Roy Blunt

Mr. BLUNT

Mr. BLUNT. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the House Republican standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of H.R. 3293, the Department of Labor, Health and Human Services Appropriations Bill for Fiscal Year 2010. Bill Number: H.R. 3293 Requesting Member: Congressman Roy Blunt Priority Name: Ozark Tri-County Healthcare Consortium Amount: $500,000 Account: Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)--Health Facilities and Services Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Ozark Tri-County Health Care Consortium Address of Requesting Entity: 4301 Doniphan Drive, Neosho, MO 64850 Description of Request: Funds will be used to complete the construction and expansion of a new facility for a current Federally Qualified Health Center site located in Cassville, MO and to add additional equipment to supplement the expansion. The use of taxpayer funds is justified as the funding will be used to provide health services to people who lack appropriate health care due, chiefly, to economic reasons. The operation of this Federally Qualified Health Clinic will continue to improve the health of the medically underserved in southwest Missouri Priority Name: Jordan Valley Community Health Center Amount: $250,000 Account: Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)--Health Facilities and Services Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Advocates for a Healthy Community, Inc Address of Requesting Entity: 618 N. Benton Ave, Springfield, MO 65806 Description of Request: Funds will be used to complete the lower level of the current building project, located at 440 E. Tampa Street. The lower level will be renovated to increase access to healthcare. This will allow for significant expansion in children's and women's health services, providing greater access to the community to a medical home. The use of taxpayer funds is justified as the funding will be used to provide health services to people who lack appropriate health care due, chiefly, to economic reasons. The operation of this Federally Qualified Health Clinic will continue to improve the health of the medically underserved in southwest Missouri Priority Name: Joplin School District: e-MINTS Amount: $100,000 Account: Elementary & Secondary Education Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Joplin R-VIII School District Address of Requesting Entity: PO Box 128, Joplin, MO 64802 Description of Request: Funding would be used to provide elementary school students the opportunity to be in either an eMINTS classroom or an eJOPLIN classroom. These classrooms will include one computer for every four students, an LCD projector, a laptop computer for the teacher, a Smart Board, educational software and a networked printer. The use of taxpayer funds is justified because funding will be used to transform classrooms for all learners through high quality teaching powered by technology. Priority Name: Missouri State University Innovation Academy Amount: $150,000 Account: Elementary & Secondary Education Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Missouri State University Address of Requesting Entity: 901 S. National, Springfield, MO 65804 Description of Request: This funding will be used for the Missouri Innovation Academy, an on-campus summer program for at-risk high school sophomores and juniors from low-income backgrounds. The academy focuses on recruiting urban and rural students that have had limited exposure to science and math. Particular attention is placed on recruiting students from lower income families. Students live on the Missouri State University campus during the duration of the Academy. The use of taxpayer funds is justified because innovation in math and science will be the key to economic growth in the future. This program will enable students who would do not have significant financial means with the access and opportunity to realize the education and training to fill these jobs domestically.

Mr. BLUNT

Mr. BLUNT. Mr. Speaker, would a government takeover of health care create jobs? The answer is clearly no. We should be focused on job one right now, which is find the jobs. But, Mr. Speaker, if the Energy and Commerce Committee had continued to work today, I would have introduced an amendment to require all Federal elected officials, including the President and Vice President, to set aside our health care benefits and enroll in their new idea of a government-run health care system. If the majority is really so confident that their plan will provide the very best health care to the people we represent, we ought to demonstrate that confidence by enrolling ourselves. I, for one, don't believe the government-run health care plan will be the best for the people we represent, but a government competitor will soon be the only one left. A government competitor, Mr. Speaker, would be like an elephant in a room full of mice. The fast mice can get out of the room as quick as they can. The slow mice get crushed, and only the elephant is left. It is time we put our health care where we want the American health care to be, Mr. Speaker, but it's also time we find the jobs.

Mr. BLUNT

Mr. BLUNT. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Chairman, first, I want to thank Chairman Pastor and Ranking Member Frelinghuysen for recognizing the importance of this center, the Missouri Alternative Renewable Energy Technology Center, located at Crowder College in southwest Missouri. I am even glad that Congressman Flake created an opportunity to speak about this project. I really don't object to this process at all. I think the more we determine how we are deciding how to spend money, the better off the country is. I also think that it's good to understand that not every decision on where to spend our research and development money should be made by the current administration or by the current Department of Energy. In fact, I am proud of the research that we are doing in southwest Missouri, and it has already had and will continue to have an impact regionally and nationally on renewable energy technology. This center will serve as a living laboratory. It already serves as a living laboratory, modeling the best practices for solar and thermodynamic energy systems and striving to go even beyond zero energy consumption. Through these efforts, it has served as a regional center. The project we are talking about today integrates a variety of green construction practices, such as Earth shelter design, a green roof, rainwater harvesting, and low-volatile organic compounds, interiors and furnishings. This is designed to be one of the very first working examples of a net positive energy structure. In other words, this won't be a structure that just produces its own energy. It actually will be a structure that produces all of the energy it uses. It goes beyond the net zero building to put energy back into the grid, and it will provide distributed power to the electric utility company that serves the college. Crowder College has long been a pioneer in renewable energy. In 1984, Crowder College, a junior college--a 2-year college--designed and built the first solar-powered vehicle to cross the United States. These are southwest Missouri kids out of high school and who are in their first or second year of post-high school training. They built the first solar car that did that. This same group, this same school, finished second behind General Motors in the first world solar challenge in Australia in 1982. In 2001, they won the fuel-efficiency category of the second ethanol vehicle challenge. That's a vehicle, by the way, that is still used on the campus as a maintenance vehicle. This school won the People's Choice Awards in 2002 in Washington, D.C., for the solar house competition. So they don't come to this, competing for Federal funds, without having had successes. They don't come without having done things that others have copied, shared and looked at. They come asking for this funding not only to help design, engineer and construct a center that is about to go out for bid but also to use that funding to help people learn how to use these building techniques. They are right there on the campus, learning how to create jobs. We talk a lot here about green energy jobs. This is a center that will actually be used as a laboratory in the building process to teach others how to do this green energy job creation and green energy building. As we know, buildings consume 48 percent of the Nation's energy. The MARET Center will consume zero percent of the Nation's energy. In fact, it will put energy back into the system. Programs like this are crucial to the efforts we have for our economy and for our national security. Our Nation needs to have a new energy policy, an all-of-the-above strategy, and this is definitely part of that all-of-the-above strategy. So I urge my colleagues to look at this issue and to look at it carefully, to look at a program that has already had national impact and to help this small 2-year college continue to do the things that they have been doing for over 20 years now to help establish green- collar jobs and green technology. I would love to see our colleagues come to southwest Missouri and look at what is happening at the MARET Center, because people from all over America will be following their efforts and will benefit from this investment in the future.

Mr. BLUNT

Mr. BLUNT. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the House Republican standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of H.R. 3183, the Department of Energy and Water Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2010. Bill Number: H.R. 3183 Account: Department of Energy EERE Project Title: MARET Center Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Crowder College Address of Requesting Entity: 601 Laclede Ave., Neosho, MO 64850 Description of Request: $1.5 million will be used toward design, engineering and construction at the MARET Center. The use of taxpayer funds is justified because the funding will be used in part to fund the new center which will be for delivery of new business and incubator services and education and training programs in renewable construction technologies and renewable energy. As we know, the building sector consumes 48 percent of the nation's energy. Programs like the MARET Center will help lower both usage and cost. Account: Department of Energy EERE Project Title: Natural Gas Fueling Facility Legal Name of Requesting Entity: City of Springfield, Missouri Address of Requesting Entity: 840 N. Boonville, Springfield, MO 65802 Description of Request: $700,000 was included in the bill to construct a Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) fuel station for use by Local, County and State agencies to refuel CNG vehicles. The use of taxpayer funds is justified because this is a cost effective way to fuel government vehicles while reducing dependency on foreign oil.

Mr. BLUNT

Mr. BLUNT. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the House Republican standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of H. R. 2996, The Department of Interior Appropriations Act for FY2010. Requesting Member: Congressman Roy Blunt Priority Name: McDonald County for Wastewater Infrastructure--Public Water Supply District #1 of McDonald County Authorized Amount: $244,000 Account: STAG Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Project Legal Name of Requesting Entity: McDonald County, Missouri Address of Requesting Entity: PO Box 345, Pineville, MO 64856 Description of Request: This funding will be used by Public Water Supply District (PWSD) #1 toward the second phase of a wastewater expansion project to augment recently constructed infrastructure financed from PWSD funds. The proposed project will supply the Village of Jane with needed sewer service. The Village of Jane is a small but rapidly growing community in south-central McDonald County on the bank of Little Sugar Creek, a 303d impaired waterway. The use of taxpayer funds is justified because in addition to the benefits of improved water quality within the Little Sugar Creek watershed and encouraging additional commercial and residential development in the area, the proposed project will also provide needed wastewater service to properties recently purchased by the McDonald County R-1 School District and Crowder College to house a second high school campus and a community college campus respectively.

Mr. BLUNT

Mr. BLUNT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I join him in opposition to this rule. I think all of these deadlines that suddenly we have realized are there are not reasons to go away from the traditions of the House. Like the gentleman, I applaud many of the efforts in the bill itself, certainly aid for our friend, Israel, the democracy, the pillar of democracy in the Middle East, and hopefully other countries in that area will rally around that example. Aid for Israel is important in this bill. On the other hand, an amendment that I had that had 74 cosponsors as a bill in the last Congress that would limit funds transferred to any entity of the Palestinian Authority until the President certifies to the appropriate committees that the ruling Fatah Party has taken the clauses out of their constitution that called for the destruction of Israel would have added to this bill and would have added to this debate. It should have been allowed. I am disappointed it wasn't. I am also concerned that we didn't allow the amendment that I offered on the Law of the Sea Treaty, that simply would have prevented funds in the bill from being used for a contribution to the Seabed Authority. That's an authority, a global entity, that would be responsible for collecting taxes on U.S. energy companies for deep seabed mining if the United States ratifies the Law of the Sea Treaty. Those are only two examples of many of the amendments that were offered that were rejected and that we should have found time to debate those and add them to the bill. I oppose the rule.

Mr. BLUNT

Mr. BLUNT. As we approach this debate on health care, there are Republican principles that have been out there a long time that are going to be followed this week by legislation. One of those principles is to ensure that medical decisions are made by patients and doctors, not by government bureaucrats. I am going to insert in the Record an article from yesterday's Wall Street Journal. The title is ``Of NICE and Men,'' NICE being the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence in Great Britain. And this article talks about what happens when you have rationed care. Great Britain has one of the lowest survival rates in Europe from cancer. And in Europe generally, if you compare Europe to the United States, breast cancer survivors, 84 percent in the United States, 73 percent in Europe; prostate cancer survivors, 92 percent in the United States, 57 percent in Europe. People need to have more choices, not less choices. We need a more competitive marketplace, not a less competitive marketplace. A government competitor will drive away all other competitors. That will be a critical part of this debate. [From the Wall Street Journal, July 7, 2009] Of NICE and Men Speaking to the American Medical Association last month, President Obama waxed enthusiastic about countries that ``spend less'' than the U.S. on health care. He's right that many countries do, but what he doesn't want to explain is how they ration care to do it. Take the United Kingdom, which is often praised for spending as little as half as much per capita on health care as the U.S. Credit for this cost containment goes in large part to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, or NICE. Americans should understand how NICE works because under ObamaCare it will eventually be coming to a hospital near you. The British officials who established NICE in the late 1990s pitched it as a body that would ensure that the government-run National Health System used ``best practices'' in medicine. As the Guardian reported in 1998: ``Health ministers are setting up [NICE], designed to ensure that every treatment, operation, or medicine used is the proven best. It will root out under-performing doctors and useless treatments, spreading best practices everywhere.'' What NICE has become in practice is a rationing board. As health costs have exploded in Britain as in most developed countries, NICE has become the heavy that reduces spending by limiting the treatments that 61 million citizens are allowed to receive through the NHS. For example: In March, NICE ruled against the use of two drugs, Lapatinib and Sutent, that prolong the life of those with certain forms of breast and stomach cancer. This followed on a 2008 ruling against drugs--including Sutent, which costs about $50,000--that would help terminally ill kidney-cancer patients. After last year's ruling, Peter Littlejohns, NICE's clinical and public health director, noted that ``there is a limited pot of money,'' that the drugs were of ``marginal benefit at quite often an extreme cost,'' and the money might be better spent elsewhere. In 2007, the board restricted access to two drugs for macular degeneration, a cause of blindness. The drug Macugen was blocked outright. The other, Lucentis, was limited to a particular category of individuals with the disease, restricting it to about one in five sufferers. Even then, the drug was only approved for use in one eye, meaning those lucky enough to get it would still go blind in the other. As Andrew Dillon, the chief executive of NICE, explained at the time: ``When treatments are very expensive, we have to use them where they give the most benefit to patients.'' NICE has limited the use of Alzheimer's drugs, including Aricept, for patients in the early stages of the disease. Doctors in the U.K. argued vociferously that the most effective way to slow the progress of the disease is to give drugs at the first sign of dementia. NICE ruled the drugs were not ``cost effective'' in early stages. Other NICE rulings include the rejection of Kineret, a drug for rheumatoid arthritis; Avonex, which reduces the relapse rate in patients with multiple sclerosis; and lenalidomide, which fights multiple myeloma. Private U.S. insurers often cover all, or at least portions, of the cost of many of these NICE-denied drugs. NICE has also produced guidance that restrains certain surgical operations and treatments. NICE has restrictions on fertility treatments, as well as on procedures for back pain, including surgeries and steroid injections. The U.K. has recently been absorbed by the cases of several young women who developed cervical cancer after being denied pap smears by a related health authority, the Cervical Screening Programme, which in order to reduce government healthcare spending has refused the screens to women under age 25. We could go on. NICE is the target of frequent protests and lawsuits, and at times under political pressure has reversed or watered-down its rulings. But it has by now established the principle that the only way to control health-care costs is for this panel of medical high priests to dictate limits on certain kinds of care to certain classes of patients. The NICE board even has a mathematical formula for doing so, based on a ``quality adjusted life year.'' While the guidelines are complex, NICE currently holds that, except in unusual cases, Britain cannot afford to spend more than about $22,000 to extend a life by six months. Why $22,000? It seems to be arbitrary, calculated mainly based on how much the government wants to spend on health care. That figure has remained fairly constant since NICE was established and doesn't adjust for either overall or medical inflation. Proponents argue that such cost-benefit analysis has to figure into health-care decisions, and that any medical system rations care in some way. And it is true that U.S. private insurers also deny reimbursement for some kinds of care. The core issue is whether those decisions are going to be dictated by the brute force of politics (NICE) or by prices (a private insurance system). The last six months of life are a particularly difficult moral issue because that is when most health-care spending occurs. But who would you rather have making decisions about whether a treatment is worth the price--the combination of you, your doctor and a private insurer, or a government board that cuts everyone off at $22,000? One virtue of a private system is that competition allows choice and experimentation. To take an example from one of our recent editorials, Medicare today refuses to reimburse for the new, less invasive preventive treatment known as a virtual colonoscopy, but such private insurers as Cigna and United Healthcare do. As clinical evidence accumulates on the virtual colonoscopy, doctors and insurers will be able to adjust their practices accordingly. NICE merely issues orders, and patients have little recourse. This has medical consequences. The Concord study published in 2008 showed that cancer survival rates in Britain are among the worst in Europe. Five-year survival rates among U.S. cancer patients are also significantly higher than in Europe: 84% vs. 73% for breast cancer, 92% vs. 57% for prostate cancer. While there is more than one reason for this difference, surely one is medical innovation and the greater U.S. willingness to reimburse for it. The NICE precedent also undercuts the Obama Administration's argument that vast health savings can be gleaned simply by automating health records or squeezing out ``waste.'' Britain has tried all of that but ultimately has concluded that it can only rein in costs by limiting care. The logic of a health-care system dominated by government is that it always ends up with some version of a NICE board that makes these life-or-death treatment decisions. The Administration's new Council for Comparative Effectiveness Research currently lacks the authority of NICE. But over time, if the Obama plan passes and taxpayer costs inevitably soar, it could quickly gain it. Mr. Obama and Democrats claim they can expand subsidies for tens of millions of Americans, while saving money and improving the quality of care. It can't possibly be done. The inevitable result of their plan will be some version of a NICE board that will tell millions of Americans that they are too young, or too old, or too sick to be worth paying to care for.

Mr. BLUNT

Mr. BLUNT. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the House Republican standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of H.R. 2997, the Department of Agriculture Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2010. Bill Number: H.R. 2997 Account: Natural Resources Conservation Service--Conservation Operations Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Southwest Missouri Resource Conservation and Development, Inc. Address of Requesting Entity: 283 US Highway 60 West, Republic, MO 65738 Description of Request: $287,000 is provided for the Upper White River Basin to provide additional conservation technical assistance to support the South Missouri Water Quality Project staff for a water quality program in southern Missouri. The Upper White River Basin is located in the Ozark Highlands region with approximately 6.8 million acres of the basin located in Missouri. Technical assistance includes forestry conservation, urban nutrient management and storm water planning, watershed planning and assessment, and water quality information and education activities. The use of taxpayer funds is justified because this watershed has experienced tremendous population growth in the last decade that has resulted in an increase in nonpoint source pollution pressure.

Mr. BLUNT

Mr. BLUNT. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Madam Speaker, you and I came to the House of Representatives at the same time. We have often voted differently, but I have always appreciated your public service and will continue to and wish you well in the new responsibility that you are taking and well in the other announcement that you made today. I think this bill, Madam Speaker, heads the country very much in the wrong direction. It's the wrong direction for America. It's the wrong direction for our economy. It puts us at a competitive disadvantage. The Republican alternative that many Democrats could easily support would look for more American energy, would look for more ways to conserve the energy we use, and would invest in the future in a way that makes our energy future make sense. We have 28 percent to 30 percent of all the coal in the world. If this was something that the majority wanted to do, the majority would be saying, if this country could put a man on the Moon in a decade, we could find a way to use coal in a way that doesn't create an immediate penalty on every coal-producing utility in America. In Mr. Waxman's State, I have great respect for him, the primary sponsor of the bill, less than 4 percent of California's electricity comes from coal. In Mr. Markey's State, less than 24 percent of the electricity comes from coal. In Missouri, more than 85 percent of the electricity comes from coal, and we are not the top State. We are in the top 10. We will be affected by this dramatically, but so will everybody from, say, Pittsburgh to Wyoming. This is going to impact utility bills unfairly. It will impact job opportunity unfairly. And, frankly, the jobs we lose in our part of the country, and in the country generally, are not likely to relocate somewhere else in America. They are more likely--these manufacturing jobs use lots of energy--to locate in a country that has less environmental standards than we do, the ultimate lose-lose. We lose the jobs. You actually put more of these things in the air than you would otherwise, and Americans suffer because of that. In our State, the estimate is that utility bills would go up 40 percent in the first 5 years, 80 percent in the first 10 years, and even more after the various allowances are gone. This is unfair to American families, and, frankly, the less you can afford to put in new windows, new insulation, new everything else, the harder a burden this is going to be. I urge my colleagues to vote this bill down and work together to have a better bill for America.

Mr. BLUNT

Mr. BLUNT. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a legendary Ozarks western singing group--Sons of the Pioneers, who will celebrate their 75th anniversary of performing this year. They are known worldwide for their vocal blend, unique harmonies and special arrangements of their classic songs. Introduced in 1934, the Sons of the Pioneers are reputed to be the longest continually performing musical group in the history of western music. After about 50 years of touring, the Sons of the Pioneers decided to make Branson their home. They settled at the Shepherd of the Hills, where they perform at the Sons of the Pioneers Pavilion. The six-member group entertains guests with western songs and stories. The members have changed over the years, but they all continue to present the music in its original form for everyone to enjoy. The founding members included Roy Rogers (Leonard Slye), Bob Nolan and Tim Spencer, who was born in Webb City, Missouri, which is now part of my congressional district. Their unique style of music became widely admired and copied. They composed many original songs, several of which have become true American classics. ``Tumbling Tumbleweeds,'' ``Cool Water,'' and ``Riders in the Sky'' were part of a unique sound and style, which became the traditional music of the American cowboy and the West. The Sons of the Pioneers has had 33 members, and has never disbanded. The Sons of the Pioneers have performed in nearly 100 movies and have sung over 3,000 western songs. They have starred in movies with well known actors such as John Wayne, Gene Autry, Bing Crosby, and of course Roy Rogers. The Sons of the Pioneers has achieved many awards and accolades over their three-quarters of a century performing. They are considered ``National Treasures'' by the Smithsonian Institute. They have been inducted in several halls of fames including: Nashville Country Hall of Fame in 1978, Western Hero's Hall of Fame in 1984, Western Music Association Hall of Fame in 1990 and the National Cowboy Hall of Fame in 1995. The group won Vocal Group of the Year in 1970 and Band of the Year in 1978. In 1986, their popular song ``Cool Water'' was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Sons of the Pioneers is truly a group who deserves significant credit for the music they have created, the standards they have set, the achievements they have accomplished, and all the generations they have touched. This year celebrates the Sons of the Pioneers' 75th Anniversary of creating and preserving western music. It is truly an honor for Southwest Missouri to be the home of such a distinguished group. I wish Sons of the Pioneers continued success and many more years of keeping western music alive for future generations to enjoy.

Mr. BLUNT

Mr. BLUNT. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the House Republican standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of H.R. 2647, The National Defense Authorization Act of Fiscal Year 2010. Requesting Member: Congressman Roy Blunt Priority Name: JSOW-ER Authorized Amount: $6.5 million Account: Joint Standoff Weapon Systems Legal Name of Requesting Entity: LaBarge, Inc Address of Requesting Entity: 1505 S. Maiden Lane, Joplin, MO 64801 Description of Request: JSOW is a GPS-guided air-to-ground weapon designed to attack a variety of targets in day, night and adverse weather conditions. The 70+ mile range of JSOW allows launch aircraft to stand off beyond the range of most Surface-to-Air missiles. The use of taxpayer funds is justified because there is a need for weapons with greater standoff. A new variant of JSOW (JSOW-ER Block IV) would have a range and lethal capability equal to or greater than SLAM-ER and would satisfy the warfighter's need at less than half the cost of SLAM-ER. An existing engine from the Miniature Air-Launched Decoy program will be used to extend the range of JSOW-ER to more than four times of the current glide version. Priority Name: Lithium Ion Storage Advancement for Aircraft Applications Authorized Amount: $4.2 million Account: Force Protection Applied Research Legal Name of Requesting Entity: EaglePicher Technologies Address of Requesting Entity: 1215 W B St., Joplin, MO 64801 Description of Request: Protection of Li-Ion power systems is absolutely necessary on all current chemistries to prevent catastrophic failures due to over charge, over discharge and temperature excursions. In conjunction with the necessary safety aspects of the power system, a management function is necessary to achieve maximum performance. Maximum performance is achieved by monitoring individual cell voltages, temperature and currents and using this information to control each cell's charging based on environments. By managing the system at the cell level, premature power system degradation and failure can be greatly reduced. This translates into reduced maintenance costs, increased battery life, increased performance and overall increased safety. The use of taxpayer funds is justified because the results from advancements in overall safety and chemistry not only provide safety for aircraft applications but can also be transitioned to the commercial, industrial, military as well as consumer product industries. The next generation of energy storage can be achieved. In addition, by leveraging the results from efforts on current projects, advancements toward new technologies can be realized sooner. These batteries have significant weight and power density advantages over legacy technologies that are currently in use. Priority Name: Long-Loiter, Load Bearing Antenna Platform for Pervasive Airborne Intelligence Authorized Amount: $8 million Account: Aerospace Technology Dev/Demo Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Missouri State University/QinetiQ North America Address of Requesting Entity: 901 S. National Ave., Springfield, MO 65804 Description of Request: This funding will be used toward a revolutionary approach to the realization of truly load bearing antenna arrays. In addition to load bearing antennas, the DF hardware will be structurally integrated such that weight is minimized. DF algorithms have been developed and modifications for the severe conditions in Afghanistan will be used as a baseline. The use of taxpayer funds is justified because this new, affordable, antenna platform will significantly increase the DF capabilities of the Zephyr platform. This will enable rapid deployment and affordable assets in theater, adding significantly to the nation's assets. Priority Name: Short Range Ballistic Missile Defense Authorized Amount: $20.5 million Account: Ballistic Missile Defense Terminal Defense Segment Legal Name of Requesting Entity: LaBarge Inc Address of Requesting Entity: 1505 S. Maiden Lane, Joplin, MO 64801 Description of Request: SRBMD is a joint Missile Defense Agency (MDA) and Israel Missile Defense Organization program to develop and deploy a cost-effective broad-area defense for use by both countries' militaries and Israeli civilians against ballistic missiles, large caliber rockets and cruise missiles. The joint program objective is to develop the Stunner interceptor to be common to both militaries for maximum return on investment. The Army has indicated its intention to integrate the Stunner into current and planned missile defense systems. The program successfully completed a critical flight test in February 2009 and two additional tests are scheduled this year. The use of taxpayer funds is justified because the additional funding requested will support qualification and transition to production beyond the President's request and will support US-specific work to integrate the system into the US air and missile defense system. The funding will accelerate a critical, ongoing program and help to ensure that this system is deployed as quickly as possible to begin providing needed protection to US troops deployed around the world.

Mr. BLUNT

Mr. BLUNT. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the House Republican standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of H.R. 2847--Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010. Account: Department Of Justice--COPS Law Enforcement Technology Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Greene County, MO Address of Requesting Entity: 933 N. Robberson, Springfield, MO 65802 Description of Request: $350,000 is included for the Greene County Emergency Operation Center. These funds will be used for the necessary equipment for emergency operations in Greene County, MO. The equipment will include computers, software, televisions, video conference equipment and other specialized equipment for the facility. The use of taxpayer funds is justified because this equipment is necessary for interoperability of all agencies in the event of any type of disaster. Account: Department of Justice--COPS Law Enforcement Technology Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Jasper County Commission, Carthage, MO Address of Requesting Entity: Jasper County Commission, 302 S. Main St., Carthage, MO 64836 Description of Request: $250,000 is included for the Cornerstone Regional Justice Information System. These funds will be used to procure law enforcement information sharing and records management software, laptop computers, high speed data cards, multi-modal biometric identification equipment, and network connectivity hardware for multiple counties in Southwest Missouri. The use of taxpayer funds is justified because this equipment will be used to enhance cooperative multi-jurisdictional law enforcement efforts by improving communications and criminal information sharing among local and state agencies in Southwest Missouri. Account: Department of Justice--COPS Law Enforcement Technology Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Taney County Commission, Forsyth, MO Address of Requesting Entity: Taney County Commission, 127 Main Street, Forsyth, MO 65653 Description of Request: $400,000 is included for the White River Area Emergency Project. This funding will be used to create a data sharing network and purchase and implement the latest mobile data computers, network hardware, and criminal justice information sharing software for all law enforcement agencies in Taney County. This funding will enable Taney County, MO to purchase and implement a county wide, multi- jurisdiction public safety mobile data network as well as a criminal justice information sharing system. The use of taxpayer funds is justified because this project will greatly enhance overall investigations and increase officer safety by enabling instant access to critical time sensitive information on the street, when they need it most.

Mr. BLUNT

Mr. BLUNT. Madam Speaker, earlier this week I talked about the principles that we need to follow for Americans to have a better health care system. The first of those principles was to make quality health care coverage affordable and accessible for every American, regardless of preexisting conditions. Today I want to talk for a minute, now less than a minute, about why we need to protect our system from a government-run health care alternative. What that alternative would do would eliminate coverage for more than 100 million Americans who currently receive their coverage through their job. It would limit your choice of doctors and medical treatment options, and it would result in the Federal Government taking control of health care. Yesterday, the American Medical Association embraced all of those reasons not to have a public option, not to have a government-run option, not to have a government takeover of health care.

Mr. BLUNT

Mr. BLUNT. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Madam Speaker, I certainly want to talk about the comments that have already been made on Guantanamo. It's a facility that should be kept open. Clearly, a campaign promise is easier to make than is the reality of the world we live in. Nobody wants these people. Nobody in my State, nobody in any neighboring State. Other countries don't want these people. They are dangerous. They are enemies of the United States. They are not people who have a right, with the actions they've taken, to have the protections that have already been so well-discussed by Mr. Kingston, by Mr. Lungren and by others. Frankly, the fact that there is not money in this supplemental, at least as I understand at this point, to close that facility is a good thing. I'm glad the chairman and the others worked to see that that was not in there. This is a debate that suddenly is a lot harder, from the administration's point of view, than it was during the campaign. Troops in the field need our support. The House acted quickly. It was a large bipartisan vote to support the troops in the field. Where is that bill now? That bill is in a committee somewhere. They're trying to figure out what else can be added to a bill designed to support our troops. People talking on those topics understand that Members of Congress have a history of supporting our troops in the field--our troops in Iraq, our troops in Afghanistan. So, suddenly, well, maybe, we could also put more money in the International Monetary Fund, a fund in which we would put that money by increasing our debt. We all know that one of the sources of that debt right now is foreign borrowing, borrowing from foreign countries. Some of those countries we borrow from, like China, actually would then qualify to get the money back under the IMF. To borrow money from China to give it to China is not what we ought to be doing. If we were even going to talk about that, it shouldn't be in a military supplemental. It should be in a bill focused on that specific promise that the President apparently has recently made, and it deserves a debate of its own. I hope it does not come back to the floor as part of this bill. I hope we get the job done of supporting our troops.

Mr. BLUNT

Mr. BLUNT. Mr. Speaker, Republicans are eager for this discussion, this debate on health care to move forward. We are eager to talk about health care in committee, on the floor, in hearings, at news conferences, wherever people want to talk about a health care system that ensures more quality, widespread coverage, and accessibility. In fact, we have a plan that will be based on five principles, and today I want to talk about one of those principles, which is just simply to make quality health care coverage affordable and accessible for every American, regardless of preexisting health conditions. That is a statement that almost every Member of this House I believe would agree with, and our debate is just simply how we get there. We need to be committed to get there. We need to ensure that everybody has not just access to health care because of certain Federal regulations. Everyone can get into a health care environment if there is a crisis, but we want to be sure they have coverage that gets them into health care through their entire life and through all the needs of their health care. Affordable, accessible, quality health care is something we are eager to debate. We have the plans that will get there, and we hope that a competitive marketplace allows more choices.

Mr. BLUNT

Mr. BLUNT. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Silver Star Families of America. This organization was founded by two of my constituents, Steven and Diana Newton of Clever, Missouri. On April 11, 2005, the Silver Star Families of America was founded. Since that time, they have freely given thousands of Silver Star Service Banners to the wounded and ill or their families. Their primary mission is that every time someone sees a Silver Star Service Banner in a window or a Silver Star Flag flying, that people remember the sacrifice made by so many for this State and Nation. They have also established Silver Star Banner Day on May 1st of every year to honor the wounded and ill of the United States Armed Forces. Steven and Diana Newton, along with national president Janie Orman and volunteers across the country, have donated close to 50,000 hours. They have also donated over $40,000 in Silver Star Banner distribution and $30,000 in direct aid to homeless and near-homeless veterans, care packages, and support of hospitalized veterans and other programs. To date, they have honored thousands of our wounded and ill with the Silver Star Service Banner. I am proud to pay tribute to the Silver Star Families of America, their service to veterans across our nation, and ask my colleagues in the House to join me in doing the same.

Mr. BLUNT

Mr. BLUNT. I thank my friend for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I believe this bill is a dangerous proposal which can transform the criminal justice system and in spite of all the protestations that now maybe we have safeguards, I think it threatens religious liberty. The hate crimes bill federalizes each and every State and local crime. There is no evidence that States and localities are failing to prosecute crimes under existing law. A person intentionally hit by a car is the victim of the same crime, regardless of why. The key there is ``intentionally.'' Whether you intentionally decide you are going to run over somebody with a car because they are there and you are mad, the penalties should be the same and to suggest that it is not is a Federal mistake at the level we are suggesting mistakes would be made. Hate crimes legislation invariably has threatened religious leaders and groups with criminal prosecution, an investigation into why that person's thoughts, beliefs or statements led to their actions. This can easily jeopardize constitutional rights of freedom of speech and religious expression. In fact, the very fact that the people who wrote this legislation have gone out of their way to come up with a new protection suggests that there is danger. There has been danger in every other country that has come up with this kind of legislation. This requires criminal investigations to probe if a crime occurred because of bias toward a protected group and opens the door to criminal investigations of a suspect's philosophical beliefs, politics, biases, religion, activities and past statements. Due to the subjectivity of these kinds of feelings and motives, there is enormous potential here, Mr. Speaker, for error. This creates unequal treatment of victims by treating crimes against protected groups more seriously than nonprotected groups. Murder of a victim will be treated more seriously than murder of another victim. Mr. Speaker, I believe that's wrong. I think this is a constitutional problem. Again, in every State, in every country that has had similar legislation, this has created a problem of speech. Hate crimes become hate speech, become thought crimes too easily, and I urge a ``no'' vote.

Mr. BLUNT

Mr. BLUNT. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Here we are. We just had a same-day rule on a bill that was available 3 minutes till midnight last night. We're now on the rule on the budget, the supposed blueprint for the future, and we're going to hear in this debate and in the other debate that this is a budget that spends too much, that borrows too much and that taxes too much because it spends too much, it borrows too much, and it taxes too much. I want to talk principally about health care for a few minutes. That has been a topic here of the discussion already. ``Reconciliation,'' by definition, defines a partisan victory. I would just advance to my friends that health care is the worst possible place to achieve that victory if you can achieve something differently than that. There is broad agreement on what we ought to do in health care. We're all working hard to make that agreement become a reality. We've talked about tax policy. We've talked about welfare policy. Frankly, we did use reconciliation, but it was always to restructure something that government was doing. I don't think there is an example of where we used reconciliation to restructure the overall private economy. Both health care and energy would restructure an economy that will never come back to where they were, and that is not something you should be doing without lots of thought and without lots of support in a bipartisan way. I would advance to my friends that that is a huge mistake. Certainly, if you restructure energy for 5 or 10 years or you restructure health care for 5 or 10 years, we're never coming back to the competitive marketplace that needs to be improved but not tossed aside, and I'm fearful that that's what happened. Here we are. We're at the end of April. If there is a Secretary of HHS, that's only because she will be confirmed this week. I don't think there is a Secretary there. Even if there is, the others in that Department who support the Secretary are not there. No Secretary. No bill. No plan to get this done within the calendar. The calendar makes it virtually impossible to get this done before that reconciliation instruction has to be used. Frankly, for those who want to go to a single-payer, government-run system, having reconciliation out there is every reason in the world not to have a bipartisan compromise. This is an area where we need to have two-thirds of the Members of the House and two-thirds of the Members of the Senate going from that vote, saying we believe the country is headed in the right direction. If we have a 51-49 sort of victory and we have a 5-year debate on whether we have health care rationing or government-run health care, that is a bad thing for America, Madam Speaker. We need a health care system that's affordable, that's accessible, that has better quality. I think we can all reach agreement on those issues. But not, I would advance, if we have this option out there of one party doing it one way. This is a blueprint that doesn't work the way it should work. The budget doesn't. The taxes, the inflation, the interest rates that are absolutely in the country's future in the way of recovering the economy are part of the problem of the future. They will stand in the way of that recovery. I urge that we vote against this rule and against this budget.

Mr. BLUNT

Mr. BLUNT. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the House Republican standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information for publication in the Congressional Record regarding an earmark I received as part of H.R. 1824, the Best Buddies Empowerment for People with Intellectual Disabilities Act of 2009. Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Best Buddies. Address of Requesting Entity: 100 Southeast Second Street, Suite 2200, Miami, FL 33131. Description of Request: $10 million will be authorized to provide assistance to Best Buddies, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people with intellectual disabilities, to promote the expansion of Best Buddies, including activities to increase the participation of people with intellectual disabilities in social relationships and other aspects of community life, including education and employment, within the United States.

Mr. BLUNT

Mr. BLUNT. I thank Mr. Ehlers for yielding. I certainly was pleased to join my colleague from Maryland, the majority leader, as an original sponsor of this Best Buddies Empowerment for People with Intellectual Disabilities Act. This isn't the first time that Mr. Hoyer and I have joined with our colleagues to come together in a meaningful way in this important area. In fact, we are both proud of the Special Olympics Sport and Empowerment Act in 2004 that became law during the 108th Congress. The success stories of healthy athletes, the program that emerged out of that effort, is really the great result of what we did. The reports we get from Special Olympics have been heartening every year as those athletes come together. It's estimated that between 7 and 8 million Americans live with intellectual disabilities, impacting nearly one in every 10 families. For these individuals, life is not always welcoming. Very rarely is it easy. People with intellectual disabilities are often excluded from society, whether that's a school, in the workplace or in their communities, simply because they are different. So I have been glad to support a program that we have talked about today, Best Buddies. It's been mentioned that it was organized 20 years ago by Anthony Shriver, and it really was designed to help integrate people with intellectual disabilities into the mainstream of society to end their isolation, to help them embark on productive, fulfilling lives by finding a buddy that didn't have the disabilities that they have. The Best Buddies program works with volunteers to establish meaningful friendships with their nondisabled peers in order to help increase the self-esteem and confidence of people with and without intellectual disabilities. This is a program that's enhanced the lives of individuals by providing real and safe opportunities for one-on-one friendships and new options for employment. These can often be life-changing events for individuals and often are life-changing events for those individuals with intellectual disabilities. This is often the first time in their lives that they have had someone to call their friend, someone to be their friend who didn't have disabilities, and introduced them to the world without disabilities. This bill helps accomplish that goal in a number of significant ways. It authorizes the Secretary of Education to award grants or contracts with Best Buddies to conduct and expand its activities. It has an eye on increasing the participation of individuals with intellectual disabilities, as well as to promote outreach programs. This bill will go a long way toward dispelling negative hurtful stereotypes and make clear the extraordinary gifts that people with intellectual disabilities nonetheless possess and, with just a little encouragement, are able to utilize. More important, it will help move people from intellectual disabilities from the margins of society to the mainstream of society. I know Mr. Hoyer, Mr. Ehlers, Mr. Tonko and I hope to see this bill enacted into law, knowing that it will help raise the hope and dignity of people with intellectual disabilities and further empower their full participation in our communities. I hope my colleagues pass this bill today. We intend to work for its enactment into law and look forward to the difference that this bill, Mr. Speaker, can make in the lives of people.

Mr. BLUNT

Mr. BLUNT. Thank you for yielding. I just say that on that broader topic of reform of those GSEs, certainly there was legislation proposed in 2007. It wasn't passed. The President of the United States called for legislation every year beginning in 2001. The point is that the Congress can barely run the government, let alone try to put a matrix together and run these companies in minute detail. The very fact that we're going to have all these amendments today indicates that, once again, we're rushing to the floor with a bill that shows maybe the Congress is not the best daily governing officer of the businesses of America. I thank my friend for yielding.

Mr. BLUNT. Madam Speaker, I don't blame my good friend from Virginia for not wanting to talk about the bill today. If I were him, I wouldn't want to talk about it either. I oppose this bill. I oppose this rule. I was not particularly concerned a few days ago when we were sending a message to AIG and the executives at AIG, the high-paid executives there. I think every once in a while the Congress can send a message, and it is a good thing to send that message. This is a company that taxpayers now own 80 percent of. If that's not a definition of bankruptcy, I don't know what is. In bankruptcy, it's okay to look at the commitments you made in the past. Now I am afraid--by the way, the AIG executives apparently got the message because many of them have returned that bonus money back to the taxpayers who gave it to the company. I thought that was okay to send that message. We were way ahead of any constitutional concern. There was no Senate action. The President wasn't about to sign a bill. We were sending a message. They got the message. I think the problem with that message may be that some of our own Members got a different message, which is it's somehow okay for the government to decide that they can decide salaries and how to run companies. You know, the government can barely run the government. The government this week has announced we're going to run the auto industry. The auto industry is in trouble. If I were picking a group of folks to run it, it wouldn't be the government. But the government is there. And now we've got this bill on the floor that suggests somehow that the government can set salaries at what I would see as not only the high level that we tried to take care of last fall in a bill. And apparently the stimulus package that came through had language in it that reversed some of that language and made these bonuses at the higher level possible to be paid. I regret that. I am glad I didn't vote for that stimulus bill. I'm glad that I didn't do anything that enabled that. I am not going to vote for this bill today. It is all we can do to run the government and to try to tell these companies how to pay the people that work for them is not the right thing to do. I mean, as late as last April, the chairman of the Banking Committee in the House that deals with housing, the chairman of the Housing Committee in the Senate were both saying as late as last April that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac didn't need to be reined in. They were saying as late as last April that these agencies needed even more ability to loan more money. If we could be that wrong that close to the precipice that we went off in the summer and fall, imagine how wrong we could be running a company that doesn't even have any relationship to what the government does every day. This is a bad bill. It's a bad rule. We should not move forward with this rule and not move forward with this bill.

Mr. BLUNT. Would the gentleman yield?

Mr. BLUNT

Mr. BLUNT. Madam Speaker, it's my honor today to welcome for the opening prayer a respected leader and a friend of mine, Reverend Gary Shaw of Central Christian Center in Joplin, Missouri. Reverend Shaw is an elder and trustee at the Central Christian Center and has served there as executive administrator for the past 30 years. In addition to his church work, Reverend Shaw is the mayor of the city of Joplin in southwest Missouri. Joplin is the second largest city in my congressional district. It serves a four-State area as a center for commerce, education, health care, and transportation. Gary Shaw has spent several years in service to the city of Joplin, and I am thankful for Reverend Shaw's committed efforts to the city as a member of several committees and leadership boards. His work to improve business, safety, and historic preservation in his community and State does not go unnoticed. He's a devoted father and husband. He's been married to his best friend, Kathy, for 46 years and has one son, Brian, a local businessman. A veteran of the United States Army, a graduate of Ozark Christian College in Joplin, Reverend Shaw has also been a witness for his faith in over 30 countries. It's truly my honor to welcome Reverend Shaw to the House today and thank him for his service to Missouri and many years of dedicated service to the city of Joplin.

Mr. BLUNT

Mr. BLUNT. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of the H.R. 1105--Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009. Account: Natural Resources Conservation Service--Watershed/flood prevention operations Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Southwest Missouri Resource Conservation and Development, Inc., at Natural Resources Conservation Service. Address of Requesting Entity: 601 Business Loop 70 West Columbia, Missouri 65203 Description of Request: $287,000 is provided for the Upper White River Basin to provide additional conservation technical assistance to support the South Missouri Water Quality Project staff for a water quality program in southern Missouri. Technical assistance includes forestry conservation, urban nutrient management and storm water planning, farm nutrient planning for confined animal feeding operations, cartography map products, watershed planning and assessment, and water quality information and education activities. The use of taxpayer funds is justified because this watershed has experienced tremendous population growth in the last decade that has resulted in an increase in nonpoint source pollution pressure. The funding provides Account: DOJ--COPS Law Enforcement Technology Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Greene County, MO Address of Requesting Entity: 933 N. Robberson Springfield, MO 65802 Description of Request: $800,000 is included for the Greene County Emergency Operations Center. It is my understanding this funding is to be used for the necessary equipment of the emergency operations center. The equipment will include computers, software, televisions, video conference equipment and other specialized equipment for the facility. The use of taxpayer funds is justified as this equipment is necessary for the operation of the EOC. The total equipment required is for interoperability of all agencies in the event of a disaster. Account: Department of Justice--COPS Law Enforcement Technology Legal Name of Requesting Entity: City of Springfield, MO Address of Requesting Entity: 840 N. Boonville, Springfield, MO Description of Request: $700,000 will be used to help fund replacement of the existing Police Department records management system and automated field reporting software, hardware and servers. The use of taxpayer funds is justified because the funding will enable continuous operations and eliminate periods when records are not accessible and field reports created by mobile data units are disrupted. The technology will enable the sharing of law enforcement information with other agencies. Account: Department of Justice--COPS Law Enforcement Technology Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Taney County, MO Address of Requesting Entity: 127 Main St., Forsyth, MO, 65653 Description of Request: $400,000 will help Taney County, MO to purchase and implement a county wide, multi-jurisdiction public safety mobile data network as well as a criminal justice information sharing system. The use of taxpayer funds is justified because this project will greatly enhance overall investigations and increase officer safety by enabling them instant access to critical time sensitive information on the street, when they need it most. Account: Department of Justice--COPS Law Enforcement Technology Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Webb City, MO Address of Requesting Entity: 200 S. Main St, Webb City, MO 64870 Description of Request: $150,000 will help to fund provide law enforcement technology for Webb City, Missouri. Webb City needs to purchase portable radios and mobile vehicle radios of 800 MHz. The use of taxpayer funds is justified because the current radios utilize a 150 MHz frequency that has gaps throughout the city and is very limited outside of the city limits. This prevents a seamless channel of communication in times of disaster. Account: Army Corps of Engineers--Investigations Legal Name of Requesting Entity: City of Springfield, MO Address of Requesting Entity: 840 N. Boonville, Springfield, MO Description of Request: $478,000 will be used to help complete the feasibility study and begin pre-construction engineering and design of Jordan Creek. The use of taxpayer funds is justified because the Army Corps of Engineers study looks at a range of alternatives to the water resource needs in the area including non-structural flood damage measures, development of environmental and floodplain buffer zones along the river, and creation of floodplain overflow wetlands. Account: Department of Energy--EERE--Solar Energy Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Crowder College Address of Requesting Entity: 601 Laclede Avenue, Neosho, MO 64850 Description of Request: $951,500 will be used to fund programs and services at the Missouri Alternative Renewable Energy Technology Center. The use of taxpayer funds is justified because the funding will be used in part to fund the new center which will be for delivery of new business and incubator services and education and training programs in constructions technologies and renewable energy. The facility will serve as a living laboratory, modeling the best practices known for solar and thermodynamics energy systems and striving for zero energy consumption and serve as a regional center for renewable energy. Account: Department of Energy--EERE--Other Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Greene County, MO Address of Requesting Entity: 933 N. Robberson, Springfield, MO 65802 Description of Request: $475,750 will be used to help fund a portion of the renovations of the Greene County courthouse. Greene County would like to add a green roof to the courthouse. The use of taxpayer funds is justified because the roof would serve as an environmentally friendly way to insulate the building and control storm water. This project is to assist Greene County in our effort to truly be green citizens. The energy efficiency of the project and the storm water control of the project are the largest benefits to Greene County. Account: Army Corps of Engineers--O&M Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Army Corps of Engineers--Little Rock Address of Requesting Entity: 700 W Capitol Ave # 7340, Little Rock, AR 72201 Description of Request: $6,667,000 will be used by the Corps of Engineers for operational and maintenance items at Table Rock Lake including rehabilitation of head gates and rehabilitation of powerhouse station service units. This request was made by the Administration and is the entire operations and maintenance budget for Table Rock Lake. The use of taxpayer funds is justified because Table Rock Lake provides vital flood control on the White River and is a significant source of peak hydropower. Account: Department of Interior--EPA--STAG Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Project Legal Name of Requesting Entity: McDonald County, Missouri Address of Requesting Entity: P.O. 345 Pineville, MO 64856 Description of Request: $500,000 will be used by Public Water Supply District (PWSD) #1 for the second phase of a wastewater expansion project to augment recently constructed infrastructure financed from PWSD funds. The proposed project will supply the Village of Jane with needed sewer service. The Village of Jane is a small but rapidly growing community in south-central McDonald County on the bank of Little Sugar Creek, a 303d impaired waterway. In addition to the benefits of improved water quality within the Little Sugar Creek watershed and encouraging additional commercial and residential development in the area, the proposed project will also provide needed wastewater service to properties recently purchased by the McDonald County R-1 School District and Crowder College to house a second high school campus and a community college campus respectively. Account: Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)--Health Facilities and Services Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Ozark Tri-County Health Care Consortium Address of Requesting Entity: 4301 Doniphan Drive, Neosho, MO 64850 Description of Request: $476,000 would be used to construct a new Federally Qualified Health Center in Cassville, Missouri. The use of taxpayer funds is justified because the Health Center will increase medical capacity and add full dental services to serve all of Barry County by moving from the current leased facility that provides only medical servics. Account: Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)--Health Facilities and Services Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Missouri Southern State University Address of Requesting Entity: 3950 E. Newman Road, Joplin, MO, 64801 Description of Request: $381,000 would be used for patient simulation equipment for education and training of all nursing and allied healthcare students. These simulators will allow students to become proficient in assessing patients, making decisions and implementing care in a real-life setting all without jeopardizing the health and safety of real patients. The use of taxpayer funds is justified because patient safety and outcome are critically dependent on the competence of healthcare personnel. Account: Elementary & Secondary Education (includes FIE) Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Missouri State University Address of Requesting Entity: 901 S. National, Springfield, MO 65804 Description of Request: $143,000 would be used for the Missouri Innovation Academy, an on-campus summer program for high school sophomores and juniors from low-income backgrounds. Students will live on the Missouri State University campus during the duration of the Academy. The use of taxpayer funds is justified because innovation will be the key to economic growth in the future and will involve the creation and application of technology to treat serious illness, address energy needs and other environmental challenges, increase national security, and introduce other inventions to improve the quality of life and stay competitive at the global level. Account: Elementary & Secondary Education (includes FIE) Legal Name of Requesting Entity: City of Springfield Address of Requesting Entity: 840 N. Boonville, Springfield, MO 65802 Description of Request: $571,000 would be used for Ready to Learn, which is a partnership with the highly utilized Springfield/Greene County WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) Clinic, Shady Dell Public Preschool and a collaboration of service providers. The use of taxpayer funds is justified because this program creates pre-kindergarten academic, reading readiness and social and emotional skill development to the client population 0 to under 7 years (Missouri preschool age) and their families. Account: Elementary & Secondary Education (includes FIE) Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Joplin Public Schools Address of Requesting Entity: PO Box 128, Joplin, MO 64802 Description of Request: $143,000 would be used for Enhancing Joplin's Opportunities by Preparing and Leading Instructional Networking, or eJOPLIN, which seeks to transform classrooms for all learners through high quality teaching powered by technology. The use of taxpayer funds is justified because the funding would be used to provide elementary school students the opportunity to be in either an eMINTS classroom or an eJOPLIN classroom. These classrooms will include one computer for every four students, an LCD projector, a laptop computer for the teacher, a Smart Board, educational software and a networked printer. Account: Museums & Libraries Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Missouri State University Address of Requesting Entity: 901 S. National, Springfield, MO 65804 Description of Request: $143,000 would be used for the Digital Archives Initiative: Phase II, which will continue Missouri State University's efforts to develop high quality, accessible digital collections. The use of taxpayer funds is justified because people in Southwest Missouri will have access to larger collections with additional important links to Ozarks related people, places, and events. To date, grant funds have enabled the department to establish and implement a digital imaging program that focuses on important regional collections. Account: Federal Highway Administration--(TCSP) Transportation & Community & System Preservation Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Ozarks Transportation Organization Address of Requesting Entity: 117 Park Central Square, Springfield, MO 65801 Description of Request: $237,500 will be used for construction of Interchange Improvements at 60/65 including flyover ramps and a grade separated railroad crossing. Use of taxpayer funds is justified as this is the one of the most important interchanges in the region. There is a history of severe accidents and high traffic volumes. The current interchange configuration was not intended for the traffic volumes that are present. Account: Federal Highway Administration--Interstate Maintenance Legal Name of Requesting Entity: City of Joplin, Missouri Address of Requesting Entity: 602 S. Main St. Joplin, MO 64801 Deception of Request: $152,000 will be used to study the most effective way to provide improved access to I-44. The use of taxpayer funds is justified because this project will provide access to I-44 for the commercial district. The commercial district would become enhanced and further developed, which would increase jobs and reduce vacancies and blight. The study for purpose and need as well as feasibility and location will provide the first step toward constructing this project. Account: Federal Highway Administration--(TCSP) Transportation Community & System Preservation Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Taney County, Missouri Address of Requesting Entity: 127 Main Street, Forsyth, MO 65653 Description of Request: $427,000 will fund rehabilitation of the Route 76 bridge over Lake Taneycomo and a roundabout at the Route 76/ Business Route 65 Interchange in Hollister. The use of taxpayer funds is justified as this project will address congestion relief, safety and infrastructure maintenance. Account: Federal Highway Administration--(TCSP) Transportation & Community System Preservation Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Ozarks Transportation Organization Address of Requesting Entity: 117 Park Central Square, Springfield, MO 65801 Description of Request: $1,187,500 will be used to fund safety and capacity improvements to the Route 60 Bridge over the James River in Greene County Missouri. Changing geological conditions have resulted in increased unforeseen costs for the project. Use of taxpayer funds is justified as this project is a project of regional significance on the statewide system. The bridge is being replaced in conjunction with the US60/US65 interchange improvement project, which is the number one priority within the Springfield region for both the OTO and MoDOT. This project already appears in the STIP and is ready to begin in early 2009.