Fiscal Year 2009 Priority Project Requests
This year I overhauled the system used to submit priority project requests in order to provide greater transparency to my constituents. In order to ensure that the numerous requests my office receives are scrutinized thoroughly and would ultimately constitute a wise use of U.S. taxpayer dollars, we will be requiring potential grantees to certify that their requests meet certain principles. EVERY individual or organization requesting a priority project will be required to fill out and sign a document and submit to my office, along with a letter on the organization’s letterhead requesting the project. Should the organization make multiple requests, they must fill out a separate form for each request. If an organization or individual does not submit the attached form to my office, does not complete the form, does not sign the form, etc., the request is automatically disqualified from being submitted.
Below are the principles that will guide the selection process:
1. All requests must be a priority for the 26th District and/or the country-at large as defined as enhancing life, liberty, or the general welfare.
2. All requests must be a proper and wise use of federal taxpayer dollars and must be justified as such. Projects that include a commitment to match federal funds will receive priority consideration.
3. All requests will be immediately posted on the website and supporting documentation made available to press outlets and interested individuals.
4. None of the funding requested will be used for a building, program, or project that has been named for Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. No request will be made that Congressman Burgess or his spouse has any financial interest.
5. All requests shall be made in accordance with House of Representatives rules, and within Appropriations Committee deadlines. No funding request will be submitted after the deadline established by the Committee
All request forms and support letters were due by Friday, March 7, 2008. From there, my staff collected and organized these requests.
Below are the 35 priority project requests, and one language request, the office of Congressman Michael C. Burgess submitted for Fiscal Year 2009, with the project name, Appropriations Subcommittee to which the request was submitted, and the amount requested, in no particular order:
North Central Texas College Agricultural Center, Gainesville, Texas - Agriculture - $345,000
Rosedale Ave. Redevelopment Initiative, Texas Weslyan University - Transportation/HUD - $4,200,000
Army Reconnaissance Helicopter, Bell Textron - Defense - $574,552,000
Center for Advanced Scientific Computing and Modeling, University of North Texas - Energy and Water - $2,500,000
CV-22, Bell Textron - Defense - $747,700,000
Early Childhood Development Program, City of Fort Worth, Texas - Labor, HHS, Education - $900,000
V-22, Bell Textron - Defense - $2,661,000,000
Upper Trinity River Basin, Army Corps of Engineers - Energy and Water - $1,600,000
Denton County Transportation Authority Bus and Bus Facilities - Transportation/HUD - $7,034,000
UH-1Y/AH-1Z, Bell Textron - Defense - $597,941,000
Everman, Texas - Army Corps of Engineers - Energy and Water - $100,000
Troop Recruitment Improvement, The Cooper Institute - Defense - $6,000,000
Stop Six Community Go Center, Fort Worth ISD - Labor, HHS, Education - $96,600
Denton Municipal Airport - Transportation, HUD - $990,000
Big Brothers Big Sisters, Mentoring Children of Military Personel, Irving, Texas - Defense - $2,500,000
I-35W Improvement Project, City of Fort Worth, Texas - Transportation, HUD - $5,000,000
Doctorate in Nurse Anesthesia Practice Initiative, Texas Weslyan University - Labor, HHS, Education - $1,500,000
MTI Scout Radar - Defense - $4,600,000
Alliance Airport Runway Extension Project, Fort Worth, Texas - Transportation, HUD - $30,000,000
The "T" CNG Replacement Buses - Transportation, HUD - $6,500,000
Denton Hickory Street Corridor, Denton, Texas - Transportation, HUD - $700,000
Denton Public Safety Training Facility - Commerce, Justice, Science - $4,100,000
Big Brothers Big Sisters, Mentoring Children of Prisoners, Irving, Texas - Labor, HHS, Education - $2,000,000
Texas Center for Drug Safety, University of North Texas, University of Texas-Southwest, and Texas Tech University - Labor, HHS, Education - $660,000
Parkland Health and Hospital System Trauma and Emergency Preparadness Communication System - Labor, HHS, Education - $114,941
Parkland Health and Hospital System Community Oriented Primary Care Mobile Medical Suite - Labor, HHS, Education - $375,000
Unmanned Force Augmentation System - Defense - $4,900,000
Institute for Science and Engineering Simulation (ISES), University of North Texas - Defense - $6,000,000
Lewisville Lake, Frisco, Texas, Army Corps of Engineers - Energy and Water - $1,137,000
Ray Roberts Lake, Army Corps of Engineers - Energy and Water - $3,424,156
Grapevine Lake, Army Corps of Engineers - Energy and Water - $8,732,000
Lewisville Dam, Army Corps of Engineers - Energy and Water - $18,849,000
Central City, Fort Worth, Upper Trinity River Basin - Energy and Water - $30,000,000
Best Practices for Storm Water Treatment in North Texas - Energy and Water - $1,290,000
Trinity Basin Environmental Reconnaissance Study - Energy and Water - $1,000,000
Clark's Department Store, Fort Worth, Texas - Transportation, HUD - Language Request
