Washington, D.C. - Demonstrating his commitment to supporting an open process in government, Congressman Brian Baird (WA-03) today released a full list of the Fiscal Year 2009 funding requests that he recently submitted to the House Appropriations Committee. 

"As a Representative of Southwest Washington, it is not only my duty, but my preference to promote an open process in government so that taxpayers know where their hard-earned money is going," said Rep. Baird.  "This year, as with every year, I have requested funding for key projects that will help Southwest Washington's economy, improve transportation and infrastructure systems, create jobs, and preserve the environment.  I also requested funding for projects that will help our troops serving overseas, including funding to purchase cold-weather, waterproof gloves needed for our troops serving in Afghanistan."

Every year, Members of Congress submit a list of funding requests to the House Committee on Appropriations.  Once the House Appropriations Committee receives each member's requests, the Committee reviews the requests and determines which ones should be funded and at what level.  This year, Rep. Baird received 112 funding requests from which he submitted 62 requests to the Appropriations Committee. 

For a list of Rep. Baird's FY2009 Appropriations Requests, visit http://www.baird.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=168&Itemid=98. 

Since entering Congress, Rep. Baird has pledged to his constituents that he will support a fair, honest, and open process in government.  Last year, Congressman Brian Baird re-introduced legislation with Congressman Walter Jones (R-NC), H.Res. 504 or the "72 Hour Bill" that requires that the language of all bills are made available to members of Congress and the general public at least 72 hours before the bills are brought to the House floor for a vote. 

In March of this year, Rep. Baird introduced a bill with Congresswoman Louise M. Slaughter (D-NY-28) that requires political intelligence firms to disclose their clients, profits, and activities, in the same way that lobbyists are required to do under the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995.  The bill would help gather information on how political intelligence firms and consultants gather nonpublic legislative information to boost the investment profits of hedge funds and corporate clients.

The Political Intelligence Disclosure Act was inspired by legislation Reps. Slaughter and Baird introduced in the 109th and 110th Congresses that prohibits Members of Congress and federal employees from profiting from nonpublic information they obtained from their official positions.  The Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act, or STOCK Act, contains a provision that requires greater disclosure by the growing "political intelligence" industry.