Fiscal Year 2010 Appropriations Requests Submitted by Congressman Childers

Below is a list of the local projects I am seeking funding for in fiscal year 2010 on behalf of Mississippi's First District. These Congressionally Directed Funding requests, commonly known as "earmarks" allow members of Congress to direct federal funding to local priority projects within the districts they represent. Under the federal process, Members of Congress submit requests to the House Committee on Appropriations, which reviews each request and has the final say on which projects receive funding. Projects funded through an earmark still require the agency, business or organization that submitted the request to meet all application requirements of the federal agency administering the earmark before funding is distributed.

Funding for earmarks comes from money that has already been authorized in the Budget. In other words, earmarks do not tack on extra taxpayer dollars to the Budget or appropriations legislation. In addition, earmarks make up only 1% of Budget spending.

While earmarks contribute vital funding to many worthy projects throughout the First District, there has been a great deal of criticism of earmarks in the national media recently. High-profile examples of dubious projects like the "Bridge to Nowhere" in Alaska, have allowed this process to come under justified scrutiny. To address past abuses, the 111th Congress has taken several steps to improve openness and transparency of the federal earmarking process and set a goal to reduce earmarks by 50% from a historically high level in 2006.

Transparency and oversight measures are in place to ensure that the most appropriate and necessary projects are being funded. Strict rules have been adopted by Congress in the last two years that have been applauded by outside watchdog groups. Ryan Alexander, President of Taxpayers for Common Sense said of the new earmark rules: "The House has given us more information than we have ever had before on earmarks, and they deserve credit for that."

New Oversight and Transparency Requirements for Earmark Requests

Step 1: Members are Required to Post All Requests Online: During the 110th Congress, Congressman Childers posted earmark requests on his website to promote transparency and fiscal accountability. To offer more opportunity for public scrutiny of requests, all members of Congress are now required to post this on their websites at the time the request is made with the proposed recipient; the address of the recipient; the amount of the request; and an explanation of the request, including its purpose and why it is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds. (new as of January 2009)

Step 2: Certify No Financial Interest: At the time the request is made, the member of Congress must send the House Committee on Appropriations a letter identifying the earmark, the entity that will receive the funds and their address, what the earmark does, and a certification that neither the requesting member nor their spouse will benefit from it financially. The certification is available on the internet at least 48 hours prior to a floor vote on the bill. (new as of January 2007)

Step 3: Executive Review: The appropriate federal agency will be given 20 days to check that the proposed earmark is eligible for funding and meets the goals established by law for the program under which the request is made. (new as of March 2009)

Step 4: Early Public Disclosure of Subcommittee Decisions: Each spending bill must be accompanied by a list identifying each earmark that it includes and which member requested it. To increase the time available for public scrutiny of committee decisions, earmark disclosure tables will be made available to the public the same day as the House or Senate Subcommittee rather than the Full Committee reports their bill. (new as of January 2009)

Step 5: Capping Earmarks: Total funding for non-project based earmarks will be limited to 50% of the 2006 levels and no more than 1% of the total discretionary budget. (new as of January 2009)

Step 6: Votes: Members are able to offer floor amendments on earmarks under the rules of the House and Senate. Over 70 such votes were taken on individual earmarks in 2007 in the House.

Step 7: Competitive Process: The Executive Branch will be required to ensure that any earmarks directed to for-profit entities will be awarded through a competitive bidding process. (new as of March 2009)

Step 8: Rescissions: In the event that any ineligible projects are discovered after the earmark is signed into law, under the rescission process on the books, Congress can consider proposals by the President to rescind funding.

Additional Steps Taken by Congressman Childers to Increase Oversight and Transparency for Earmarks

Congressman Childers' policy on appropriations requests:

It is the policy of Congressman Childers to submit earmarks requested by local governments within MS-01, or those requested by a registered not-for-profit organization in MS-01. Congressman Childers generally opposes earmarks for private companies, unless the funding request relates to national security or a clear public interest. All requests will be reviewed and the determination of whether they will be submitted will be strictly based on their merits and are subject to the sole discretion of the Congressman. Congressman Childers has adopted the policy that he will not submit funding requests for private entities who have contributed to his political campaign, and he will not accept political contributions from private entities for which he has submitted funding requests.

All projects were selected for meeting at least one of the following new key criteria set by Congressman Childers:

• Cost-Effective ("bang for the buck"): uses limited funds efficiently to produce greater impact on quality of life or economic development in the community.
• Job Creators: creates or attract jobs; will bolster the First District's competitive advantage in the global economy.
• Infrastructure: invests in the development of local communities through the  enhancement of critical infrastructure in the region.

Below are the earmark requests I have submitted to the House Committee on Appropriations on behalf of Mississippi's First District. These requests do not automatically become law. Because the amount of earmarks is reduced every year, non-selection does not necessarily mean that a project is unworthy or doesn't qualify for federal funding. Only a handful of the earmark requests listed below will be included in the final legislation this year. The list below includes the name of the project, description of the project, amount of funding requested, and address of the recipient. The projects are listed in alphabetical order.

Agriculture

Breeding for Sweet Potato Lines Resistant/Tolerant to Chilling Temperatures-$253,000- Funding would be used by the North Mississippi Research and Extension  Center-Pontotoc Experiment Station to develop sweet potato breeding lines and  production strategies to increase tolerance to environmental stress, such as chilling temperature, which would result in higher yields and profitability for sweet potato producers. Recipient: Mississippi State University-Pontotoc Ext. 8320 Hwy 15 S, Pontotoc, MS.

Dietary Supplements Research, National Center for Natural Products- $4,800,000The National Center for Natural Products Research (NCNPR) works closely with the FDA/CFSAN to conduct research on biological and chemical properties of plants used in dietary supplements, in order to ensure the quality and safety of these products.  This project continues NCNPR's collaboration with FDA/CFSAN to develop the science base for ensuring the authenticity, quality and safety of botanicals sold as dietary supplements in the US. Recipient: University of Mississippi, Po Box 1848, Oxford, MS.

Mississippi Rural Health Corps- $2.1 Mil- This project is a joint endeavor of the State's 15 community colleges and MSU Extension services. The purpose is to improve rural health by increasing the number of health care providers serving rural MS, facilitating grassroots efforts to improve the health and health care of local communities and delivery of health education programs. The Corps was created in FY 93 and Funded through FY06 in recognition of ongoing problems related to access to adequate medical care in rural MS and resulting in substantial health outcomes. Recipient: Mississippi State University, University MS.

National Center for Natural Products Phase II Construction-$10,000,000-The NCNPR has established a premier program of research in discovery of new natural products and in understanding how they may be useful as new drugs or agrochemicals. To optimally achieve this vision of a premier, world-class natural products research organization, the center are pursuing an expansion of their current facility to a second phase. Phase II will provide capabilities for extension of Phase I discovery operations into the drug development stages. Phase II will allow enhanced capabilities for analog development, scaling up isolation and synthesis, analytical chemistry, characterizing mechanism of action, toxicology, and animal efficacy studies, and development of regulatory agency (FDA, EPA) approval filings. Recipient: University of Mississippi, Po Box 1848, Oxford, MS.

Commerce, Justice, and Science

Expansion of the Thad Cochran Research, Technology, and Economic Development Park, Mississippi State University-$17,500,000. Will provide funds necessary for Phase II construction of the Research, Technology, and Economic Park in order for companies to locate in close proximity to Mississippi State University.  Recipient:  Mississippi State University Post Office Box 6343 Mississippi State University, MS 39762

National Center for Justice and the Rule of Law University of Mississippi School of Law-$3,500,000.  The Center for Justice focuses on issues relating to the criminal justice system that are unique and address concerns of national interest.  It provides legal training for judges, prosecutors, lawyers, law students and develops model programs and publications for wide distribution.  Recipient:  University of Mississippi School of Law Post Office Box 1848 University, MS 38677

National Center for Remote Sensing, Air, and Space Law University of Mississippi School of Law -$3,000,000. The Center is a source for world-class remote sensing, geospatial, space and aviation legal research, materials, education, and outreach.  Recipient:  University of Mississippi School of Law Post Office Box 1848 University, MS 38677

Remote Infrasonic Monitoring of Natural Hazards National Center for Physical Acoustics-University of Mississippi-$3,200,000.  This project leverages the research previously conducted for the US Army Space and Missile Defense Command and the infrasound stations installed and maintained for monitoring of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty to focus a research project on the public safety applications of infrasound.  Recipient:  University of Mississippi Post Office Box 1848 University, MS 38677

Innovative STEM Education-University of Mississippi-$10,000,000. Funds are requested to implement a cohesive approach to recruiting students to careers in science and science education and to develop innovative strategies that will transform STEM education in the State of Mississippi, which has a high demand for recruiting and subsequently training individuals who wish to pursue careers in the above mentioned specialties.  University of Mississippi Post Office Box 1848 University, MS 38677

Department of Defense

Advanced, Long Endurance Unattended Ground Sensor Technologies-$8 Mil- Mississippi State University (MSU) proposes to conduct research and development of advanced, low power unattended ground sensor (UGS) technologies that will provide the special operations warfighter with total, reliable and up-to-the minute situational awareness.  The proposed program will support ongoing research and development efforts with the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) and their global war on terrorism.  Specifically, the follow-on program will continue the research and development of small, low power UGS technologies that support critical USSOCOM reconnaissance and surveillance missions by providing robust: (1) target detection, imaging, tagging and tracking; (2) high bandwidth, covert communication of data, voice and video; and (3) data/information exfiltration via satellite communications (SATCOM) for display using advanced visualization technologies.  Current prototypes developed under the existing program have demonstrated critical, new capabilities for USSOCOM for generating and delivering actionable intelligence from remote areas of interest to analysts and commanders worldwide in near real-time - ultimately allowing special operations forces (SOF) to think and react more quickly than the adversary. Recipient: Mississippi State University, PO Box 6301, Mississippi State, MS.

Advanced Soldier Portable Power Systems Technologies -$4.8 Mil-Power demand, created by equipment and systems that enhance situational awareness and operational capability in irregular warfare conditions, continues to increase on individual soldiers and amplify logistical problems. Future Force Warrior (FFW) power profiles operated by a common Grenadier illustrate an average power output requirement of 35 to 40 W as well as two 80 W peaks for 30 seconds. Ultralife and its partners will apply systems engineering and integration experience derived from its current effort to this problem, as well as move to manufacturing and commercialization of the hybrid power sources. Recipient: Ultralife Corp. 220 Churchhill Rd., West Point, MS.

Army Center of Excellence in Acoustics, National Center for Physical Acoustics -$4.2 Mil-The ongoing conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, and urban operations in particular, have highlighted the value of acoustic sensors to alert and assist U.S. forces to identify and engage unfriendly combatants.  The Army Center of Excellence in Acoustics (ACoEA), a cooperative partnership of the U.S. Army Armament Research and development Center (ARDEC) at Picatinny Arsenal and the University of Mississippi's National Center for Physical Acoustics, provides the U. S. Army with the latest in acoustics technology to support Army missions.  The ACoEA spans the research and development spectrum from basic research that underpins numerous technologies, to advanced research directed at resolving specific Army needs, to development programs providing systems to deployed forces. Recipient: University of Mississippi, PO Box 1848, Oxford, MS.

Blast and Impact Resistant Composite Structures for Navy Ships- $3 Mil- Funding will support modeling, analysis, fabrication and testing of blast/shock/impact resistant composite structures for the new generation of navy ships to achieve better mobility, survivability, stealth, safety, and lower costs to tax payers. Recipient: University of Mississippi, Po Box 1848, Oxford, MS.

Development of Drugs for Malaria and Leishmaniasis in U.S Military and Civilian Personnel-$3.4 Mil-Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR) in partnership with the National Center for Natural Products Research (NCNPR) at the University of Mississippi will identify safe and effective alternatives to mefloquine for malaria prophylaxis and treatment.  Recent cooperative work has opened new understandings of mechanisms of action and toxicities of the primaquine class.  WRAIR and NCNPR have outlined a program for development of new analogs and combinations that can save lives by treatment and prevention of infections, and reduce the side effects of such treatments. Providing benefit to U.S. military and civilian personnel serving in areas where Malaria is a threat. Recipient: University of Mississippi, Po Box 1848, Oxford, MS.

DDG-51 Hybrid Drive Propulsion System- $9 Mil-This program will continue the development of a hybrid drive propulsion system for the DDG-51 Class destroyers by utilizing advanced motor technologies in an alternate propulsion configuration.  This effort will save the Navy substantial fuel costs over the remaining life of each DDG-51 platform and will also extend the life of the existing propulsion system components. In addition to estimates that show that thousands of barrels of fuel per ship per year can be saved using this alternative propulsion approach, the hybrid drive system can also serve as an additional source of power when the ship is operating at higher speeds. The concept calls for design and development of a low speed propulsion alternative by utilizing current advanced electric motor designs and their requisite power electronics. This alternative system will provide more efficient low speed propulsion than the current DDG-51 gas turbine system and will provide additional electrical power generation at high speed operations.  General Atomics and DRS have teamed on this innovate propulsion technology to ensure even more jobs are created or maintained in Mississippi.  Recipient: General Dynamics, 112 Bryan Blvd. Shanon, MS.

Heron Maritime UAV (Southcom)-$15 Mil-The HERON Maritime UAS is a mature, proven, multi-role MALE UAV that provides commanders with the ability to perform Maritime Patrol missions at high and low altitudes by relaying wide area, real-time reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition, detection and identification information back to ground control and mission monitoring stations.  With the Heron's Maritime Patrol Radar (MPR) it can detect and identify small targets at very long ranges.  The HERON can fly much longer than manned systems, detect very small maritime objects, provide much quieter operations, requires fewer operators, and operate at a much lower cost than manned platforms. Recipients: Stark Aerospace, 109 Gardner Blvd, Columbus, MS.

Infectious and Airborne Pathogen Reduction-$2.8 Mil-Copper and its alloys possess an intrinsic capability to quickly inactivate common disease-causing bacteria that thrive in hospital settings on touch surfaces/ medical units as well as fungal (mold) growth in air-handling systems. This program completes the research, design testing and evaluation initiated through the Copper Antimicrobial Research Program and the Copper Air Quality Program.  Copper is now registered by the EPA to kill pathogens. The funding will support the research programs with an objective to evaluate improvements to infections through use of antimicrobial copper in medical units and HVAC systems in military units - tanks, VA hospitals, and barracks. Recipient: Luvata Grenada, 3984 Highway 51 South, Grenada, MS.

Next Generation Passive Sensor -$5.8 Mil-Passive acoustic sensors systems with signal processing detect, locate, classify, and track tactical and strategic threats on the battlefield, base perimeters, and homeland areas while maintaining a low probability of detection.  Funding will support efforts to continue to develop and field a modular electronics and signal processing system capable of operating on the ground, in the air, or submerged in littoral waters to detect tactical threats; and refine, field test, and add wireless communication capability to an infrasound array to improve long range detection of strategic threats such as nuclear test detonations as well as natural disasters such as earthquakes.  Hardware and software tools developed on this program allows for rapid prototyping of new products.  To defeat the many different threat scenarios currently evolving, efforts are focused on continuous improvements to the existing system.  The program team includes Miltec Research & Technology (25 jobs in Oxford, Mississippi) and the University of Mississippi National Center for Physical Acoustics (NCPA). Recipient: Milltec Research and Technology, 9 Industrial Park Dr. Suite 101, Oxford, MS.

Production of High Energy Density, "Green" Fuel for Fuel Cells-$3.5 Mil-There is a need for high energy density, environmentally friendly fuel for soldier power systems (higher energy density provides electric power for a given mission time while carrying less weight). Currently fuel for fuel cell soldier power systems is Sodium Borohydride (SBH, with formula NaBH4) which is made from chemical elements in a process known as the Schlessinger process which requires   lot of electrical energy. Recipient: Ardica Technologies, Inc. 2325 3rd St. Suite 424, San Francisco, CA.

SAVIOR (Surveillance Augmentation Vehicle) - Insertable on Request -$2.8 Mil- This project completes a production ready system that is a rapidly deployable ultra-high-resolution sensor/analysis and command & control vehicle yielding human target detection, recognition, and location in a 4 km diameter circle giving unprecedented levels of situational awareness for U.S. military operations. Recipient: General Atomics, 112 Bryan Blvd, Tupelo, MS.

VePro - Health Usage Monitoring and Vehicle Prognostics-$4.4 Mil-Vehicle and soldier safety are a major concern. Better understanding of operational usage severity is critical for vehicle designs to reliably meet needs at minimum cost and weight. Vehicle modifications, more aggressive operations "in theatre" and longer life expectations provide performance challenges. Durability failures continue to occur - endangering soldiers and increasing operational costs significantly. VePro will save some of the $80b spent annually on maintaining U.S. Army equipment, improve readiness and reduce danger to soldiers from unexpected vehicle failures. Recipient: NCode, 26555 Evergreen Rd. Suite 700, Southfield, MI.

Energy and Water

City of Amory Power Substation for supporting the Steel Development's Company Amory Plant-$4,200,000.  The implementation of the power substation is imperative to preserving the economic support mechanisms that have already been put into action by the City of Amory in coordination wit the Steel Development's Company commitment to the plant.  Recipient:  City of Amory, MS Post Office Box 457 Amory, MS 38821

Crow's Neck Environmental Education Center-$600,000-Funds will be used for restoration and renovation improvements to the center in collaboration with the Tennessee Tombigbee River Valley Water Management District. Recipient: Tombigbee River Valley Water Management District Post Office 616 Tupelo, MS 38802

Desoto County Regional Utility Authority-Regional Wastewater Program-Requested $8,000,000-Corp of Engineers-The funding would be used for the continuation of completing the authorized wastewater program.  Recipient:  Desoto County Regional Utility Authority 365 Losher Street Hernando, MS 38632

Gulf of Mexico Hydrates Research Consortium-University of Mississippi-$1,200,000 -this project is a continuation of the UMS administered Gulf of Mexico Hydrates Research Consortium's efforts to develop and deploy an integrated multi-sensor station on the seafloor of the Gulf of Mexico to provide continuous monitoring of gas hydrates and the gas hydrate stability zone via return of data in near to real time.  Recipient:  University of Mississippi Post Office Box 1848 University, MS 38677

Sweetpotato Energy Feedstock-$400,000-This project would incorporate the mass production of sweetpotatoes in the State of Mississippi to further expand research and development of turning sweetpotoes into a viable bio-ethanol resource, which could in turn alleviate consumer dependence on foreign oil resources.  Recipient:  Mississippi State University Post Office Box 9740 Mississippi State, MS 39762

Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway-$32,000,000-Corp of Engineers Operation and Maintenance.  Funds are vital to the general operation and maintenance of the waterway, which is critical to the economic development of the region.  Recipient:  Tennessee Tombigbee Waterway Post Office Box 671 Columbus, MS 39703

Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway-$3,000,000-Corp of Engineers-Wildlife Mitigation Purposes.  Funds will be used to protect and maintain wildlife along the waterway.  Recipient:  Tennessee Tombigbee Waterway Post Office Box 671 Columbus, MS 39709

Financial Services

Entrepreneurship Center to Develop New Entity Creation at Mississippi State University-$2,000,000-The proposed program is a follow on effort of an FY 2008 initiative that aims to establish a multi-year, ongoing collaboration and development endeavor to address the immediate demand for entrepreneurial expertise regarding the commercialization of existing and future discoveries generated by, or in collaboration with MSU.

Interior and Environment

Calhoun County Courthouse Renovation and Expansion, Calhoun County, MS -$5,450,000. These funds would provide for restoration and expansion of the courthouse that houses all county governmental functions. This project will allow the local government to more efficiently serve its rural constituency. Recipient: Calhoun County 103 West Main Street Pittsboro, MS 38951

Center for Marine Resources and Environmental Technology at the Mississippi Minerals Resources Institute-University of Mississippi -$900,000. Funding would be used to support the center, its research and its work with the Minerals Management Service (MMS)/DOI. The Center engages in research, training, education and technology transfer related to characterization and utilization of marine mineral resources of the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), promoting efficient identification, assessment, exploration. Research is currently focused on the completion of the first sea-floor observatory in the northern Gulf of Mexico designed to monitor the gas hydrate stability zone, the role hydrates play in sea-floor stability and their potential as an energy resource. Recipient: University of Mississippi Post Office Box 1848 University, MS 38677

DeSoto County Regional Wastewater Program-Desoto County Regional Utility Authority-$500,000. Funding would be used for construction and planning activities associated with the DeSoto County Regional Wastewater Program for EPA compliance requirements, public health benefits, water quality improvements and for projected growth in the community. Recipient: Desoto County Regional Utility Authority 365 Losher St., Suite 310 Hernando, MS 38632

Marshall County Sewer Improvements Project -Marshall County Board of Supervisors- $743,875. The project would provide a new sanitary sewer conventional collection system consisting of approximately 21,900 linear feet of gravity sewer line, 63 manholes, approximately 3,200 linear feet of pressure sewer line, and one lift station. The funding would be used for completing a new sanitary sewer conventional collection system that will improve public health for the rural communities it serves. Recipient: Marshall County Board of Supervisors P.O. Box 219 Holly Springs, MS 38635

Mississippi Hills Institute for Heritage Resource Management -University of Mississippi-$500,000. This project will create a management entity to develop and strengthen the heritage tourism industry in the region. The project will assist communities of the region in the conservation, interpretation, development, and marketing of their historic, cultural, natural recreational assets. Recipient: University of Mississippi Post Office Box 1848 University, MS 38677

Monroe County Courthouse Renovation -Monroe County, MS -$250,000. These funds would provide for restoration of the antebellum courthouse which is still in active use. Specifically, funding is for completing energy saving window renovations and re-enforcing multiple structural weaknesses across the building to decrease utility costs. Recipient: Monroe County P.O. Box 578 Aberdeen, MS 39730

Homeland Security

Panola County Fire Department -$215,000. Funding would enable the Panola fire departments to quickly assist Panolians in emergency situations and improve the general public safety with the addition of a fire truck.  Recipient: Panola County 151 Public Square Batesville, MS 38606

Labor/Health and Human Services (HHS)/Department of Education (ED)

21^st Century Learning System--$457,867. Funding would be used to increase involvement of the community in education with a special focus on 21^st Century Learning Skills that include: creativity, critical thinking, communication, information /media/technology, and life skills such as leadership, responsibility and productivity. It will also create and conduct sustained learning opportunities for teachers, invest in out-of-school learning supports and utilize learning strategies to enable parents to engage in and be accountable for local school improvements. Recipient: Mississippi University for Women 1100 College St. W-1603 Columbus, MS 39701

Alliance for Mississippi Leaders & Entrepreneurs--$583,509. Funding would be used to bring together business leaders, start-up entrepreneurs, second tier entrepreneurs, social entrepreneurs and underrepresented populations by providing them with the services and information needed to become successful leaders and entrepreneurs. The AMLE will use formal networking opportunities, leadership development, and for-profit and non-profit entrepreneurship to accomplish their mission. Recipient: Mississippi University for Women 1100 College St. W-1603 Columbus, MS 39701

Central Sterile Processing and Case Cart Assembly Facility--$4,250,00. Funding would be used to create a state-of-the-art central sterile processing and case cart assembly facility to allow medical instruments to be cleaned, processed, sterilized and matched with disposable items to allow a surgeon to perform sterile surgery on a patient.  More than 120 jobs will be created for the construction and equipment implementation of this project that will handle the process for all North Mississippi Health Services system hospitals, surgery center and all clinics. Recipient: North Mississippi Health Services 1016 North Gloster Street Tupelo, MS 38804

Community Wellness Clinic-$5,000,000. Funding will be used by the University of Mississippi, School of Applied Sciences for Infrastucture development of the Community Wellness Clinic in Oxford. The Community Wellness Clinic will serve the region by offering quality clinical services, at a reasonable cost in an easily accessible facility. There is significant unmet need for health and wellness services in the region, and the school is uniquely positioned to provide these services, while training graduate students to become the next generation of clinicians in evidence-based assesment and treatment strategies in social work, speech language pathology, dietetics and nutrition, health promotion, and exercise science. Recipient: University of Mississippi P.O. Box 1848 Oxford, MS 38677

Department of Human Services Building Renovation-$1,100,000. Funding would be used to renovate a county-owned industrial building for office use by the Prentiss County Department of Human Services. Current facilities are inadequate to meet the need of Prentiss County. Recipient: Prentiss County P.O. Box 477 Booneville, MS 38829

Family Medicine Physician Residency and Training Program Expansion-$1,800,000. Funding would be used to expand the North Mississippi Health Services Family Medicine Residency training program facility to continue to provide the patient population with access to clinical care and primary care physicians in rural Northeast Mississippi. Since 1996, FMRC has enrolled 64 trainees, graduated 54 family physicians, with 49 remaining in practice in Mississippi. The program has exceeded the capacity of the current physical plant. Expanding this initiative will require creating new clinical, training, and administrative spaces. Recipient: North Mississippi Health Services 1016 North Gloster Street Tupelo, MS 38804

Itawamba Community College Nursing School Program-$7,229,000. Funding would be used to provide for the consolidation of the Tupelo and Fulton Nursing School Programs in order to provide additional nursing specialists to the increasing population of a five county region. In the previous academic year, Itawamba Community College only had the physical capacity to accept 26 practical nursing admissions out of 125 qualified applicants. Relocation and consolidation under one central campus located in Tupelo, MS could in the long run save costs, while increasing admissions in the nursing school program. Recipient: Itawamba Community College 602 West Hill Street Fulton, MS 38843

Mississippi in Motion, MAFES, -$450,000. Funding would support the Mississippi In Motion Diabetes Health Maintenance Program (MIM) is a research based, peer-reviewed curriculum for a community/industry based 12-week program designed to promote healthy eating and to encourage positive physical activity behaviors for adults 18 years and older. Participants complete a pre-test and post-test; heights and weights are obtained and body mass indices (BMI) are calculated at the beginning of the program and at the end of the 12-week educational session. Recipient: Mississippi State University Post Office Box 6343 Mississippi State University, MS 39762

NEMCC at New Albany Campus Nursing Program Expansion-$1,600,000. Funding will be used to expand the New Albany NEMCC campus and its health care offerings in the nursing program at the facility. The improved technology and space at the campus would help accommodate the recent rapid increase in enrollment, from 96 to 268 students in five years. In addition, enrollment is expected to further increase after the recent approval of a 2-year tuition assistance guarantee program for graduating high school students in rural Union County. Recipient: Northeast Mississippi Community College at New Albany 109 East Main Street New Albany, MS 38652

Legislative Branch

American Music Archives-University of Mississippi- $500,000.  The American Music Archives is a partnership between the Library of Congress and the University of Mississippi.  The project utilizes the resources of both institutions to preserve and promote American music heritage, which is vital to the cultural preservation of the State of Mississippi.  Recipient University of Mississippi, Post Office Box 1848, University, MS 38677

Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD)

City of Olive Branch, MS-Craft Road Widening-$3,000,000.  Upgrading this section of Mississippi Highway 78 is central in reducing the traffic burden for a section of highway that on a daily basis provides transportation access to over 15,000 vehicles.  Recipient:  City of Olive Branch, MS 9200 Pigeon Roost Olive Branch, MS 38654.

City of Tupelo, MS-Major Thoroughfare Northern Loop-$3,000,000.  This is an ongoing federal, state, and local transportation project that will dramatically alleviate traffic congestion in the City of Tupelo, MS and the immediate surrounding areas.  Recipient:  City of Tupelo, MS Post Office Box 1485 Tupelo, MS 38802

Pontotoc County Industrial Park connection to Highway 278 through the extension of Beulah Grove Road.  $1,200,000.  Funds are essential to improving infrastructure access to the Pontotoc County Industrial Park in order to recruit private enterprise to the region and county.  Recipient:  Pontotoc County, MS Post Office Box 38863 Pontotoc, MS 38863

Panola County, MS Industrial Park-$1,500,000-Funds will be used to make general infrastructure improvements to the access and construction of the Panola County, MS Industrial Park.  Recipient:  Panola Partnership  150A Public Square Batesville, MS 38606

University of Mississippi Gateway Corridor Project-$6,000,000.  Physical access to the planned Phase II of the University's Research Park is fundamental to recruiting and retaining private enterprise in close proximity to the University of Mississippi.  Phase II of the Research Park will attract a wide range of industry to the University and the region.  Recipient:  University of Mississippi Post Office Box 1848 University, MS 38677

University of Mississippi Transportation Center-$500,000.  The University Transportation Centers program funds universities across the nation to research and develop solutions to transportation related issues.  The proposed project will develop a UTC at the University of Mississippi to research innovative ways to disseminate traffic information to the traveling public.  Recipient:  University of Mississippi Post Office Box 1848 University, MS 38677