Request: $5,000,000
NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office
410 Severn Avenue, Annapolis, MD 21403

Funding would be used to aid native oyster restoration in both Maryland and Virginia portions of the Chesapeake Bay.  This is a good use of taxpayer dollars because the restoration of the native oyster is essential to a healthy and thriving Chesapeake Bay.

Oyster Hatchery Economic Pilot Program
Request: $300,000
Morgan State University Estuarine Research Center
Jefferson Patterson Park
10545 Mackall Road, St. Leonard, MD 20685

Funding would be used to increase hatchery efficiency, promote aquaculture and enable the local watermen to be self sufficient.  The Oyster Hatchery Economic Pilot Program represents a partnership between the Calvert County Watermen's Association and the Estuarine Research Center.  This is a good use of taxpayer dollars because the project seeks to maintain an important engine of the local economy while increasing the number of oysters in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries.

Prince George's County-Montgomery County Gang Prevention and Suppression Task Force
Request: $3,000,000
University of Maryland Public Safety Training and Technical Assistance Program
9001 Edmonston Road, Greenbelt, MD 20770

Funding will continue support for a joint county gang initiative to prevent and suppress gang activity occurring in both Prince George's and Montgomery Counties. Incidents of gang activity have remained steady in both counties, with three specific areas identified as hot spots for gang violence -Langley Park, Hyattsville and Landover. Stemming this violence requires improved coordination between both county police departments to combat dangerous activity.  The funding would be used to hire law enforcement personnel and provide program support for prevention and intervention activities in Prince George's and Montgomery Counties. The program will be administered through the University of Maryland Public Safety Training and Technical Assistance Program.  Less administrative costs, the remaining funding will be equally divided between the Prince George's and Montgomery County Police Departments and each department will redirect appropriate funds for prevention and intervention activities to each county's Department of Health and Human Services as outlined.  This is a good use of taxpayer funds because gangs threaten the stability of communities, and combating gangs activity demands an integrated approach and the resources necessary to support law enforcement's ongoing efforts.

Enhancements to Computer Aided Dispatch System
Request: $1,083,000
Prince George's County Office of Homeland Security
9200 Basil Court, Suite 308, Largo, MD 20774

Funding for enhancements to the new Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system will allow Prince George's County Public Safety Communications Center dispatchers to dispatch the closest available police, fire, EMS, or Sheriff unit to an emergency call for service. This will provide faster and more efficient emergency responses by law enforcement and EMS personnel to citizens' calls for assistance.  This project is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because equipping the new Public Safety Communications Center with this technology will support the work of state and local police, fire, EMS, Sheriff and municipal law enforcement agencies and assure area residents rapid response in the event of emergency.

Calvert County CBRNE Personal Protective Equipment
Request: $90,000
Calvert County Department of Public Safety
175 Main Street, Prince Frederick, MD 20678

Funding will be used to replace non-NIOSH Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosives (CBRNE) personal protective equipment to NIOSH-approved equipment. This project is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because it will ensure the safety of law enforcement from hazardous materials, and promote the ability to adequately respond to emergency events throughout Calvert County, Maryland.

Hyattsville After School/Summer Program for Youth
Request: $100,000
City of Hyattsville
4310 Gallatin Street, Hyattsville, MD 20781

Funding will be used to provide safe activities for at-risk children during out-of-school hours.  Hyattsville is identified as a hub for gang activity in Prince George's County, and would therefore benefit from additional services to keep children and youth engaged in meaningful activities outside of school.  This project is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because it will leverage existing resources to enhance gang prevention services in Hyattsville.

Charles County Police Technology Upgrades
Request: $285,000
Charles County Sheriff's Office
6915 Crain Highway Address, P.O. Box 189, La Plata, MD 20646

Funding will be used to purchase cell phone tracing equipment, video surveillance and IP Tower Cameras. All technology upgrades will improve operations within the agency and improve the county's ability to apprehend criminals within Southern Maryland.  This is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because cell phone tracing and the ability to monitor major travel corridors throughout the county have proven to be effective public safety tools. This equipment will help Charles County law enforcement address citizen safety issues.

Second Genesis Substance Abuse Treatment Initiative
Request: $500,000
Second Genesis
8611 Second Avenue, Suite 300, Silver Spring, MD 20910

Southern Maryland currently suffers from a lack of treatment options for substance abusers - particularly those that can accommodate mothers with children. This pilot program seeks to remedy this problem by making treatment more accessible to addicted women and their children by enabling them to bring their children into treatment. The project will partner local health agencies that come into contact with Southern Maryland women with substance abuse issues in an effort to prevent such individuals from entering the criminal justice system. This project is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because it will help close the gap on addiction services in St. Mary's, Calvert, and Charles counties by providing treatment to residents before they become involved with the criminal justice system.

St. Mary's County Jail Security Project
Request: $750,000
St. Mary's County Board of County Commissioners
23115 Leonard Hall Drive, P.O. Box 653, Leonardtown, MD 20650

Funding will be utilized to replace the electronic locking control panels/mechanisms (which were initially installed in 1989 and are no longer manufactured) within the existing detention center and upgrade/integrate security camera systems.  This project is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because it will ensure safety for inmates, correctional officers, visitors and the general public. This facility has the highest jail population and lowest officer /inmate ratio in the State of Maryland, which elevates the necessity to provide a safe and secure environment.

Challenger Learning Center
Request:  $500,000
Howard B. Owens Science Center
9601 Greenbelt Road, Lanham, MD 20706

The funding will be used to upgrade the current Challenger Learning Center at the Howard B. Owens Science Center by integrating digital video, audio, and robotic technologies into new the design of an updated facility.  This is a good use of taxpayer money because it will ensure that Challenger Learning Centers can provide more students and teachers with access to the simulated spaceflight experience in support of STEM classroom instruction through remote participation.

University of Maryland Engineering STEM K-12 Program
Request:  $1,000,000
University of Maryland College Park
3220 Jeong H. Kim Engineering Building, College Park MD 20742

Funding would be used to create a new education program in which university engineering schools enhance the engineering component of K-12 STEM education.  This is a good use of taxpayer money because building a strong STEM program with a focus on engineering will help maintain our technological leadership and help to grow the ranks of this specialized and dwindling workforce.