just prior to harvest; 
however, the most serious problem is depredation of rice seed and 
seedlings at planting. Yield losses due to blackbird depredation have 
been estimated to vary from 77 million pounds in 1995 to slightly over 
93 million pounds in 2002. Economic losses associated with blackbird 
damage have been estimated to average $9.3 million annually from 1995 
to 2002. Damage does not occur uniformly across the state; 
consequently, severe economic losses may be experienced by some 
producers due to the concentration of blackbirds in a given area. The 
use of DRC-1339 has resulted in reducing the extent of damage and the 
magnitude of economic loss. DRC-1339 is a selective avicide specific to 
blackbirds, grackles, and starlings. As a result, reduction in 
blackbird damage to rice is achieved with little or no effect upon 
other bird species.
  Congressman Rodney Alexander
  H.R. 2997
  Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
  Louisiana State University located at 156 Thomas Boyd Hall, Baton 
Rouge, LA 70803
  Best Management Practices $267,000. Of more than 2,600 agricultural 
producers trained through Louisiana's Master Farmer program, 92 have 
completed the third tier of the program which ends with certification 
from the

[[Page E2126]]

Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry. This represents a 
high benchmark in performance, which requires completion of eight hours 
of classroom instruction, participation in a Model Farm field tour, and 
development and implementation of an NRCS Resource Management System 
plan to address potential or occurring pollution. With the assistance 
of USDA programs and other technical assistance, these producers have 
installed research-based BMPs to address environmental issues. These 
certified producers manage more than 16,000 acres of Louisiana 
farmland, all within a 50-mile radius of 303d listed impaired state 
waters. In addition, multi-state collaboration has resulted in the 
development of a template by the Louisiana Master Farmer Program that 
can be used by other states to develop similar programs, focusing on 
curriculum development, implementation and lessons learned. Land area 
impacted by targeted programs is 1,020,507 acres.
  Congressman Rodney Alexander
  H.R. 3082
  Army
  Fort Polk, La 71459
  Multipurpose Machine Gun Range $6,400,000. Construct a standard 
design MPMG Range, required to train and test soldiers on the skills 
necessary to zero Squad Automatic Weapon, Machine Guns, 40mm Automatic 
Launcher, and Sniper Weapons to detect, identify, engage and defeat 
targets in a tactical array.

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