Congressman Adam H. Putnam Fiscal Year 2010 Appropriation Requests

All of the requests submitted to the Appropriations Committee for consideration by Congressman Putnam are subject to strong guidelines established by the Congressman in order to provide a more transparent process. These guidelines are above and beyond those that are required by the House Appropriations Committee, Rules of the House of Representatives, and the House Republican Conference. The standards implemented by Congressman Putnam’s office mirror those outlined in legislation he introduced at the start of the 111th Congress (H.Res. 100). In accordance with these guidelines, all of the projects requested for Fiscal Year 2010 Appropriations adhere to the following:

• All projects are directed to public entities or universities. No private organizations (outside of universities) are provided with project funding;
• All projects include at least a 10 percent funding match from the recipient in order to ensure state and local support;
• No projects are named after a Member of Congress, which ensures that no “monuments to me” are funded;
• All project requests are available on-line (in a readable format) for review upon submission to the Appropriations Committee. This long-held office policy allows the constituents of the 12th Congressional District to review the important project priorities that are being requested.

To view additional details about the legislation introduced by Congressman Putnam, which incorporates all of the above standards, please visit the Legislative News Kit: http://adamputnam.house.gov/putnam/earmark_reform.shtml.

AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FDA, AND RELATED AGENCIES

The Hillsborough County - Ruskin Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory is a cooperative venture of Hillsborough County and the University of Florida. Research from the laboratory provides much needed science-based technologies in nutrition, reproduction, health, and water quality management issues for the tropical ornamental aquaculture industry, based primarily in the county

COMMERCE, JUSTICE, SCIENCE, AND RELATED AGENCIES

During the period of 2003-2007, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) made 3,481 methamphetamine related arrests, seized over 150,000 grams of methamphetamine, and eliminated 27 methamphetamine labs. From 2007-2008, the Bureau of Special Investigations of the PCSO made 260 methamphetamine related arrests, seized 10,795 grams of ICE meth, and closed down 8 methamphetamine labs. Federal funding through the COPS Meth account would cover law enforcement, intelligence gathering, training, community education and awareness, overtime costs, equipments, and training. Funding for this project would also continue information sharing capabilities and working relationships, internal and external, to the agency because it embraces problem oriented policing and a team approach to problem solving.

According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) Gang Unit, there are currently 16 known national gangs and 24 known local “hybrid” gangs operating in the Polk County area. Funding for this project would expand the PCSO current anti-gang programs in Polk County to investigate, document, coordinate, and suppress gang related activity. Currently, PCSO has a specialized Gang Unit which utilizes strategies to combat gangs through patrols, and developing presentations directed at children, adults, parents, teachers, school administrators, and other law enforcement.

Methamphetamine is invading communities across America at an epidemic rate and the Tampa Bay/Hillsborough County area has become a focal point of all methamphetamine drug distribution and abuse within Florida. Hillsborough County would use this funding to combat the problem through prevention, treatment, and cleanup of meth sites. Specifically, further federal funding would be used for training, law enforcement, multi-media anti-drug campaigns, and requisite supplies.

INTERIOR AND ENVIRONMENT RELATED AGENCIES

This important Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) project would continue vital preservation efforts and is an important component of SWFWMD’s comprehensive watershed management plan, The West-Central Florida Water Restoration Action Plan. This project is designed to result in significant wetlands restoration, protection of a critical source of drinking water, and the establishment of a major wildlife corridor.

Local water management officials have determined that public water demands in Polk County will increase significantly within the near future, and traditional water sources will not be sufficient to meet these needs. The Polk County Alternative Water Supply project will focus on the Lower and Upper Floridian Aquifer Regional Wellfield in an effort to identify new viable sources of water, meet environmental goals, as well as minimum flow levels. It will consist of the permitting and construction of several lower/upper Floridian wells in the southeast area of Polk County and is in conjunction with the Southwest Florida Water Management District.

This water systems improvement project would focus on preservation of water quality, watershed and drainage from threats of exotic aquatic species. Water preservation and conservation are important issues facing the community; however invasive, exotic aquatic species are severely hindering these efforts, which continue to expand in area lakes, creeks, and residential and regional drainage systems. Area water supply systems are becoming infested with these invasive species at an alarming rate, and interfering with drainage and water supply systems, therefore must be addressed.

FINANCIAL SERVICES AND GENERAL GOVERNMENT

The seven county region surrounding the University of South Florida (USF) Polytechnic is at the heart of the emerging Florida High Tech Corridor, attracting high skill, high tech industries dependent on a work force skilled in technology applications. The region surrounding Polk County is expected to double in population from 3.5 million to 7.2 million by 2050. In addition to the anticipated population explosion is a regional development and economic shift from a rural, agricultural and mining economy to the demands of the emerging Florida High Tech Corridor. Serving as the only Polytechnic destination in Florida’s higher education structure, continued funding for the Center would provide further implementation of a research and professional development center and engagement with current and emerging regional manufacturing, warehousing and distribution industries to develop, implement and assess a) information technology applications for manufacturing and distribution; b) a professional development delivery system to provide advanced education and training for the current workforce; and c) undergraduate and graduate degree programs and certificates in the field of Advanced Manufacturing Technologies.

LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND EDUCATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES

The State of Florida and the nation continue to experience a severe shortage of nurses that threatens to compromise our health care system and limit access to quality healthcare for thousands of Americans. As a result of the exponential growth of the College’s nursing programs, Florida Southern has an immediate need for additional instructional and laboratory space and is planning to construct a 3,000-square-foot expansion of the Blanton Nursing Building. The expansion would house an additional classroom equipped with state-of-the-art instructional technology and a second nursing skills lab outfitted with hospital beds and other furnishings, medical supplies, physiological models, high-tech “virtual patient” simulators, and computers and interactive software. These additional facilities are necessary to meet the training needs of FSC nursing students and to ensure that FSC’s nursing programs continue to meet national nursing education standards established by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education as well as Florida Board of Nursing accreditation and state licensing requirements.

A skills gap is hampering the ability of hospitals and clinics in Polk County, Florida to fill critical positions, expand, and adapt to meet the needs of an aging population. Polk Community College seeks funding to enhance its Nursing, Cardiovascular Technology (CVT), Diagnostic Medical Sonography (DMS), Radiography, and Emergency Medical Technology programs in order to address the critical need for qualified Allied Health professionals in the region. Funding will be used to develop an Echocardiography track in addition to the Cardiovascular Technology Invasive track Associate of Science (AS) degree program, hire additional faculty and staff, and purchase updated training technology. Funding is also requested to equip two classrooms with computer technology necessary for PCC’s Educator Preparation Institute’s (EPI) teacher-training courses in Technology.

Support for the Polk County Safety Surveillance System Pilot Project would be used to purchase and install alarm systems and surveillance equipment at 27 campuses throughout the school district. Implementation of these security systems will enable school officials and local law enforcement to monitor for and assess invasive acts of violence, theft and vandalism, coordinate effective responses to bring situations under control and protect approximately 20,000 students, teachers and other staff on these campuses. The Polk County School District is aware that the elevated number of theft, vandalism and violent incidents that occur on these pilot campuses is not conducive to providing students with a safe learning environment that will promote academic achievement. However, educators and school administrators alike know that students who do not feel safe in school have difficulty concentrating in class and retaining what is taught and that positive student engagement in the classroom is a key factor in promoting student achievement as reported by the Center for Comprehensive School Reform and Improvement.

TRANSPORTATION, HOUSING, AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES

Funding is requested for needed renovation improvements to the Polk County Agricultural Center, which also serves as an Emergency Operation Center (EOC) for Polk County. Originally constructed in 1948, the facility plays a central role in the Polk County community, contributing to the region’s economic strength and well-being. Renovations are needed to meet fire and safety standards, enabling its continued benefit to the area. Substantial contributions are being made by the state and local government.

Funding is requested for improvements to U.S. Highway 98 to reduce existing traffic congestion and improve mobility along the corridor, which links Bartow to Lakeland, one of the largest metropolitan areas. Specifically, funding would be used for right of way acquisition and construction of a continuous 6-lane corridor between SR 60 and SR 570 (Polk Parkway), two intersecting Strategic Intermodal System (SIS) facilities.

To continue to provide vital transportation bus service to several regional locations, funding is needed to replace, update and repair outdated buses, as well provide for facility upgrades and maintenance services.

For the replacement of aging buses and security technology upgrades.

AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FDA, AND RELATED AGENCIES

Citrus Canker and Citrus Greening pose severe threats to the future of the citrus industry, in Florida and other citrus-growing regions of the nation. Citrus Greening, recently manifested widely within the state of Florida, is a particularly devastating disease, which can cause the death of a healthy citrus tree within months of infestation. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, scientific research on this deadly disease is at the present time extremely minimal and preliminary. In addition, continued research is needed on Citrus Canker to preserve the capacity to market and ship fruit domestically and for export. Scientific research is essential on both of these diseases in order to prevent their spread to other citrus growing regions of the country.

The Tropical/Subtropical Agricultural Research (T-STAR) program conducts research and education for interdiction, eradication, and suppression of invasive plants, animals, insects and disease. The objective of this critical initiative is to develop strategies and tactics to stem the influx of invasive species into the United States to protect American agriculture. The T-STAR is administered by the University of Florida and the University of Hawaii and is funded as a special research initiative within the Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service (CSREES) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

A new disease in the southeastern United States, Laurel Wilt, kills avocado and other plants in the avocado family. Laurel Wilt Disease has spread rapidly along the eastern seaboard, and is less than now 70 miles of the main avocado production area of Florida. University of Florida (UF) research has established that a new fungus causes the disease and that the Redbay ambrosia beetle, Xyleborus glabratus, is attracted to and vectors the pathogen to avocado. However, very significant gaps exist in what is known about this pathosystem and how the disease and insect might be managed once it arrives in commercial avocado production areas. There is an urgent need for additional research funds to develop short-and long-term solutions to this problem for Florida and other avocado growing regions that are threatened.

DEFENSE

The Center for the Study of International Languages and Cultures (CSILC) is a resource within the University of South Florida that promotes global understanding through integrated programs of language and culture studies in critical world regions. Funding would be used to expand and enhance learning through integrated programs of language and culture studies in critical world regions. Taxpayers benefit from a cadre of highly trained military personnel assigned to undertake sensitive diplomatic work on behalf of the United States in their communications with their counterparts in the mid-east, S.E. Asia, China and Korea. It is vital that our troops engaged in this work have the best training in language and dialects that can assist our military to be successful in our work in these regions. This is a priority established by our commanders.

The Florida National Guard has the foremost Counter Drug Program in the nation. Florida is a key getaway for drugs entering the Southeastern United States. Florida National Guard Drug Supply efforts support Federal, State, and Local partners in numerous initiatives that resulted in the seizure of more than $2.6 billion in narcotics and drug related assets in FY2008. Further funding of this program would be used to ensure continued successful execution of counter-narcotics initiatives, operationally posture the program to meet evolving threats, and ensure the re-employment of Florida National Guard Counterdrug Members returning from deployment in support of the “War on Terrorism.”

ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT AND RELATED AGENCIES

The Tampa Harbor is a major shipping channel both for domestic and international trade, and of importance to national commerce, serving as Florida's largest cargo port. In January 2008, the Army Corps of Engineers completed the draft General Reevaluation Report, (GRR) which focuses on traffic congestion in the main Tampa Harbor channel, where extensive delays occur due to lack of adequate channel width. The Corps’ GRR found that the ship channel is too narrow to allow for safe two-way vessel traffic due to the introduction of new longer and broader cruise ships. The impacts associated with having a restriction of this nature include vessels waiting at berth or at the sea buoy while large cruise ships transit the channel. The GRR concurs with the Tampa Port Authority and the port community that the resulting congestion causes safety hazards and economic inefficiencies, and recommended widening select portions of the main channel.

The Tampa Harbor is a major shipping channel both for domestic and international trade, and of importance to national commerce, serving as Florida's largest cargo port. The Army Corps of Engineers’ annual Operation and Maintenance (O&M;) funds are needed for periodic dredging in the 70 miles of federal channels in the Tampa Harbor. For FY 2010, the Army Corps’ estimated capability is $5,620,000, to include various sections of the Tampa Harbor project, with an emphasis on the upper harbor.

Continued support for the University of Florida's Renewable Energy Program would further promote the development and production of bioenergy fuel sources to assist in the development of new energy technologies and improve existing energy efficiencies.

FINANCIAL SERVICES AND GENERAL GOVERNMENT

In order for small business citrus operations, in the 12th Congressional District and throughout Florida, to remain viable in an ever competitive marketplace and lessen their reliance on manual labor, an effective mechanical harvesting technology must be developed. These small business operations are currently at a competitive disadvantage, as they are one of the last sectors for which mechanization has become an effective alternative. Such technology is critical for the future economic survival of Florida’s small business-run citrus operations

According to the 2002 agriculture census, fully 80% (5800 of 7000) of all Florida citrus growers were small businesses (defined as less than 100 acres). These small growers are currently struggling against increased competition from foreign imports, labor shortages and high labor costs, the cost of pesticides and the financial burden of environmental permitting – all of which put our small business-run citrus operations at a disadvantage vis-à-vis imports from countries where labor is inexpensive and environmental requirements are few. For this reason, funding is sought to continue completion of the development of a mechanical harvesting abscission compound. To date, Florida citrus operators have invested over $20 million toward this end. Currently in the sixth year of a seven-year process, the project’s process is in a critical stage.

HOMELAND SECURITY AND RELATED AGENCIES

From Florida’s experience during the 2001 anthrax attacks, it was clear that the Florida Department of Health Bureau of Laboratories (BOL) lacked sufficient capacity and personnel to handle such an event. In response, the BOL and the University of South Florida Center for Biological Defense (CBD) developed a plan to improve the preparedness and capabilities of the laboratory system. One improvement was the development and provision of a white powder sample collection and delivery training program for first responders. The purpose of the proposed program is to expand and enhance the existing training and exercises in the areas of homeland defense, disaster preparedness and terrorism response activities. The goal is to reach at least 1,700 more individuals per year in training. The CBD will expand trainings offered by working with planning teams in the surrounding states to discuss lessons learned from previous disasters and exercises, to work collaboratively planning future exercises and to assess their training and exercise needs. Likewise, the exercises will range from workshops and tabletop drills to full scale exercises. Online educational programs will also be used to disseminate information about the exercises, drills and training programs.

TRANSPORTATION, HOUSING, AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES

Funding requested for a pilot road project to utilize phosphogypsum, a phosphate by-product, as a road construction material for a pilot transportation project. To be conducted through the Florida Institute of Phosphate Research, an Independent State Research Agency dedicated to the study of phosphate issues that impact Florida’s citizens, environment and economy.