[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 185 (Thursday, December 10, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2937]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          EARMARK DECLARATION

                                  _____
                                 

                         HON. VERNON J. EHLERS

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 10, 2009

  Mr. EHLERS. Madam Speaker, pursuant to Republican Leadership 
standards, I am submitting the following information regarding projects 
I received funding for as part of as part of the conference report to 
the Consolidated Appropriations Act (H.R. 3288), which were not 
included in House-passed appropriations bills:
  Requesting Member: Congressman Vernon J. Ehlers
  Bill Number: H.R. 3288
  Agency: Department of Health & Human Services
  Account: Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)--Health 
Facilities and Services.
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Cherry Street Health Services
  Address of Requesting Entity: 550 Cherry St., SE., Grand Rapids, MI 
49503
  Description of Request: The bill provides $400,000 for Cherry Street 
Health Services for facilities and equipment. Cherry Street (community 
health center), Touchstone Innovare (mental health services) and 
ProAction (substance abuse/mental health treatment) are developing an 
integrated care system in which patients in need of both mental health 
and physical health care will be involved in an integrated plan of 
treatment in which both medical and mental health professionals from 
different agencies work together in the same office space to complete a 
plan of treatment, a valuable use of taxpayer funds. In order to 
provide services to an increased number of patients, the three agencies 
are building a 92,000 sq. ft. building that will house the operations 
of the three organizations. The medical, dental and vision care 
equipment requested will be used in the operation of a federally 
qualified health center for the treatment of low- income patients most 
of whom would otherwise not have access to primary health care 
services.
  Requesting Member: Congressman Vernon J. Ehlers
  Bill Number: H.R. 3288
  Agency: Federal Transit Administration
  Account: Buses and Bus Facilities
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: The Rapid
  Address of Requesting Entity: 300 Ellsworth Ave., SW., Grand Rapids, 
Michigan, 49503
  Description of Request: The bill provides $1,948,000 for the Rapid's 
Wealthy Operations Center Expansion in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The 
funding was requested by the Rapid. This project is a valuable use of 
taxpayer funds because it will allow the Rapid, the region's largest 
public transportation service, to expand to accommodate growth needs 
over the next 30 years.

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