[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 14]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 19295-19296]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          EARMARK DECLARATION

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JEFF FORTENBERRY

                              of nebraska

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 23, 2009

  Mr. FORTENBERRY. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership 
standards on member requests, I am submitting the following information 
regarding the earmarks I received as part of H.R. 3293, the FY10 Labor, 
Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Act:
  Requesting Member: Congressman Jeff Fortenberry
  Bill Number: H.R. 3293, FY10 Labor/HHS/Education Appropriations Act
  Account: Higher Education (includes FIPSE)
  Project Name: Sioux City College Center
  Amount: $100,000
  Name and Address of Requesting Entity: Wayne State College located at 
1111 Main Street, Wayne, Nebraska

[[Page 19296]]

  Description: To adequately address the higher education and workforce 
development needs of Dakota and Thurston Counties, Nebraska higher 
education institutions Wayne State College and Northeast Community 
College are collaborating with the city of South Sioux City to build 
and equip the South Sioux City College Center to offer academic 
programs specifically designed to meet the needs of Nebraska and the 
tri-state region. The new College Center will serve the area by 
creating a ``one-stop'' consolidated service center offering community 
and economic development resources in addition to providing educational 
opportunity for area residents at an affordable price. This funding 
would assist with the purchase of distance learning equipment, nursing/
health/science lab technology and equipment; business and industry 
training technology equipment; and general classroom equipment.
  Requesting Member: Congressman Jeff Fortenberry
  Bill Number: H.R. 3293, FY10 Labor/HHS/Education Appropriations Act
  Account: Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)--Health 
Facilities and Services
  Project Name: University of Nebraska Medical Center Rural Health 
Initiative
  Amount: $150,000
  Name and Address of Requesting Entity: University of Nebraska Medical 
Center located at 986380 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198
  Description: The funding would be used by the University of Nebraska 
Medical Center (UNMC) to create a biomarkers database of rural diseases 
to assess environmental influences on the development of diseases by 
collecting health information from at least 50,000 Midwesterners. 
Currently most information about the relationship between disease and 
the environment is generated by major databases located in large urban 
areas on the east and west coasts which tend to be regionally specific 
and generally not applicable to rural areas. This database would be the 
first research cohort in the Midwest to study the relationship between 
rural populations, the environment, and disease development. This 
project could reveal environmental factors responsible for birth 
defects or lymphoma, a cancer with high incidence in Nebraska. The data 
will provide valuable information on the factors influencing 
development of deadly diseases like cancer and position UNMC Eppley 
Cancer Institute to be designated a National Cancer Institute (NCI) 
Comprehensive Cancer Center. This high distinction will allow for the 
most advanced patient care and research to be available in Nebraska. 
UNMC is the ideal institution to spearhead this database with its 
numerous resources, well-established statewide hospital network to 
collect data, a state-of-the art cancer research team and facilities, 
and comprehensive database capabilities to collect and assess acquired 
data from this project.
  Requesting Member: Congressman Jeff Fortenberry
  Bill Number: H.R. 3293, FY10 Labor/HHS/Education Appropriations Act
  Account: Transportation, Community, and System Preservation
  Project Name: Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital First Hope Initiative
  Amount: $250,000
  Name and Address of Requesting Entity: Madonna Rehabilitation 
Hospital located at 5401 South Street, Lincoln, Nebraska 68506
  Description: The First Hope Initiative is a technology and research 
initiative aimed at increasing the functional independence, quality of 
life, and outcomes of patients with severe disabilities arising from 
such conditions as stroke, brain injury and spinal cord injury. The 
First Hope Initiative creates a model program that can be implemented 
at other rehabilitation facilities around the country including VA and 
military hospitals to ensure improved outcomes and independence for 
individuals recovering from catastrophic medical events.
  Requesting Member: Congressman Jeff Fortenberry
  Bill Number: H.R. 3293, FY10 Labor/HHS/Education Appropriations Act
  Account: Elementary and Secondary Education (Includes FIE)
  Project Name: Special Olympics 2010 USA National Games, Lincoln, 
Nebraska
  Amount: $350,000
  Name and Address of Requesting Entity: Special Olympics 2010 USA 
National Games, 7600 North 70th Street, Lincoln, Nebraska 68517
  Description: The 2010 USA National Games for Special Olympics will be 
taking place July 18-23, 2010, in Lincoln, Nebraska. This will be the 
largest sporting event, to date, in the state of Nebraska and offers a 
great opportunity to make an economic, humanitarian, and educational 
impact upon Nebraskan communities as well as on the national landscape.
  Special Olympics offers year-round sports training and competition 
opportunities for both children and adults with an intellectual 
disability, giving them the opportunity to develop physical fitness, 
demonstrate courage, experience joy, and become integrated and valued 
members of our society. There will be 3,000 athletes, 1,000 coaches, 
8,000 volunteers, and an estimated 15,000 family and friends in Lincoln 
and Omaha during the week of the games. The games are projected to 
generate $40 million in local economic impact and an additional $5 
million in tax revenue alone.
  For six days there will be vigorous, Olympic-style sporting 
competitions for the athletes. In addition, there will be a number of 
non-sporting events, including a leadership program and free health 
screenings and services.
  The estimated budget for these games is $9 million dollars with the 
expected revenue coming from several designated areas including Federal 
and State appropriations, as well as local community support. From the 
time the athletes arrive in Nebraska, the Games Organizing Committee is 
responsible for all costs including the athletes and coaches' 
accommodations, meals, transportation, and security. In addition, funds 
will go to promoting the games, building out venues for competitions, 
renting venues, and for communication needs.

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