Listed below are my five (5) most recent votes:
| Date | RC# | Bill | Vote |
| 12-1 | 595 | H RES 1724 | Yea |
| 12-1 | 594 | H RES 1217 | Aye |
| 12-1 | 593 | H J RES 101 | Nay |
| 12-1 | 592 | H RES 1430 | Aye |
| 12-1 | 591 | H RES 1735 | Aye |
FY 2010 Appropriation Requests
Listed below are funding requests that I have submitted to the House Committee on Appropriations for fiscal year 2010. I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in any of these projects.
Consistent with the Republican Leadership’s policy on congressionally directed spending, I herby certify that to the best of my knowledge these requests (1) are not dedicated to an entity or program that will be named after a sitting Member of Congress, (2) is not 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 describing how the funds will be spent and justifying the use of federal taxpayer funds.
Agriculture
Project Name: Milk Safety, PA
Recipient: The Pennsylvania State University, 117 Old Main, University Park, PA 16802
Amount Requested: $800,000
Purpose: This project supports novel research that protects the safety of dairy products for Pennsylvania and the nation. Research will address the continued threat of natural or intentional contamination of the fluid milk supply. This project supports novel research that protects the safety of dairy products for Pennsylvania and the nation. Research will address the continued threat of natural or intentional contamination of the fluid milk supply. Dairy is the single largest economic component of the Pennsylvania agricultural portfolio (approximately 40% of Pennsylvania's agricultural receipts are dairy-related, amounting to gross income of about $1.45 billion in 2003 on approximately 9,000 commercial dairy farms). Research supported by this project will be enhanced through the facilities available to us in a state-of-the-art Food Science Building.
Project Name: Dairy Farm Profitability, PA
Recipient: The Pennsylvania State University, 117 Old Main, University Park, PA 16802
Amount Requested: $550,000
Purpose: The ultimate key to decisions by producers on how they manage their farms and, ultimately, whether they remain is business, is the profitability of technological solutions available to them. This project focuses more on near-term technologies that are available (or nearly so) for adoption by dairy farmers (in contrast to our requested Improved Dairy Management Practices, which focuses more on earlier-stage technologies). The range of issues that would be addressed with these funds and energy costs, compliance with air and water quality regulations, poor herd reproductive performance, and herd health and demand solutions that we can deliver to farmers.
Project Name: Agricultural Entrepreneurial Alternatives, PA
Recipient: The Pennsylvania State University, 117 Old Main, University Park, PA 16802
Amount Requested: $400,000
Purpose: The project provides coordination and support for Penn State Cooperative Extensions entrepreneurial alternatives program, including support for existing Cooperative Extension staff across the Commonwealth. The program provides research-based extension education to assist small farmers to maintain economically viable enterprises, assists small farmers to develop and maintain economically viable enterprises, including application for available and appropriate grants and loans, and helps build community capacity to sustain growth and development of local agriculture and food sectors.
Project Name: Improved Dairy Management Practices, PA
Recipient: The Pennsylvania State University, 117 Old Main, University Park, PA 16802
Amount Requested: $400,000
Purpose: Funding will be used to address problems associated with dairy production in Pennsylvania and utilize technology to contribute to improved water quality, lower impacts of air emissions, and more efficient energy use.
Project Name: Sustainable Agriculture and Natural Resources, PA
Recipient: Pennsylvania State University, 117 Old Main, University Park, PA 16802
Amount Requested: $400,000
Purpose: The interface between food production and environmental protection continues to require new answers to balance these competing needs. Congress and this administration have been clear on their focus on increasing sustainability, and research supported by this project can be translated directly to agricultural producers to provide them with alternatives to conventional agricultural practices and alternatives that enhance soil and water conservation, diversified agricultural production, and harmony between agricultural and non-agricultural land uses in local communities.
Commerce, Justice, Science
Project Name: Lycoming County Emergency Operations Center Equipment
Recipient: Lycoming County Commissioners, 48 West Third Street, Williamsport, PA 17701
Amount Requested: $250,000
Purpose: Purchase of new equipment for use by the Emergency Operations Center (EOC)and 9-1-1 center. This will directly support the acquisition of an Emergency 9-1-1 console purchase and relocation into new addition at the center.
Project Name: North West Central Regional Interoperability Strategic Telecommunication Plan
Recipient: Clarion County Commissioners, 421 Main Street, Clarion, PA 16214
Amount Requested: $500,000
Purpose: This project will create a joint communication system that will promote seamless interoperability capabilities among counties, hospitals, schools, regional, state, and federal agencies. Radio communications, along with broadband/internet connectivity, are vital elements necessary to link all telecommunications needs together where the counties provide direct services and mutual aid.
Project Name: Centre County - 911 Emergency Communication System Upgrade
Recipient: Centre County Commissioners, Willow Bank Office Building, Bellefonte, PA 16823
Amount Requested: $250,000
Purpose: Purchase of an upgraded emergency communications system will improve safety for citizens of the County and allow for interoperability among multiple agencies throughout Centre County.
Defense
Project Name: Lightweight, Battery Driven, and Battlefield Deployment Ready NG Feeding Tube Cleaner
Recipient: Piezo Resonance Innovations, Inc., 310 Rolling Ridge Drive, Bellefonte, PA 16823
Amount Requested: $500,000
Purpose: Over 10,000 soldier injuries have occurred in Afghanistan and Iraq since December 2001. A conservative estimate is that over 2000 abdominal surgeries have been performed on US soldiers; one may quintuple that number (over 10,000) for local Iraqi and Afghan soldiers and civilians needing abdominal surgery. Since most gastric feeding tubes for local national people placed by Americans are NOT commercially prepared feed tubes (aka PEG tubes, Mic-Key buttons, et al.) but rather are Foley, mallincot or red rubber catheters, a clog or obstruction in that tube is doubly problematic as the tube was not designed to handle tube feeds, and there is no interventional radiology to replace these without an operation. Since December 2001, Approximately 750 soldiers have been treated at the US Army Institute of Surgical Research/ Burn Center in San Antonio, TX for life-threatening combat burns. Each of them had at least one NG tube placed in Iraq/Afghanistan, with additional gastric tubes placed after arrival in TX. Any American patient with a gastric intestinal injury who has undergone repair in theater is evacuated by air to Germany. A clogged NG tube during flight places additional bariatric pressure strain on a staple line or anastomosis. While replacing these tubes on a moving aircraft can be performed, it is more difficult than on the ground. There is a need for a Rugged, Lightweight, Battery Driven, and Battlefield Deployment Ready NG Feeding Tube Cleaning Device.
Project Name: Smart Oil Sensor
Recipient: Impact Technologies, LLC, 2029 Cato Avenue, State College, PA 16801
Amount Requested: $4,000,000
Purpose: This project will directly support the U.S. Army requirement for oil quality sensing, and is supported by the Army vehicle development office. The core innovations of this program developed by Impact will include: 1. Development of military grade oil quality sensing hardware for engine / drive-train lubricant monitoring, to include the sensing elements themselves and the necessary electronics packaging 2. Creation of a suite of analysis algorithms and electrochemical models to translate measured fluid electrical properties into fluid health information 3. Software and hardware support of the integration of the oil quality sensor into sensor data bus and vehicle information systems 4. Software support for integration of oil quality information into legacy and future maintenance support system.
Project Name: Self Powered Prosthetic Limb Technology
Recipient: KCF Technologies, 112 West Foster Avenue, State College, PA 16801
Amount Requested: $3,000,000
Purpose: Technological improvements are needed to improve the quality of life for amputees and improve their ability to return to active duty. The purpose of this research is to further develop an energy harvesting device as a component integrated into a lower extremity prosthetic limb.
Project Name: Domestic Production of Nanodiamond for Military Applications
Recipient: NanoBlox, Inc., 800 Wood Street, Clarion, PA 16214
Amount Requested: $4,000,000
Purpose: The United States military will be well served by creating a domestic nanodiamond production infrastructure to produce and supply this strategic and tactical material. Additionally the U.S. and local economies would benefit from the creation of jobs resulting from the development of a domestic nanodiamond industry.
Project Name: Ferroelectric Component Technology
Recipient: TRS Technologies, Inc., 2820 East College Avenue, State College, PA 16801
Amount Requested: $1,200,000
Purpose: IEDs, suicide bombs, and other asymmetric warfare- including terrorist tactics- have been a major cause of casualties among our warfighters in the Middle East. Defending against these threats has lead to many unintended civilian casualties. Finding ways to remotely and non-lethally defeat these threats remains a major Defense Department research activity. The technology developed by TRS Technologies, Inc. enables a powerful new class of munitions that can accomplish these goals. Funding is needed to rapidly transition this technology to the warfighter.
Project Name: Genetic Algorithm Antennas
Recipient: Remcom, Inc., 315 South Allen Street, State College, PA 16801
Amount Requested: $4,200,000
Purpose: U. S. Army Communications Electronic Command (CECOM), U. S. Air Force Information Operations Center (AFIOC), and the Naval Research Laboratory desire this capability to support design and placement of jamming antennas for IED defeat measures. This technology will be used by Naval Information Operations Command (NIOC) to optimally place Electronic Warfare antennas on ships.
Energy and Water
Project Name: BEAVER CREK RESERVOIR, BEAVER AND SALEM TOWNSHIPS, PA
Recipient: Clarion County Commissioners, 421 Main Street, Clarion, PA 16214
Amount Requested: $3,000,000
Purpose: Water quality and quantity are in severe demands, not only in the western section of the county, but throughout the entire county. Currently, the water company’s main supply to their customers, which serves approximately 25,000 Clarion County residents, comes from the Clarion River. Should that water become polluted, there are no other alternative water sources available to serve those residents. Also, the Clarion River also flows to the south to the Allegheny River, which serves those counties to the south of Clarion County - Pittsburgh and those surrounding counties. All the land has been purchased, including all the plans, environmental studies, drawings, etc. are complete and are shovel-ready. Estimated cost of the project has in place more than half of the necessary funding. Immediate construction can take place with the final infusion of this grant money request.
Financial Services
Project Name: Tax Compliance Resource Program
Recipient: Lock Haven University Small Business Development Center, 301 West Church Street, Lock Haven, PA 17745
Amount Requested: $50,000
Purpose: The purpose of the funding would be for continuation and expansion of the project requested and authorized in FY2009, which was to establish a regional tax compliance center at the Lock Haven University SBDC. Ideally, additional funds for this initiative would enable the local SBDC to expand its reach in this area of assistance and make the resources available to the entire PASBDC network, and their respective clients. Initial funding will have enabled for the creation of electronic and/or online resources that could be effectively implemented throughout the statewide network.
Interior and Environment
Project Name: Lycoming County Community Water for Old Lycoming
Recipient: Lycoming County Commissioners, 48 West Third Street, Williamsport, PA 17701
Amount Requested: $350,000
Purpose: The funds will be used to construct a water line extension that would provide public water to residents in a designated growth area of approximately 2 miles length along Grimesville Road in Old Lycoming Township. The project is a prime example of the STAG partnership to utilize Federal, State, and Local funding.
Project Name: Haines Aaronsburg Municipal Authority Water Line Interconnection
Recipient: Haines Aaronsburg Municipal Authority, 420 Homes Street, Bellefonte, PA 16823
Amount Requested: $250,000
Purpose: The Haines Aaronsburg Municipal Authority water line interconnection between Millheim and Aaronsburg will provide increased water security to both communities in times of emergency and drought. The existing system does not provide sufficient water pressure to enable tapping fire hydrants in the event of fire, requiring the water for fire suppression to be trucked to the emergency site. The project utilizes local and state PennVest and H20 funds as a project match.
Project Name: Sheffield Township Wastewater System
Recipient: Warren County Planning Commission, Warren County Courthouse, Warren, PA 16365
Amount Requested: $1,694,066
Purpose: The wastewater system is approximately 100 years old and deteriorated to the point where both, ground and surface waters are threatened. The treatment plant, which is significantly undersized, experiences frequent overloading. Completion of this project would eliminate ground and surface water contamination and provide an upgraded treatment plant that would exceed the capacity needed now and several years into the future to accommodate anticipated growth of the community. Matching monies for this project would be provided though PA DEP’s Pennvest Program and system user fees.
Labor, HHS, Education
Project Name: Tidioute Area Health & Dental Center
Recipient: Warren County Planning Commission, Warren County Courthouse, Warren, PA 16365
Amount Requested: $350,000
Purpose: The project is located in the rural northwestern Pennsylvania community of Tidioute, PA. The nearest health care facility is some 30 plus miles away. Warren General Hospital, Warren, PA, has agreed, by way of a letter of intent, to operate the center, pay utilities, provide all furniture and medical equipment, and provide the physicians and dentists. A Warren, PA drug store has agreed to provide pharmaceutical services by renting an area within the building specifically planned for the pharmacy. The Warren County Commissioners have pledged $100,000 of DCED Growing Greener II funding and local fund raising drives have generated $147,500, to date. For an extremely rural area, with minimal access to health and dental services, this project embodies the local, state, and federal partnerships that fall in line with the intent of the HRSA Health Facilities and Services programs.
Project Name: Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology, Energy and Infrastructure Training
Recipient: Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology, 540 North Harrison Road, Pleasant Gap, PA 16823
Amount Requested: $850,000
Purpose: To offer a workforce training program on a regional basis to train workers to meet a growing need to replace water and waste water technicians. Almost 50% of today's employees in the field will retire in the next 5 to 7 years, creating a shortage in the workplace. An emerging employment opportunity in Pennsylvania is related to the energy producing sector, including gas extraction from Marcellus shale and wind energy production. The Emerging Energy and Infrastructure Training program will leverage current training capabilities at CPI and expand opportunities to prepare workers for emerging green collar jobs.
Project Name: Mount Nittany Medical Center East Wing Expansion Initiative
Recipient: Mount Nittany Medical Center, 1800 East Park Avenue, State College, PA 16803
Amount Requested: $1,500,000
Purpose: This initiative will help HRSA attain its goal of providing 100% access to health care services and ensuring the viability of the regional health care safety net, particularly for those providers and patients in rural areas of the country. Ensuring that its facilities are state of the art and can accommodate all those patients seeking care is a key element to achieving this goal.
Project Name: Digital Mobile C-Arm
Recipient: Dubois Regional Medical Center, 100 Hospital Avenue, Dubois, PA 15801
Amount Requested: $218,000
Purpose: Currently, there are two C-Arms available for use in DRMC's operating rooms; however, neither unit has the capability of roadmapping (a method of insuring patency of vessels and/or adequate wire/stent placement), and digital subtraction (a method of "subtracting" image of tissue or bone which may overlay vessels, thus obscuring vascular defects). In addition, the number of procedures requiring C-Arm support has increased immensely at DRMC over the past year. With the recent addition of spinal surgery, one C-Arm is dedicated to this service all day each Monday, Tuesday, and Friday. General Surgery also uses the C-Arm for placement of Infuse-A-Ports and indwelling subclavian catheters for dialysis. Orthopedics also routinely requires the use of C-Arm for fracture reductions of all types, hardware removal, and the like. With the addition of vascular procedures requiring C-Arm, there would be days when surgical procedures could not be scheduled without the third C-Arm. Patients would be put at a higher risk by delaying potentially lifesaving surgery.
Project Name: Bradford Regional Medical Center Digital Mammography Equipment
Recipient: Bradford Regional Medical Center, 116 Interstate Parkway, Bradford, PA 16701
Amount Requested: $450,000
Purpose: The equipment will provide Digital Mammography services to 4,000 women in this rural region. The existing equipment is over 5 years old, is outdated and is frequently under repair. The new equipment will allow BRMC to provide access to continued quality health care to rural communities.
Transportation, HUD
Project Name: U.S. Route 322 Corridor Safety Improvements, Centre County
Recipient: Centre County Commissioners, Willow Bank Office Building, Bellefonte, PA 16823
Amount Requested: $8,762,000
Purpose: Route 322 has seen a steady increase in traffic, in the number of accidents, and unfortunately in the number of fatalities over the last twenty years. Based on 2007 traffic counts, this section of Route 322 currently has an average daily traffic count of 11,550. Of this volume, 2,553, or 22 percent , was truck traffic. In addition to the increase in typical daily traffic counts, this roadway experiences exceptional traffic increases at certain times during the year related to events at The Pennsylvania State University (i.e., football games, graduation, and other events). The safety improvements along the Potters Mills to Boalsburg corridor will complement major improvements made to Route 322 in recent years. The most recent construction improvements, completed in 2008, were made to the section known as the Narrows. The old, two-lane roadway had a significant crash history, with the Narrows once cited as one of the more dangerous roadways in the nation. The second major improvement was the Lewistown bypass project, which included improvements and construction of nearly 12 miles of highway and ramps in Mifflin County, including the new Electric Avenue interchange for Routes 22/522 and 322. The bypass project was completed in the fall of 2006. The nine mile section of the Route 322 between Potters Mills and Boalsburg is a critical gap in the safety measures that have been taken along the larger corridor.
Project Name: Deane Center for the Performing Arts
Recipient: Deane Center for the Performing Arts, PO Box 102, Wellsboro, PA 16901
Amount Requested: $100,000
Purpose: The Deane center for the Performing arts, a non-profit 501C3, will be an economic Development and arts mixed use facility. The Deane Center will be built on a blighted lot, and along with three adjacent vacant stores will be converted into state-of-the-art mixed use facility that includes a performing arts theater, multi-purpose space, and commercial and renovated retail space in downtown Wellsboro.
Project Name: Area Transportation Authority of North Central PA, Rolling Stock
Recipient: Area Transportation Authority of North Central Pennsylvania, 44 Transportation Center, Johnsonburg, PA 15845
Amount Requested: $360,000
Purpose: The project includes the replacement of four para transit vehicles which serve 7 counties in rural Pennsylvania used to deliver demand response services under its 5311 operations.
Project Name: Lycoming County Airport Access Road
Recipient: Lycoming County Commissioners, 48 West Third Street, Williamsport, PA 17701
Amount Requested: $2,000,000
Purpose: This project will entail a new access road to the airport, a new railroad bridge over Loyalsock Creek, a rerouted bicycle/walking path, and a Montoursville levee system.
Project Name: Compressed Natural Gas Powered Articulated Transit Buses
Recipient: Centre Area Transportation Authority, 2081 West Whitehall Road, State College, PA 16801
Amount Requested: 1,000,000
Purpose: Purchase of compressed natural gas powered articulated transit buses for use in Centre County, Pennsylvania. In 1996 CATA began its alternative fuel program with the purchase of 16 compressed natural gas (CNG) powered buses, all of which reached the end of their expected service life in 2008.
Project Name: Bellefonte Airport Runway Widening and Taxiway Improvements
Recipient: Bellefonte Airport, 225 Snowbird Lane, Bellefonte, PA 16823
Amount Requested: $500,000
Purpose: Funding for this project will allow for the widening of the runway at Bellefonte Airport and the addition of a taxiway. The runway is 40 feet wide and aircraft use the runway to taxi on. The FAA Standard is a 60 foot wide runway. Pennsylvania now requires at least 50 feet and is in the process to change it to 60 feet wide. Interstate commerce is restricted at Bellefonte airport, as some aircraft are not allowed to land due to insurance requirements which require the stated minimum width dictated by the State and or the FAA. Bellefonte Airport wishes to widen the runway to 60 feet and add a taxi way to improve airport safety and promote interstate commerce through a partnership with the Commonwealth.
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