Press Release/Statement
| For Immediate Release April 10, 2008 |
CONTACT: Joe Kasper (202) 225-5672 |
| Hunter Announces FY2009 Funding Initiatives | ||
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Congress appropriates funding for specific programs, agencies and other federal priorities. In doing so, Congress is exercising the power granted to it under Article I, Section 9, Clause 7 of the U.S. Constitution, which states, “No money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law." Congress has developed certain rules and practices for appropriating federal funds, which traditionally begins after the House approves a budget resolution outlining federal spending priorities for the upcoming fiscal year. Following the approval of the budget resolution, the House Appropriations Committee then identifies funding priorities for specific initiatives. As part of this process, Members of Congress submit funding initiatives that are important to their districts, states and the nation. While the submission of an initiative is an important first step in the appropriations process, it does not automatically secure or guarantee the allocation of funding. Ultimately, the House Appropriations Committee evaluates and determines which initiatives will be funded through the appropriations process. With its growing population, large public infrastructure and national security resources, San Diego County is an ideal candidate for federal funding. Working in conjunction with local businesses, schools and cities, Congressman Hunter puts forward initiatives that are widely supported and serve to the benefit of the local community. These initiatives are often in support of road and infrastructure improvements, community development projects and other legislative priorities such as education, border security and water resources development. As the ranking Republican on the House Armed Services Committee, Congressman Hunter also has an obligation to ensure our service personnel receive the best equipment available and our military remains the most technologically advanced and responsive fighting force in the world. This is a responsibility Congressman Hunter takes very seriously and, through the appropriations process, critical funding has been obtained for body and vehicle armor, ammunition and countermeasures to combat Improvised Explosive Devices. Congressman Hunter’s initiatives for Fiscal Year 2009 are as follows: Defense Hunter Initiative: Southwest Border Fence Amount requested: $5 million Contractor: National Guard The Southwest border continues to be a heavily utilized human and drug smuggling corridor into the United States. Since 1990, approximately 12.5 miles of double layer fencing, 80 miles of single fencing and 169.5 miles of road have been constructed and rehabilitated along this prolific smuggling corridor. As a result, drug traffic in the region has drastically declined and the smuggling corridor allowing easy access between metropolitan areas has been eliminated. Completing the fence construction project in San Diego will allow counter drug assets to be re-deployed in other areas. Funding will be used to continue work on the 14-mile double fence infrastructure project. This project supports the President’s border security initiative. Hunter Initiative: U.S. Navy Cancer Vaccine Program Amount requested: $3 million Contractor: Navy Health Research Center, San Diego The U.S. Navy has been sponsoring a U.S. Cancer Vaccine Program for several years. The results have been very promising and one patient made the following statement, “The vaccine worked—dramatically. My PSA level dropped rapidly to non-detect and has remained as such for the past year.” According to Captain DeInnocentiis at the Medical Service Corps, in 2007, “the program achieved considerable momentum.” He went on to note that future funds could be used to complete animal testing, pharmacology and toxicology studies, and submission of an Investigational New Drug application to the FDA.” Hunter Initiative: Affordable Weapon System Amount requested: $15 million Contractor: L3-Titan/MBDA/Raytheon/Boeing Current precision munitions, such as the Tomahawk Missile, while effective are extremely expensive. The current price of a Tomahawk Missile is nearly $1 million. The Affordable Weapon System (AWS), a program developed by Titan in San Diego, is an initiative to design, develop and produce a capable and affordable precision guided weapon. The AWS will carry a 200-pound payload to a target over 600 hundred miles away and fly to an area and loiter for several hours until a forward observer directs it to a target. In September 2007, four 24 month two phase study contracts were awarded by NAVAIR. The results from the Phase I and Phase II study will support the development of an initial concept design leading to a new start program in 2010 with a first article of delivery in 2016. Hunter Initiative: Iraqi Skin Disease Test Amount requested: $1.5 million Contractor: Allermed Laboratories, Inc. According to Ellen Embrey, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, Force Health Protection & Readiness: “Leishmaniasis is certainly a significant disease of operational importance to our forces serving in southwest Asia and a focal point for our force health protection and readiness efforts.” Leishmaniasis is spread by the bite of infected sand flies found in 88 countries, including Iraq and Afghanistan. U.S. soldiers serving in Iraq have confirmed cases of Leishmaniasis and hundreds more are expected to contract the disease. Early detection is important as infection by the parasite may not be immediately evident and can take up to six months to manifest in the infected individual. Leishmaniasis causes disfigurement and in some cases, death. During 2004-2005, over 1,000 cases of Leishmaniasis were treated in U.S. military hospitals. Development of a diagnostic skin test for Leishmaniasis will allow military health personnel to more effectively treat this disease. If a soldier has a positive response to the skin test, but does not have symptoms, the physician has the option of either starting treatment or monitoring the individual in the event there is a change in their health status. This funding will complete phase III of the testing and the data from the phase will be submitted to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for their approval. Once approved by FDA the test will be available to military physicians. Hunter Initiative: Wire Detection and "Brownout" Obstacle Avoidance System for Helicopters Amount Requested: $4.5 million Contractor: Trex Enterprises Wire strikes continue to be a frequent cause of Army helicopter accidents occurring during flight conducted at low-level, nap-of-the-earth altitudes. Flight into power lines, structural cables and hard to detect wires has resulted in catastrophic loss of aircrews, aircraft and related collateral damage. Additionally, operations in desert areas have proven to be dangerous as helicopters attempt to land while visibility is obscured by dust kicked up by rotor downwash – so called “brownout” conditions. Since 2002 the accident costs related to brownout crashes is more than $180M in addition to the death and injury casualties of our soldiers. The U.S. Army’s Night Vision and Electronics Sensor Directorate (NVESD) is evaluating a new, lightweight, low-cost, reliable wire detection prototype system. FY09 funding will modify sensors to increase operating range and field of view; modular components will be hardened to function in extreme helicopter vibration environments; and system platform integration and initial cockpit display design will begin. Hunter Initiative: High Performance Computing Capability Amount requested: $2 million Contractor: IBM High performance computing (HPC) capability is necessary to support the algorithmic “number crunching” in predictive modeling. One of DoD’s primary HPC centers is being upgraded and has offered its existing nodes to other centers. Transferring these nodes to the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center, San Diego (SSC-SD) and integrating them into the base clusters would further extend processing capability. Transferring this system to SSC-SD would more that double the existing processing power at SSC-SD. Hunter Initiative: IR LED Free Space Optics Communications Advancement Amount requested: $2 million Contractor: Torrey Pines Logic The Navy has a need for a secure non-RF alternative to radio communications. Many times vessels are unable to use radios due to RF jammers or the presence of IEDs. This program will allow the Navy to securely communicate using infrared light, enabling simultaneous data, video and voice communication in environments, where otherwise communication would be impossible or undesirable. Hunter Initiative: Joint Integrated Systems for Advanced Digital Networking (JIST-NET) Amount: $6 million Contractor: DEFCOMM BG Napper, Deputy Commander of Joint Task Force-Global Network Operations stated recently, “We would like to see JIST-Net continue the current development schedule and grow into a true Net – Centric SATCOM tool to support all levels of SATCOM and GIG management.” JIST-NET is an effort to improve Military Satellite Communications (MILSATCOM) planning, management and control capabilities. This program combines the three main MILSATCOM systems: MILSTAR (EHF band), DSCS (SHF band) and UFO (U1 band) to allow the Department of Defense to better meet requirements, deadlines and funding requirements for the warfighter. Hunter Initiative: ANG-Combat Communications on the Move Amount requested: $3.5 million Contractor: Telos Corporation/147th Combat Communication Squadron, San Diego, CA To improve wartime readiness, the Air National Guard is deploying portable wireless communications systems that are mobile, expandable, and fully interoperable with all potential communications services. This capability will improve wartime readiness and provide for a robust capability during a period of any potential disaster. The requested funding will purchase a system for the 147th Combat Communication Squadron in San Diego, CA. Hunter Initiative: Connectory Expansion for Rapid Identification of Technology Sources for DoD Amount requested: $1.3 million Contractor: East County Economic Development Council The Connectory allows San Diego Country Business to access our military acquisition system. DOD needs access to the best available technologies from all sources, especially small and medium sized companies not normally accessed by the Defense acquisition process. The Connectory helps our warfighters by providing them with the technology they need with the fast turnaround time that small businesses can provide. FY09 funding will expand the number of California companies profiled, specifically space-qualified electronics, precision machining, and legacy components. Hunter Initiative: Seafighter Amount requested: $10 million Contractor: L3/Titan The Sea Fighter, formerly known as X-Craft, is a high speed, shallow draft vessel for littoral warfare. Deployment of the Sea Fighter can demonstrate and validate many of the Navy’s operational concepts for littoral warfare, and more specifically reduce risk in the Littoral Combat Ship program. FY09 funding will allow for upgrades to the ship mast structure, enhanced active and passive survivability system modifications, pilot house armor, four face SATCOM, surveillance and navigation systems, and C4ISR installation, and integration and testing. Hunter Initiative: Hybrid Sounding Rocket Propulsion Contractor: SpaceDev Inc. There is a need for rockets that can provide a rapid response, low cost operational capability that can be called upon to meet missions for suborbital flights but do not require the long duration provided by orbital. The Hybrid Sounding Rocket Propulsion program provides the Department of Defense with a low cost rocket that can perform intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions in short turnaround times, including gathering real time data of battlefield situations. Hunter Initiative: System for Intelligent Task Assignment and Readiness (SITAR) Amount requested: $3 million Contractor: SYS Technologies The SITAR program will support accurate, predictive 21st century readiness models. These models will allow readiness decision makers at all levels to understand the likelihood of success or failure at both the operational and combat readiness level before committing the limited available resources. Hunter Initiative: Real-Time Hyperspectral Targeting Sensor Amount requested: $3 million Contractor: Surface Optics Corporation By miniaturizing a small, low cost Hyperspectral Sensor DoD will benefit from enhanced intelligence preparation, weapons targeting and reconnaissance. The Real-Time Hyperspectral Targeting Sensor will improve detection and discrimination of stealth targets in cluttered urban, littoral, and battlefield environments. Hunter Initiative: Submarine Detection Program Amount requested: $7 million Contractor: Information Systems Laboratories The E-Field buoy technology is highly capable of detecting underwater threats in acoustically difficult littoral environments. The tactical E-field buoy program will design and test air deployable sensors that are capable of detecting the electric field signature of a threat submarine. FY09 funding will fabricate and ocean test the performance of a cluster-type array of small E-sensors against a submarine target. Commerce-Justice-Science Hunter Initiative: San Diego Regional Communications System (RCS) Upgrade Amount requested: $3,500,000 The San Diego County Sheriff, in order to increase interoperability throughout the County, is upgrading the regional communications system to P25 capability. In San Diego, the RCS supports nearly 20,000 analog radios within the existing system. These radios must continue to operate while a P25 infrastructure is gradually put in place. The MOTOBRIDGE technology provides for connection of existing analog radios to a digital P25 system so that the existing analog field radio systems can operate on the existing 800 MHz RCS system. This technology also allows users from different departments to work together in the field and seamlessly connect to each other’s remote command and control and dispatch facilities. The 2007 wildfires that struck San Diego County clearly demonstrate that a timely and seamless transition to the RCS upgrade is critical for public safety throughout the region. Hunter Initiative: City of El Cajon Police Department—Community Policing Program Amount requested: $300,000 The City of El Cajon, California Police Department (ECPD) is confronted by a myriad of complex and pervasive problems that pose serious challenges to providing effective law enforcement and maintaining public safety. Amongst them is a growing multi-generational, ethnic-based gang population. These problems are exacerbated by El Cajon’s proximity to the Southwest border and the increasingly violent nature of the bi-national drug trade. The ECPD has worked to develop an innovative, community based policing approach that will bring stakeholders from the Police Department, City Hall and the community together to identify, target and implement solutions to local crime activity as well as broadly anticipate future criminal activity in order to put in place the infrastructure and man-power to stop it before it starts. This innovative program is based off a model created by the City of Aurora, IL, which resulted in a 20% reduction in shootings and, as a result, a 75% reduction in shooting deaths in just five short months. With the City of El Cajon seeing an up-tic in violent crimes over just last year, this community based policing initiative is critical to their ability to respond and harness the experience and dedication of the existing police, administrative and community infrastructure. Energy & Water Hunter Initiative: Borrego Springs Flood Control Study Amount Requested: $100,000 Project administered by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers This funding will be utilized to conduct a feasibility study to determine the appropriate solution to the severe property damage suffered as a result of seasonal rain flooding in the Borrego Springs community located in East San Diego County. These funds will be utilized to conduct an initial survey and create a cost breakdown for several approaches with an emphasis on water conservation. Hunter Initiative: New and Alamo Rivers Restoration Amount requested: $5,000,000 Project administered by U.S. Bureau of Reclamation This funding will be utilized to continue environmental restoration efforts at the New and Alamo Rivers in California’s Imperial Valley. Two pilot wetlands have been created with prior federal funding, including a 7-acre site near the city of Brawley and a 68-acre site near the city of Imperial. Both have proven highly effective in removing raw sewage, silt and selenium from these two rivers which are the sole inflow into the Salton Sea. Testing has indicated that these wetlands exceed 90% cleanup and a key by-product of this effort is the production of rich habitat for plants, fish, and waterfowl. Benefits also afford many outdoor recreational opportunities for Southern California’s growing population. Hunter Initiative: Water Transmission Line-Alpine, CA Amount requested: $4,000,000 Contractor selected by Padre Dam Municipal Water District This funding will be utilized to install a water transmission main that will serve the Alpine community in East San Diego County. Although a portion of this community receives water from the local Padre Dam Water District, this service does not extend to the eastern portions of the region. This project will provide the area with an alternative water source, bring the surrounding community under the jurisdiction of the local water district, and provide additional water resources to several residents, including an Indian health clinic which provides medical services to seven local area tribes and the entire community. Hunter Initiative: San Diego Four Reservoir Intertie Amount requested: $100,000 Project administered jointly by the City of San Diego and the Sweetwater Authority This funding will be utilized to conduct a reconnaissance study to connect four existing reservoirs in San Diego County that are currently underutilized for the purposes of improving water supply reliability and water yield to the region of 1.5 million residents. Interior, EPA and Related Agencies Hunter Initiative: Fire Safety and Fuels Reduction Program Amount requested: $21,000,000 Project administered by County of San Diego Years of drought have diminished forest health, providing an opportunity for widespread insect infestation levels throughout San Diego County. Conifer and oak tree mortality are estimated as high as 80%, with small isolated stands experiencing 100%. Dead, dying and diseased trees provide a ready source of fuel for catastrophic wildfires, which has become a significant threat to residents, businesses and the environment in the region. San Diego County will utilize this funding through their Fire Safety and Fuels Reduction Program to remove these trees along vital evacuation corridors. Hunter Initiative: El Monte Valley Groundwater Recharge Project Amount requested: $2,000,000 Project administered by Helix Water District The Helix Water District has embarked on an 8-year program to develop a unique source for drinking water that will significantly reduce the need for imported water, directly confront the challenges associated with the area’s severe water shortages, and combat the loss of habitat for threatened and endangered species through a groundwater recharge and habitat restoration effort. Helix Water District is seeking to implement a program that has significant local and state interests by producing a new water supply of renewable 5,000 acre-feet per year in San Diego County and raise existing groundwater levels in the El Monte Valley to support habitat activities and provide new local recreational opportunities. Specifically, the program calls for the District to secure highly treated wastewater from the Padre Dam Municipal Water District’s Santee Water Recycling Facility, provide additional treatment to purify the wastewater to meet or exceed Safe Drinking Water standards, pump and pipe this water to surrounding basins and then release it into the San Diego Riverbed where it will be allowed to seep down to existing groundwater levels. As the purified water is maintained in this location, it will receive additional natural treatment as it percolates through native materials. Extraction wells will be installed at strategic locations for conveyance to a water treatment plant as a new source of water for all District users. Hunter Initiative: Borrego Springs Pipeline Feasibility Study Amount requested: $275,000 Project administered by Borrego Water District in consultation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Since 1945, water extractions from the Borrego Basin began to exceed natural supplies resulting in an overdraft of 600,000 acre-feet and an annual overdraft of 14,000 acre-feet according to the California Department of Water Resources. Compounding the problem is the fact that this area is not connected to any surface conveyance systems that have the capability to deliver water to the area, nor is the region part of the San Diego County Water Authority. The Borrego Water District (BWD) is making efforts to define local aquifer characteristics and the amount of useable water in storage through the use of four monitoring wells which have recently been funded and constructed by state grants. BWD would utilize this funding to investigate the feasibility of constructing a 53-mile pipeline and two pumping stations to deliver water from the nearest water district in order to obtain and transport a new water supply to address the critical overdraft problem in the Borrego Valley Groundwater Basin. Labor-HHS-Education Hunter Initiative: Wounded Marine Careers Foundation Amount requested: $1,000,000 Wounded Marine Careers Foundation is a career training and job placement program located in San Diego, CA and established by a Hollywood producer and a three-time Emmy-award winning cinematographer. The Foundation is training wounded Marines and Navy Corpsmen to learn new skills in the media arts, secure IATSE Union membership for each graduate and guarantee job placement in the industry in order to launch these young patriots back into the civilian workforce as productive tax-paying citizens. The program has been approved by the Department of Veterans Affairs as a certified training facility eligible for severely wounded veteran students. Hunter Initiative: Cuyamaca Community College—math and science technology Amount requested: $283,000 Hunter Initiative: Edgemoor Hospital Amount requested: $1,330,000 Hunter Initiative: Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego Amount requested: $2,000,000 Hunter Initiative: Grossmont Community College—nursing program technology Amount requested: $300,000 This request is for equipment for health programs, primarily nursing. Current equipment is essential to maintain standards and reflect industry practice. Grossmont College has four nursing programs and trains approximately 170 nurses each year making it the largest program in San Diego and Imperial Counties. With medical errors periodically surfacing as a major concern, better equipment used to improve training is critical. Given the nationwide shortage of nurses, expanding these programs and ensuring they are of the highest quality is vital to our national health care system. Transportation-HUD Hunter Initiative: The Shoal Creek Pedestrian Bridge Amount requested: $2,500,000 Contractor selected by City of San Diego It is estimated that 25,000 vehicles travel the Ted Williams Parkway each day. A pedestrian foot bridge will significantly enhance the safety of children crossing this busy road to attend the Shoal Creek Elementary School. The City calculated a total project cost of $5 million. To date, approximately $2 million has been secured for bridge design and construction. The bridge is being funded through a combination of local and federal funds, and the coalition of parents that proposed the pedestrian bridge and continue push for its completion, intend to raise some funds through the local community. The project is presently under the design phase with the City of San Diego. Several bridge designs have already been proposed and are under consideration. Construction on the bridge is expected to begin within the year. Hunter Initiative: Boys and Girls Club of East County Amount requested: $750,000 Project administered by Boys and Girls Club of East County In collaboration with the City of El Cajon, the Boys and Girls Club of East County is renovating and upgrading the Wells Park field house, in addition to building a gymnasium on site. When connected to an existing local facility, the field house and gymnasium will accommodate over 400 children a day and increase annual membership by nearly 2,000. The remaining project cost is estimated at $3 million. Approximately $850,000 in federal funding has already been secured for construction and renovation. This money is complimented by funding obtained through corporations, private foundations and individual contributions. Hunter Initiative: State Route 163/ Clairemont Mesa Boulevard Amount requested: $8,000,000 Contractor selected by SANDAG The Clairemont Mesa Boulevard freeway interchange requires capacity improvements to meet predicted traffic volumes. By widening Clairemont Mesa Boulevard to six lanes and reconfiguring the west side of the interchange, traffic flows will be significantly enhanced and pedestrian safety will be greatly improved. Hunter Initiative: East County Bus Maintenance Facility Amount requested: $5,000,000 Contractor selected by SANDAG East County’s American with Disability Act transportation services are currently operated from a contractor-owned facility in El Cajon that was designed for a 50 vehicle fleet. With 127 vehicles in operation, the site is overcrowded, causing inefficient and unsafe conditions. There is no dedicated space for a reception area and administration, dispatch and maintenance facilities are not adequate to manage the current fleet of vehicles. The construction of a dedicated paratransit operations facility in conjunction with the East County Bus Maintenance Facility will supplement other forms of public transportation and provide an opportunity for expansion. Hunter Initiative: State Routes 52 and 67 Interchange Improvements Amount requested: $5,000,000 Contractor selected by SANDAG Improvements to SR52 will alleviate local congestion and improve traffic flow by adding lanes and extending segments of the freeway which, according to San Diego regional transportation authority, will reduce traffic patterns on parallel routes by more than 20 percent. This construction plan includes a full freeway interchange at State Route 67. Hunter Initiative: McGrath Family YMCA Amount requested: $2,000,000 Project administered by East County Family YMCA A research study was completed by the YMCA to gain information on the benefit of a facility in East County San Diego. The study revealed that 5,625 households showed significant interest in joining a YMCA facility and over 12,000 families in this particular service area have annual incomes of less than $35,000. A YMCA facility serving our children, teens and families will be an important part of the local community and contribute to the development of East County’s youth. Just like the Boys and Girls Club of East County, funding for this project is originating from a variety of sources. $150,000 in federal funding was allocated in FY2009. |
