I hereby certify that to the best of my knowledge the requests (1) are not directed to an entity or program that will be named after a sitting Member of Congress; (2) arenot intended to be used by an entity to secure funds for other entities unless the use of funding is consistent with the specified purpose of the earmark; and (3) meets or exceeds all statutory requirements for matching funds where applicable. I further certify that should this request be included in the bill, I will place a statement in the Congressional Record justifying the use of federal taxpayer funds. I certify that this project does not have a direct and foreseeable effect on the financial interests of my spouse or me.
Transportation High Priority Projects:
South Orient Rail Line Rehabilitation in San Angelo, TX
Project Amount - $32,00,000
The South Orient Rail line connects Ft. Worth, Texas to the deep water port in Topolobampo, Mexico on the pacific coast. This funding will be used to repair railroad crossings that are found in poor or worse condition to improve rail safety, speed and allow the transport of new wind turbines and towers in San Angelo, TX. The project is of the highest priority to San Angelo and the city is ready and willing to contribute to the line for speed and safety and sees the potential in future commercial growth with new freight transit from the deep water port in Mexico and Chihuahua City.
US 385 Expansion, Crane, TX
Project Amount- $64,000,000
The specific segment for which funding is requested is US Highway 385 south of Crane to McCamey for a total of 21 miles, including a new location relief route around McCamey. The larger system of projects is the proposed “La Entrada al Pacifico Trade Corridor” which was designated as such by the Texas Legislature in May 1997 and as a national High Priority Corridor by the US Congress in SAFETEA-LU.
SH-349 Expansion in Dawson and Martin Counties, TX
Project Amount - $79,200,000
Widen the 45 mile section of SH-349 in Martin and Dawson County by two additional lanes as a portion of Trade Corridor 56 designated and funded (1.6 mil) by SAFETEA-LU as a high priority trade corridor. This section of SH-349 is a part of the Ports to Plains Corridor, two National High Priority Corridors and the Texas Trunk System.
FM 2657 Expansion in Lampasas County, TX
Project Amount - $7,785,000
Widen FM 2657 from US 190 to CR 4744 in Lampasas County, Texas. The Texas Department of Transportation considers this project as critical to the transportation need of Lampasas County, Texas and the United States.
SH 158 Expansion in Sterling County, TX
Project Amount - $29,022,150
Reconstruction and expansion of SH 158 from US 87 to 9.5 miles west of US 87 in Sterling County to a four –lane divided facility. The Texas Department of Transportation considers this critical to the transportation needs of Sterling County, Texas and the United States.
US-87 Relief Route in Lamesa, TX
Project Amount - $107,339,975
US-87, Lamesa Reliever Route, in Dawson County, is a new location controlled access, rural freeway section located east of Lamesa, Texas from intersection of U.S. 87/180 to the intersection of U.S. 87 and F.M. 825 North of Lamesa.
FY 2010 Member Requested Funding:
South Orient Rail Line Rehabilitation in San Angelo, TX-The South Orient Rail line connects Ft. Worth, Texas to the deep water port in Topolobampo, Mexico on the pacific coast. This funding will be used to repair railroad crossings that are found in poor or worse condition to improve rail safety, speed and allow the transport of new wind turbines and towers in San Angelo, TX. The project is of the highest priority to San Angelo and the city is ready and willing to contribute to the line for speed and safety and sees the potential in future commercial growth with new freight transit from the deep water port in Mexico and Chihuahua City. I am requesting funding in the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill in fiscal year 2010The entity to receive funding for this project is the Texas Department of Transportation, 125 East 11th Street, Austin, TX 78701- Request amount: $1.5 million
Texas Mathworks- Midland Independent School District in the FY 2010 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations bill, Department of Education, Higher Education (Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education) account. The entity to receive funding for this project is the Midland Independent School District (ISD), located at 615 W. Missouri Ave., Midland, TX, 79701. Midland Independent School District, Midland, Texas. (Texas State University System on Behalf of Midland Independent School District). Texas Mathworks is a center for mathematics education formed by Texas State University System to develop model programs and self-sustaining learning communities that engage Texas K-12 students in doing mathematics at a high level. Mathworks programs annually impact over 600 students in the Midland Independent School District (ISD), especially targeting women and students from underserved backgrounds who traditionally have not had as many opportunities in math and science. Funding in Fiscal Year 2010 will be used to recruit and train six-to-eight teacher leaders from Midland Consolidated ISD at Mathworks training sites. Training includes observing a camp in the morning and then learning how to teach their own camp in the afternoon. Teachers will conduct their own Math Camp, assisted and mentored by the master teachers. Students will attend the junior summer math camps. During the academic year, the master teachers will pilot Part I of the curriculum, mentored and assisted by a full-time mathematics Peer Coach. These teachers will become part of a professional Math Inquiry Group. The Peer Coach will work closely with the faculty mentor to observe all teachers in their classrooms, give input and guidance and collect data required by the external evaluator.-Request amount- $361,292
Laura Bush Tissue Bank, Lubbock Texas (Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Odessa Campus) in the FY 2010 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations bill, Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) account. The entity to receive funding for this project is the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, located at 3601 4th Street, Lubbock, Texas. Funds would be used at the Odessa, Texas Campus. The mission of the Laura W. Bush Institute for Women’s Health is to cultivate and advance multi-disci-plinary science in women’s health and to promote the well-being of women through research, educa¬tion, and community outreach. This initiative will provide resources for tissue banks at Texas Tech University Health Science Center (TTUHSC) dedicated to women’s health and research into gender differences in health. This project will accomplish the following: 1) Create a women’s health tissue bank on the TTUHSC campuses in Amarillo, El Paso, and Odessa to receive, store, and distribute a full range of biological speci¬mens, such as whole organs, tissues, cells, and DNA. 2) Develop protocol to establish an organized repository of characterized tissues for collection and main¬tenance useful for a wide range of women’s health research studies. 3) Collaborate with the Research Institutional Review Board to assist in the development of standards in methodology, management, and education regarding tissue bank specimens. 4) Develop a priority hierarchy for tissue distribution to assist researchers in fulfilling the purpose of tak¬ing research from the laboratory to the patient. 5) Create a reporting standard and method for researchers describing the purpose, process, and evalua¬tion of the tissues used in laboratory research. 6) Improve the knowledge and breadth of research in the field of women’s health and gender differences in health.- Request amount: $975,000
I am requesting funding for the West Texas Center for Influenza Research, Education and Treatment, Lubbock, Texas. (Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Odessa Campus) in the FY 2010 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations bill, Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention account. The entity to receive funding for this project is the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, located at 3601 4th Street, Lubbock, Texas. Funds would be used at the Odessa, Texas Campus. The West Texas Center for Influenza Research, Education and Treatment at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center would provide a model of care of the influenza patient using a large network of primary care physicians from around West Texas. It would also develop an infrastructure for clinical research and the study of new drugs and therapies. The Center would provide education to patients and families in order to limit the spread of disease. It would further establish a clinical approach to pandemic influenza should such an epidemic occur. Request Amount: $1.5 million
I am requesting funding for the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) Program, at the Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas. (San Angelo Police Department in partnership with ALERRT) in the FY 2010 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill, Office of Justice Assistance, Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grants Program account. The entity to receive funding for this project is the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) Program at Texas State University-San Marcos, located at 601 University Drive, San Marcos, Texas, 78666.(San Angelo Police Department in partnership with ALERRT). ALERRT was established by Texas State University to provide first responders with the tactics they will need to effectively respond to active shooter situations. ALERRT enables officers that have successfully completed a special “Train-the-Trainer” course to train fellow officers at their home agencies, providing an efficient and cost-effective manner to increase the number of officers with these life-saving skills. Continued funding for ALERRT in FY10 will enable the program to train more patrol officers, including San Angelo Police Department, help establish the program as a national training system; further build train-the-trainer capacity; enhance retention of learned skill by former students; provide valuable research and evaluation to improve first responder abilities; and provide investigative training and support for evolving threats. In addition to providing ALERRT to the more than 400 entities requesting it, FY10 funding and beyond will be integral to sustain and build capacity for a nation-wide effort to standardize a level of preparedness among the more than 650,000 peace officers employed by law enforcement agencies across the United States. Reqeust amount: $1.3 million
I am requesting funding for Emergency Communications Equipment, Midland, Texas in the FY 2010 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill, Department of Justice ,Office of Justice Programs account. The entity to receive funding for this project is the City of Midland, located at 300 North Lorraine, Midland, Texas 79702. Funding for this project would be used to upgrade backup equipment for Midland’s emergency communications system, which is used by the city’s police, firefighters and other first responders. In the past, not all first responder groups in Midland could communicate with each other due to differences in their systems. An advantage of Midland’s new, upgraded communications system is interoperability, enabling police and other first responders to communicate directly. The backup equipment must be upgraded so that it will properly take effect should the main system fail during an emergency. Request amount: $325,000
US 385 Expansion ROW, Crane, TX - The specific segment for which funding is requested is US Highway 385 south of Crane to McCamey for a total of 21 miles, including a new location relief route around McCamey. The larger system of projects is the proposed “La Entrada al Pacifico Trade Corridor” which was designated as such by the Texas Legislature in May 1997 and as a national High Priority Corridor by the US Congress in SAFETEA-LU. I am requesting funding in the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill in fiscal year 2010The entity to receive funding for this project is the Texas Department of Transportation, 125 East 11th Street, Austin, TX 78701- Request amount: $700,000
Concho Valley Multi-Modal Terminal in San Angelo, TX - The funding will be used for construction of a multi-modal terminal that will house customer service centers, administrative offices and development space for the Concho Valley Transit District. The Texas Department of Transportation has awarded a multi-year $1.5 million grant to support future development and the project received. This project has been authorized by SAFETEA-LU. I am requesting funding in the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill in fiscal year 2010The entity to receive funding for this project is the Texas Department of Transportation, 125 East 11th Street, Austin, TX 78701- Request amount: $500,000
Defense Critical Languages and Cultures Initiative - (Center for Security Studies) Angelo State University. The funding would be used for the University’s Center for Security Studies which will produce cross culturally competent students able to understand and influence outcomes in support of American national security objectives. The Center for Security Studies will directly benefit Goodfellow Air Force Base by providing an educational degree completion for faculty as well as research opportunities on existing and emerging Air Force language, culture and intelligence requirements. Extra instructional capacity for Goodfellow Air Force Base in Mandarin and Arabic is also achieved. Request amount: $2.5 million
Compact Pulsed Power Initiative - The funding would be used by Texas Tech University for the development of explosive-or battery-operated, compact, high-power radiation sources and associated antenna systems capable of destroying electronics used for radars, communications, computer, or remote detonation devices, and others that can disable car engines. The information gained from this research will be significant in furthering our nation's defense capabilities especially in the area of disabling and destroying IEDs. Request amount: $8.5 million
Mobile Firing Range for the Texas Army National Guard - The mobile firing range is a self contained range that allows for the firing of pistol and rifle systems for the Texas National Guard. Currently there is no opportunity to fire weapons for training or qualification without traveling to a certified range on a military installation. The Texas National Guard currently does not have access to any indoor ranges that can be used to fire the M16/M4 which is the current armament for 90% of the soldiers within the Texas National Guard. The Mobile Firing Range will allow soldiers to train with their assigned weapons at home station. This system is a training and force multiplier due to the negation of travel and lodging, and staging needed when conducting this training on a military facility. Request amount: $1.5 million
Marksmanship Skills Trainer for the Texas Army National Guard - The funding would be used for procuring a portable self contained system that allows for multiple scenarios from training to combat skills. This is a multiple user system allowing for high output during times of training constraints. The trainers will be stationed at the various Texas Army National Guard facilities allowing for maximum use for the soldiers. The system allows for ongoing marksmanship training in a simulated environment without the expenditure of ammunition or need to travel to a weapons range. Request amount: $2.2 million
Modular Shoot House for the Texas Army National Guard - The funding would be used for procuring a self contained combat scenario system for team training in a safe 360 degree ballistic, combat simulated environment. The Modular Shoot House (MSH) will be placed on Texas Army National Guard training facilities as determined by training needs of the geographic regions in the state. New combat training tasks will be exercised using the MSH by multiple units who have building clearing as part of their mission essential tasks. There is currently no Texas Army National Guard controlled MSH. The addition of this system will greatly enhance training and readiness prior to unit deployment. Request amount: $2.2 million
Virtual Door Gunner Trainer (VDGT) for the TXARNG - The funding would be used for procuring a VDGT device that provides door gunnery and crew coordination training for UH-60 Blackhawk crewmembers. The VDGT also incorporates precision gunnery training to improve target engagement skills. This system is mobile and can be moved between TXARNG aviation facilities that have UH-60s. The system enables crews to train without leaving home station or flying additional hours. Request amount: $1.1 million
Field Deployable Hologram Production System - The funding would be used by Zebra Imaging, Inc, 9801 Metric Blvd, Austin, TX, for completing development of a compact production unit that produces 3D holographic imagery for mission planning and intelligence purposes for U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Army requests a self-contained, field-deployable EHI production system to accelerate imagery delivery to combat forces. The goal is a more efficient, cost effective production system that provides the deployed war fighter needed planning and intelligence capabilities on a much faster basis. Request amount: $4.8 million
Center for Hetero-functional Materials (CHM) – The funding for this project would be used by Texas State University at San Marcos, TX. In addition, the effort is a partnership with San Angelo University. The U.S. Army Research and Laboratory Material and Devices division has deemed the Center for Hetero-Functional Materials (CHM) as critical to developing next generation devices for the military. CHM provides the infrastructure and resources required for research and development of new materials and processes that will be required for the fabrication of next generation military devices. This initiative integrates multiple disciplines to help produce a new range of materials that will lead to new devices with unprecedented capabilities. Request amount: $5 million
STJTC (Land Acquisition for South Texas Training Center) - The funding will be used for the Acquisition of 25,000 acres for the South Texas Training Center for the Texas National Guard. The Texas National Guard requires a training center in south Texas in order to maximize training time on drill weekends, properly conduct pre-mobilization training, and stage for response to coastal and south Texas natural disasters. Request amount: $45 million
A request to Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service (CSRESS), Special Research Grants Account, to the Animal Fiber Research Program. This funding would assist in the ongoing Wool Research Program. This program is a partnership between the Texas Agriculture Experiment Station in San Angelo, TX, New Mexico State University and Montana State University. This program helps enhance the quality and quantity of wool and mohair produced in this country. In addition, significant efforts are being made to work with small ruminants as a means to control invasive brush which is a major issue in many parts of Texas degrading rangelands and taking precious water. The project is located at 7887, U.S. Highway 87N, San Angelo, Texas, 76901. Request amount: $300,000
A request to Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service (CSRESS), Special Research Grants Account, to provided funding for the Integrating Crops and Livestock for Sustainable Agriculture Systems research to be conducted at Texas Tech University. This funding would be used to conduct long-term, field-scale agricultural ecosystem research on integrated crop, forage, and livestock systems compared with plant and animal monocultures to elucidate system, ecological, and economic behavior to meet the critical needs of agriculture. Specifically, this includes increasing food, feed, fiber, and fuel production in systems that are sustainable in the short- and long-term, environmentally benign or beneficial, and economically profitable, to translate knowledge gained to increase public awareness, and to implement practices across all applicable ecosystems. The project research would be centrally located at Texas Tech University, located at 2500 Broadway, Lubbock, Texas 79409. Request amount: $3.5 million
A request to Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service (CSRESS), Special Research Grants Account to continue partial funding of the state of the art multidisciplinary research approach at the International Cotton Center at Texas Tech University. The International Cotton Center conducts cotton research programs for cotton production systems and provides market and policy analysis for natural fibers (cotton, wool, and mohair) in an effort to increase profitability and maintain viability of all segments of the U.S. cotton industry in an increasingly competitive and volatile international market. The project research would be centrally located at Texas Tech University, located at 2500 Broadway, Lubbock, Texas 79409. Request amount: $3 million
A request to Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service (CSRESS), Special Research Grants Account, to continue partial funding for the Center for Food Industry Excellence at Texas Tech University. The Center for Food Industry Excellence is a federal and state supported program that conducts systematic development and evaluations of production, processing and preparation methods of food products to achieve a safer and more nutritious food supply. The project research would be centrally located at Texas Tech University, located at 2500 Broadway, Lubbock, Texas 79409. Request amount: $3 million
A request to Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service (CSRESS), Special Research Grants Account, to the Center for Infectious Disease and Applied Genetics of Farmed Deer. Similar to any commercially produced livestock species, farmed deer species suffer from a variety of infectious, parasitic, and toxic diseases that can significantly impact agricultural propagation and commercial breeding efforts. Funding for this project will be used for research to develop cervidae-specific tools for diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of disease that routinely effect farmed and wild deer. This funding will also support the mapping of the deer genome. This project is a consortium effort led by Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine located in College Station, Texas 77843. Request amount: $5 million
A request to Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service (CSRESS), Special Research Grants Account, to the Aflatoxin Center of Excellence for the South. The global demand for corn includes its use for food, feed, fuel, and fiber. Increased demand has resulted in diminishing grain stocks. Heat, high humidity, drought, and increased insect damage common to the South predispose corn to infection by Aspergillus flavus and contamination with aflatoxin. Aflatoxin is toxic and carcinogenic to humans, domesticated animals and wildlife. It limits the utility of corn produced in this region. Due to these health concerns, the allowable levels of this harmful compound in food and feed are regulated by most governments, limiting interstate and international trade. The Aflatoxin Center of Excellence of the South will result in a coordinated effort between Texas Agrilife Research, Auburn University, Mississippi State University, North Carolina State University and the University of Georgia. Texas A&M (located in College Station, Texas 77483) will be the lead institution and as a result will receive fifteen percent of the total amount for overhead costs. The remaining eighty five percent will be divided equally among all Universities listed above. Request amount: $5 million
A requested program increase in USDA-ARS budget, Cotton Production and Processing Research Unit (Ginning Lab) of the Cropping Systems Research Laboratory account. This laboratory is the only facility involved in researching quality issues related to mechanical stripper harvesting of cotton and ginning the stripper harvested cottons of the Southwest region. Further, current staff has undertaken the establishment of a first class particulate matter analysis lab with new sampling and lab equipment, not previously available in the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) system, and has demonstrated the ability to support research on particulate matter emissions conducted by its own and other gin lab researchers. This research capability supports the ongoing efforts of the USDA’s Agricultural Air Quality Task Force in advising the Secretary on critical air quality issues facing all production agriculture, not just cotton production nor just cotton ginning. This funding increase would be used so that the facility would be able to provide for addition of 1 full time scientist to conduct harvesting research returning the facility to its historic total level of 4 research scientists. The funding increase will also provide for hiring adequate support technical staff for all existing projects. The entity to receive funding for this project is the Lubbock Ginning Lab, located at 1604 East FM 1294. Lubbock, TX 79403. Request Amount: $2,007,688
Andrews Arsenic Filtration Pilot Project - A request for $400,000 from the State and Tribal Assistance Grant Account for the Andrews Arsenic Filtration Pilot Project in Andrews, Texas. This funding will assist the City of Andrews in working with the EPA and TCEQ to meet the stringent requirements for fluoride and arsenic in its drinking water. With a population of 2,000 people, the $10 million need to construct a centralized water treatment facility is out of reach. Andrews is partnering with TCEQ on a pilot project to demonstrate the feasibility of utilizing under sink water filtration systems in meeting EPA mandates. This program holds the potential to be beneficial to hundreds of similarly situated small towns across America.
Odessa Water Quality and Pressure Improvement Project - A request for $500,000 from the State and Tribal Assistance Grant Account for the Odessa Water Quality and Pressure Improvement Project in Odessa, Texas. This funding will assist the city in extending a 24" water line further east is proposed to address water quality and water pressure issues within existing lines serving eastern part of the City. City is experiencing significant growth to the east which has increased demand for water use and for fire flow requirements. In addition, due to the relative remoteness from the water treatment plant, additional water lines are needed to improve water circulation, which will improve water quality.
O.C. Fisher Dam and Lake - A request for $1,000,000 to the Army Corps of Engineers, Maintenance and Operations Account for the O.C. Fisher Dam and Lake in Odessa, Texas. The funding would be used for scheduled operations and maintenance activities at O.C. Fisher Dam and Lake, a project built and maintained by the Army Corps of Engineers.
Proctor Lake - A request for $2,400,000 from the Army Corps of Engineers, Maintenance and Operations Account for Proctor Lake in Comanche, Texas. The funding would be used for scheduled operations and maintenance activities at Proctor Lake, Texas, a project built and maintained by the Army Corps of Engineers.
Hords Creek Lake - A request for $1,600,000 from the Army Corps of Engineers, Maintenance and Operations Account for Hords Creek Lake in Coleman, Texas. The funding would be used for scheduled operations and maintenance activities at Hords Creek Lake, Texas, a project built and maintained by the Army Corps of Engineers.
Lower Colorado River Basin Study - A request for $700,000 from the Army Corps of Engineers, Investigations Account for the Lower Colorado River Basin Study. The funding would be used to complete the draft interim feasibility studies for the highland lakes. The study area is bounded by the Guadalupe, Lavaca, and Colorado-Lavaca river basins on the west, and the Brazos and Brazos-Colorado basins on the east. This study is investigating water resource problems, needs, and opportunities to determine whether improvements for flood risk management, ecosystem restoration and protection, water quality, water supply and allied purposes have a Federal interest.
