[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 185 (Thursday, December 10, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2950-E2953]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
EARMARK DECLARATION
______
HON. MICHAEL K. SIMPSON
of idaho
in the house of representatives
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Mr. SIMPSON. Madam Speaker, in accordance with the policies and
standards put forth by the House Appropriations Committee and the GOP
Leadership, I place in the Record a listing of the congressionally-
directed projects I requested in my home State of Idaho that are
contained in the Conference Report accompanying H.R. 3288, the FY2010
Consolidated Appropriations Act.
Division A--FY2010 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development
Project Name: Buses and Bus Facilities, Idaho Transit Coalition
Amount Received: $1,000,000
Account: FTA/Buses and Bus Facilities
Recipient: Community Transportation Association of Idaho
Recipient's Street Address: 10480 Garverdale Court, Bldg. 4, Ste.
804A, Boise, ID 83704
Description: Funding for this project will be used to support
essential transit systems in rural and urban areas of the State of
Idaho. This project meets the criteria of the FTA's Section 5209
Capital Program and has been funded by the Committee since FY 2002.
Project Name: Custer County Economic Development Initiative in Custer
County, ID
Amount Received: $500,000
Account: HUD/EDI
Recipient: Custer County, ID
Recipient's Street Address: 802 Main Street, Challis, ID 83226
Description: At almost 5,000 square miles, Custer County is larger
than three states, and it has just over 4,000 people. Unfortunately, it
is burdened with a high proportion of public lands with over 95 percent
of the county's 3.4 million acres administered by federal agencies. The
county's tax base, or more specifically the lack thereof, is inadequate
to support the services required for such an expansive county. This
grossly disproportionate public ownership causes a severe strain on
their resources. Funding would be used to construct a community center
which would serve a number of purposes for the county.
Project Name: I-84, Broadway to Gowen Road Widening, Boise, ID
Amount Received: $400,000
Account: FHWA/Interstate Maintenance Discretionary
Recipient: Idaho Transportation Department
Recipient's Street Address: 3311 West State Street, Boise, ID 83707
Description: This project will add a third east and westbound lane to
I-84 between Broadway Avenue and Gowen Road on I-84. The FY10 earmark
will fund the design of this project. The project will be ready for
construction in FY11 in conjunction with the Connecting Idaho--GARVEE,
bonding--projects in this area. This project is required to alleviate
congestion and safety issues caused by the continued fast growth in the
Treasure Valley. This project is included in the I-84 Boise Corridor
Study adopted by the Idaho Transportation and Community Planning
Association of Southwest Idaho, COMPASS, Boards in October of 2001 and
part of the COMPASS Regional 2030 Long Range Transportation Plan,
approved in 2006.
Project Name: Trail Creek Highway/Forest Highway 66 Reconstruction,
Mackay, ID
Amount Received: $3,750,000
Account: FHWA/Public Lands Highways
Recipient: Lost River Highway District
Recipient's Street Address: 213 South McCaleb, Mackay, ID 83251
Description: Trail Creek Highway/Forest Highway 66 runs through the
Salmon-Challis National Forest from U.S. Highway 93 west to Sun Valley,
Idaho. The road is maintained entirely by the Lost River Highway
District and includes 17 miles of unpaved road that is used extensively
for commerce and recreational purposes by tourists and homeowners. The
high traffic volume--500 cars per day and expected to grow--and poor
road conditions cause safety concerns for those traveling along the
highway. Funds would be used to complete study and design work and
upgrade the road by paving 5.5 miles of gravel road from the end of
existing pavement near the West Bartlett Point Road--MP 11.750--to the
Copper Basin Turn-off, MP 17.250.
Division B--FY2010 Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies
Project Name: Boise Center Aerospace Laboratory, BCAL, Watershed
Modeling Utilizing LiDAR at Idaho State University
Amount Requested: $500,000
Account: Department of Commerce NOAA
Recipient: Idaho State University
Recipient's Street Address: 921 South 8th Avenue Stop 8007,
Pocatello, Idaho 83209
Description: ISU's Department of Geosciences has developed free
spatial analysis tools available to the public for remote sensing and
geographic information sciences, GIS. The remote sensing tools include
a downloadable toolbox for analyzing light detection and ranging,
LiDAR, data. LiDAR is an imaging method using a laser mounted on an
aircraft to determine precise vertical information, topography, of the
earth's surface--15 cm precision. Commonly, this information is
translated into high-resolution digital elevation models, DEMs. LiDAR
can provide both a bare earth surface and the vegetated--or built--
surface. LiDAR can also provide topographic data below water.
Specifically to the concern of NOAA and the State of Idaho, LiDAR can
provide up to date and precise flood plain maps for rivers with built
environments--such as the Boise River--to guide decisions on flood
insurance coverage and land use restrictions. These predictive maps can
also aid in evacuation of people and livestock during an impending
flood. This project will leverage existing infrastructure and expertise
at ISU to develop state-of-the-art watershed modeling tools for NOAA
and other federal agencies. These tools will enable better management
of watersheds through improved topographic analyses for prediction of
runoff, floods, and water storage capacity. Hyperspectral analysis--
soils and vegetation--will be coupled with the LiDAR data for a full
characterization, spectrally and spatially of the landscape. These
analyses will allow for studies of vegetation structure, dependence of
vegetation, soils, and earth processes, e.g. fire, erosion, on
topology--slope and aspect, drainages, surface roughness. The goal of
this research and its resulting algorithms and tools is to
significantly benefit NOAA in its ability to convert LiDAR data into
usable derivative datasets for environmental and safety applications in
Idaho and elsewhere.
Project Name: Idaho Meth Project
Amount Requested: $1,000,000
Account: Department of Justice COPS Meth
Recipient: Idaho Meth Project
Recipient's Street Address: 304 N. 8th Street, Room 446, Boise, Idaho
83702
Description: Methamphetamine trafficking and abuse in Idaho has been
on the rise over the past few years and, as a result, meth is having a
devastating impact in many communities throughout Idaho. Meth is the
number one illegal drug of choice in Idaho and the State's leading drug
problem. The financial and social consequences of meth abuse in Idaho
are devastating. It is a contributing cause for much of the crime in
Idaho, costs millions of dollars in productivity, contributes to the
ever increasing prison populations and adversely impacts families. The
Idaho Meth Project is a large-scale, statewide prevention and public
awareness program designed to reduce the prevalence of first-time
methamphetamine abuse in Idaho by influencing attitudes through high-
impact advertising. The Idaho Meth Project is focused solely upon
prevention and, to achieve this goal, is active in three areas: public
service messaging, community action and public policy. This includes a
pervasive media campaign reaching the target population through TV,
radio, billboards, print, and the Internet.
Project Name: Idaho State Police to participate in the Criminal
Information Sharing Affiance Network, CISAnet
Amount Requested: $500,000
Account: Department of Justice COPS Law Enforcement Technology
Recipient: Idaho State Police
Recipient's Street Address: 700 South Stratford, Meridian, Idaho
83642
Description: In 2006, the Idaho State Police, ISP, developed and
deployed, on a limited basis, a web-based Case Investigative System,
CIS. This tool allows investigators to collect, use and share critical
law enforcement information across the state. CISAnet provides a bi-
directional information-sharing network within and between state and
local law enforcement agencies. CISAnet provides ISP and law
enforcement across Idaho with real time access to criminal intelligence
information shared by law enforcement partner agencies within the
states of Alabama, Arizona, California, Georgia, Louisiana,
Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. This ten state area is
regarded as one of the most vulnerable to our Nation's security--a
``soft spot'' through which illegal Mexican immigrants filter, illegal
drug trafficking passes and terrorists move freely. It is believed that
securing this porous border with Mexico is an effective way to protect
American citizens. The CISAnet system provides an effective means for
law enforcement agencies to share information across state lines on
known or suspected criminal activity. Together, access to CISAnet,
Idaho's Fusion Center and remote access to CIS will ensure that Idaho
state and local law enforcement officers have the best information
available in a timely manner. In today's environment, these systems are
an effective way to monitor illegal drug and terrorist activity and
identify, target and locate potential terrorists. These systems are
important components of an overall prevention strategy and are crucial
to protecting the citizens of Idaho and the United States' homeland
security. The Criminal Information Sharing Alliance network, CISAnet,
FY2010
[[Page E2951]]
federal funding will be used to continue the integration of CIS into
the CISAnet infrastructure, to expand its capabilities by adding a Geo
coding module and by integrating CIS, RMS and CISAnet into Idaho's
Criminal Intelligence Center.
Project Name: NCOMS Medical and Mental Health Sharing Software
Development
Amount Requested: $500,000
Account: Department of Justice Byrne Discretionary Grants
Recipient: Idaho Department of Corrections
Recipient's Street Address: 1299 North Orchard, Suite 110, Boise,
Idaho 83706.
Description: States are legally mandated to provide appropriate
medical care to incarcerated individuals. These funds will be used to
create, modularize and implement the medical/mental health module for
the National Consortium of Offender Management Systems, NCOMS. This
technology will allow public safety organizations that house offenders
to track and record the medical information to ensure that offenders
receive proper medical treatment.
Division C--FY2010 Financial Services and General Government
Project Name: Proof of Concept Center
Amount Received: $285,000
Account: Small Business Administration Salaries and Expenses
Recipient: Idaho TechConnect Inc.
Recipient's Street Address: 5465 E. Terra Linda Way, Nampa, ID 83687
Description: Idaho TechConnect was created as a state-wide private-
public cooperation that would bridge the gaps in the state's innovation
pipeline. The Idaho TechConnect Proof of Concept Center will manage
innovations from early stage projects to the launch of a viable start-
up business or to license the product or service to an existing
business. The Proof of Concept Center will work with new and existing
businesses as well as the state's colleges and universities and the INL
to create new commercial products, goods and services. Concepts will be
vetted to ensure significant and efficient marketability and
commercialization. These concepts will then be relegated to teams/
existing businesses to build or expand successful and profitable
businesses. The Center will provide assistance with business models,
intellectual property strategy, and access to capital, resulting in
more ideas becoming products, creating jobs and companies. During these
challenging economic times, this funding will assist businesses and
public entities in their efforts to mature their innovative ideas into
market-ready products and services to strengthen the economy of Idaho
and the region.
Project Name: Research and Economic Development and Entrepreneurial
Initiative
Amount Received: $400,000
Account: Small Business Administration Salaries and Expenses
Recipient: Boise State University
Recipient's Street Address: 1910 University Drive, Boise, ID 83725-
1135.
Description: Boise State University will establish research
partnerships with business and governmental agencies to aid and assist
businesses in an effort to preserve free market enterprise and to
maintain and strengthen the local and regional economy. The federal
funds being requested will be used to match private and public sector
dollars and in-kind contributions to conduct collaborative research
that spurs intellectual innovation, creates jobs, and ultimately leads
to the benefit and growth of the business community. The funds will
also be used to develop the necessary infrastructure to mine, protect,
and assess the commercialization potential of the intellectual property
that is developed as a result of these efforts. A healthy businesses
climate is critical to the economic strength of the state of Idaho, the
region and the nation. The innovation and entrepreneurial spirit that
originates from this sector will help the United States compete in
today's global marketplace.
Division D--FY 2010 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education and
Related Agencies
Project Name: Bear Lake Memorial Hospital Addition and Remodel
Amount Received: $300,000
Account: Health Resources and Services Administration Health
Facilities and Services
Recipient: Bear Lake Memorial Hospital
Recipient's Address: 164 South 5th Street, Montpelier, Idaho 83254
Description: The Bear Lake Memorial Hospital is a key service
provider to all individuals and plays a vital role in the community, as
well as provides services to the popular Bear Lake recreation area. The
current Emergency Department lacks sufficient space for a waiting room
for emergency room patrons. It also fails to meet HIPPA compliance
because of a lack of privacy for patients due to a high-use public
hallway dissecting the two emergency room locations. In addition, the
current diagnostic imaging facilities are scattered throughout the
hospital, which makes it more difficult to provide timely and efficient
care. By consolidating the services into one wing, the hospital will be
able to provide improved patient care and increase overall staff
efficiency. Funding provided would be used for the design and
construction of a new addition as well as a renovation of the existing
facilities in the Emergency Department and Diagnostic Imaging
Department.
Project Name: College of Southern Idaho's Pro-Tech Training Program
Amount Received: $200,000
Account: Department of Education Higher Education
Recipient: College of Southern Idaho
Recipient's Address: 315 Falls Avenue, Twin Falls, ID 83303-1238
Description: This program will enable the College to partner with
other agencies to identify training needs and to identify potential
candidates for employment. Data provided by Region IV of the State of
Idaho Economic Development Agency indicate that manufacturing will be a
leading employment area in the Magic Valley and the state of Idaho with
over 250 new jobs expected over the next two years. Current trends in
manufacturing development necessitate the need for in-depth training in
the technological aspects of the design, fabrication, and manufacturing
phases of production. CSI is participating in a joint educational
venture with Twin Falls High School and local industry that creates a
pre-engineering academy at the high school and a Computerized Numeric
Controls, CNC/Industrial Networking Program at the college campus. The
Pro-Tech program involves students from grade levels 10-14, and allows
the students to move from high school into a two-year program at CSI or
into an engineering program at one of Idaho's four-year institutions.
At the secondary school level, students learn the basics of computer-
assisted design, design physics, and fabrication, with each course
offering alighted to the program at CSI through either tech prep or
dual credit affiliation. At the post-secondary level students will
receive industry-standard training in CNC, automated logic, and
industrial networking. This program will train students to meet
the educational requirements needed to enable them to enter the high
demand fields of the hi-tech manufacturing and engineering sectors.
Project Name: Custer County Purchase of Medical Equipment
Amount Received: $400,000
Account: Health Resources and Services Administration Health
Facilities and Services
Recipient: Custer County
Recipient's Address: 801 East Main Avenue, Challis, ID 83226
Description: At almost 5,000 square miles, Custer County is larger
than three states yet has just over 4,000 people. Unfortunately, it is
burdened with a high proportion of public lands with over 95 percent of
the county's 3.4 million acres administered by federal agencies. The
county's tax base, or more specifically the lack thereof, is inadequate
to support the services required for such an expansive county. This
grossly disproportionate public ownership causes a severe strain on
their resources, including their ability to provide access to health
services. The influx of tourism and visitors due to the nearby U.S.
Forest Service, BLM, recreation and wilderness areas leads to an
increased rate of trauma and accidents, placing a large burden on the
county. The EMT services and health clinics in the County are in need
of renovation and modernization of equipment. This funding would be
used to purchase the much needed equipment and technology for the
clinics and EMT services in Custer County.
Project Name: Idaho Caring Foundation for Children for dental
services for low-income children
Amount Received: $300,000
Account: Health Resources and Services Administration Health
Facilities and Services
Recipient: Idaho Caring Foundation for Children
Recipient's Address: 1211 W. Myrtle, Suite 110, Boise, ID 83702
Description: According to the 2000 U.S. Surgeon General's report,
``Oral Health in America'', tooth decay is the single most common
chronic childhood disease. As a dentist, I understand the importance of
proper dental hygiene at a very young age. Poor oral health can affect
a child's self-esteem, ability to eat, appearance and ability to
communicate. School attendance can also be negatively impacted. Over 35
percent of Idaho children lack dental insurance, which serves as a
major deterrent in accessing and receiving needed dental care.
According to Idaho Department of Health and Welfare 2005 Smile Survey,
27 percent of Idaho children in grades K-6 had untreated decay. Low-
income, uninsured children suffer the greatest incidence of dental
decay because their families lack the financial resources to receive
regular dental care. The Idaho Caring Foundation will provide access to
needed dental services for 600 low-income, uninsured Idaho children.
These services will be provided by our network of 140 Idaho dentists
from across the state. Eligible children will be identified by working
in partnership with Idaho schools, Head Start programs, and
[[Page E2952]]
other children's programs, such as the YMCA and the Boys & Girls Clubs.
Project Name: Idaho Early Literacy Project
Amount Received: $350,000
Account: Department of Education Elementary and Secondary Education
Recipient: Lee Pesky Learning Center
Recipient's Address: 3324 Elder Street, Boise, ID 83705.
Description: The aim of the Idaho Early Literacy Project is to ensure
that all children in Idaho are ready to read when they enter school.
Stage III includes utilization of the research-based booklets, ``Every
Child Ready to Read and Every Child Ready for Math'', an integrated
approach to reading and mathematical literacy, the training of child
care providers statewide, both live and on-line, and a direct
intervention with parents and children. The training of child care
providers includes a face-to-face approach in larger population centers
and an on-line approach for remote rural locations. Stage III builds on
early literacy training models implemented in 2008-2010 by unifying
reading and mathematical literacy and by strengthening the intervention
with parents and children. As such, the project assures that pre-school
children will receive direct literacy education from child care
providers and in special workshops with their parents, creating the
``language rich'' upbringing necessary to success in school.
Project Name: Idaho SySTEMic Solution
Amount Received: $400,000
Account: Department of Education Elementary and Secondary Education
Recipient: Boise State University
Recipient's Address: 1910 University Drive, Boise, ID 83725-1135
Description: Idaho SySTEMic Solution is a nationally relevant, hands-
on, project-based STEM learning system (science, technology,
engineering, & math) designed to spur achievement and confidence among
elementary-age learners and their teachers. Proven methods show that
long-term student achievement and interest in STEM can be dramatically
improved by introducing systemic, contiguous, and engaging hands-on
activities at an elementary level before children develop
misconceptions, gender bias, math anxiety, or become distracted by
cultural influences prevalent at puberty. In 2010 the project will
extend into middle school grades where the need for hands-on activities
is even greater. Key project components include a comprehensive,
continuing teacher training model that includes a one-week summer
institute and ongoing site-based follow-up training to boost the
ability and confidence of elementary and middle school teachers;
implementation into demographically diverse schools of curriculum-
aligned learning lab systems that have been shown to improve student
scores in math, science, and technology; and research and evaluation of
results in accordance with Idaho and national assessment standards.
Project Name: Madison County Memorial Hospital Renovation
Amount Received: $350,000
Account: Health Resources and Services Administration Health
Facilities and Services
Recipient: Madison County Memorial Hospital
Recipient's Address: 450 East Main, Rexburg, ID 83440
Description: Madison Memorial Hospital will initiate the
implementation of the Electronic Medical Record, EMR, System into
Physician Clinics that feed into Madison Memorial Hospital. Information
from the EMR helps the clinician make informed decisions. As the
patient status is entered into this EMR, the information increases
staff efficiencies through faster transcription times, nursing notes,
lab results, radiology and other electronic sources. This system will
make it easier for physicians and clinicians to comply with all
regulations by enabling them to keep their records up to date. Patient
safety will be increased by developing a paperless electronic medical
record environment where clinical information can be readily shared via
electronic transactions with all entities within the Madison Memorial
Hospital network.
Project Name: Purchase of Biochemistry and Microbiology Laboratory
Equipment
Amount Received: $400,000
Account: Health Resources and Services Administration Health
Facilities and Services
Recipient: Idaho State University
Recipient's Address: 921 South 8th Avenue, Stop 8007, Pocatello, ID
83209-8007
Description: Modern instrumentation is essential to improving both
the Biochemistry and Microbiology programs at Idaho State University,
ISU. This request will enable the purchase of the required
instrumentation needed for courses in biochemistry courses, chemistry
laboratories, and microbiology and biology courses. More than 400
students per year would gain access to state of the art instrumentation
through this request, improving both the quality of their educational
experience and the quality of research in these scientific fields that
can be pursued.
Project Name: St. Luke's Regional Medical Center's Children Health
Services Expansion
Amount Received: $350,000
Account: Health Resources and Services Administration Health
Facilities and Services
Recipient: St. Luke's Regional Medical Center Ltd
Recipient's Address: 190 E. Bannock Street, Boise, ID 83712
Description: St. Luke's Health System is home to the only Children's
Hospital in Idaho, providing unique full-service tertiary pediatric
services between Salt Lake City, Utah, and Portland, Oregon, both more
than 350 miles from Boise, Idaho. St. Luke's delivers over 25 percent
of the babies born in the State. The Children's Health Services
Expansion project provides an essential increase in capacity for
Pediatric Medical/Surgical, Pediatric Intensive Care, Neonatal
Intensive Care, Pediatric Oncology, and Pediatric Surgical Suites and
support area, to meet the needs of the rapidly growing population in
the hospital's service area. Prior to the beginning of this multi-year
project, each area was frequently full, requiring children to be placed
in adult units or diverted to other and often very distant hospitals.
The federal funding provided for the expansion project has resulted in
expanding all units with state-of-the-art facilities and equipment.
Funding received will assist with the purchase of equipment, including
electronic medical record hardware and software programs and patient
monitor technology for patient support and EMR connectivity to be used
in the Medical/Surgical Pediatrics, Pediatric and Neonatal Intensive
Care, Oncology, Surgical Suites and support areas. The hospital is
spending millions on the expansion and federal funds will represent
only a small portion of the project's total costs.
Project Name: Twin Falls Library Modernization Project
Amount Received: $100,000
Account: Museums and Libraries in the Institute of Museums and
Library Services
Recipient: City of Twin Falls
Recipient's Address: 201 Fourth Avenue East, Twin Falls, ID 83301
Description: The Twin Falls Public Library seeks to obtain a fully
searchable database for it local historical newspapers. The Library has
on 709 reels of microfilm of local newspapers from 1904 to the present.
It is difficult to use the microfilm because of its deteriorating
physical condition and outdated format. There is no index; if an exact
date is not known, patrons must browse through the microfilm by hand,
which is very inefficient. These funds will be used to digitize and
index 709 reels of microfilm of the local newspaper dating from 1904
through 2008. The searchable database will replace the deteriorating
microfilm with a searchable format allowing patrons to search articles,
pictures, and advertisements by keyword; view information in its
historical context; preserve the look and feel of the original format;
and print or email articles, photos, or ads of interest. The reference
staff will be able to serve the community more effectively, both on-
site and remotely, by digitizing and indexing the microfilm. This
newspaper database will be an historical asset to library patrons and
will provide an accessible and unique service to the community.
Division E--FY2010 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs
Project Name: Civil Engineer Maintenance Complex at Mountain Home Air
Force Base
Amount Received: $690,000
Account: Air Force Military Construction Account
Recipient: 366th Wing, Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho
Recipient's Street Address: 366 Gunfighter Avenue, Ste 107, Mountain
Home Air Force Base, Idaho 83648
Description: The civil engineer functions are currently dispersed
among 10 WWII-era wood-frame and Korean War-era facilities. Wood frame
facilities have a RAC 2 due to failing roof structures and cracked and
spreading concrete foundations that have contributed to failing floors
and trusses, presenting risk to squadron members who work in the
facilities. Currently, employees must evacuate during heavy snowfall or
high winds. The fire safety deficiencies are endemic to all buildings,
the patchwork electric wiring is maxed out, which increases fire risk,
and the HVAC systems can't keep buildings heated and cooled. The
dispersed locations and failing conditions of existing facilities
adversely affects all daily Civil Engineering operations and negatively
impacts the Wing's mission. This funding will be used for planning and
design.
Project Name: Logistics Readiness Center
Amount Received: $20,000,000
Account: Air Force Military Construction Account
Recipient: 366th Wing, Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho
Recipient's Street Address: 366 Gunfighter Avenue, Ste 107, Mountain
Home Air Force Base, Idaho 83648
Description: The existing Logistics Supply is a condemned 53-year-old
wooden structure beyond economical repair. The roof is held up with
temporary structural supports. The building is evacuated and now 60
percent of base
[[Page E2953]]
supply functions operate from temporary spaces across base, creating
significant delays in troop/equipment mobilization. This negatively
impacts the Wing's ability to demolish and relocate from other
substandard facilities on base. When funded, the Logistics Readiness
Center will provide command and control for all materials in-bound and
outbound, including freight processing, packing, crating, pallet
buildup shop, and provide bulk and bin storage. The facility will also
support secure storage, an armory, and have administrative areas.
I appreciate the opportunity to provide a list of congressionally-
directed projects in my district that have received funding in the
Conference Report accompanying H.R. 3288, the FY2010 Consolidated
Appropriations Act and provide an explanation of my support for them.
____________________