Christopher Lee

Mr. LEE of New York

Mr. LEE of New York. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of the FY Defense Appropriations bill. Requesting Member: Congressman Christopher Lee (NY-26) Bill Number: H.R. 3326 Account: Other Procurement, Air Force--028 Combat Training Ranges Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Northrop Grumman Amherst Systems Address of Requesting Entity: 1740 Wehrle Drive, Buffalo, NY 14221 Description of Request: Provide an earmark of $1,000,000 for the Air National Guard (ANG) Joint Threat Emitter (JTE) Savannah Combat Readiness Training Centers (CRTC) The Joint Threat Emitter (JTE) system simulates electronic combat signals and is designed to provide realistic electronic warfare training for pilots and aircrew members. The Joint Threat Emitter will replace several older, harder-to-sustain and cost prohibitive threat emitters, and is specifically designed to allow for spiral development upgrades to ensure future threats are quickly integrated into its design. The JTE has the capability to generate six modern threats from one platform and replaces more expensive, single-threat-per-platform units, which are more costly to support and do not have the flexibility to generate modern combat environments. The JTE capabilities, including the highly lethal double digital threats, add an essential element to ANG combat training ranges. The Savannah CRTC and Townsend Range Complex currently provides inadequate pilot training for real-world missions and pilots must train far from their home bases, which is more expensive and requires considerable transit time thereby reducing the time allocated for actual training. Modernization efforts are underway; however FY10 JTE funding is inadequate to procure the stated need of two (2) JTE systems at the Townsend Range Complex. Requesting Member: Congressman Christopher Lee (NY-26) Bill Number: H.R. 3326 Account: Other Procurement, Navy--038 Submarine Acoustic Warfare System Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Hydroacoustics, Inc. Address of Requesting Entity: 999 Lehigh Station Road, Henrietta, NY 14467 Description of Request: Provide an earmark of $2,000,000 for the Hydroacoustic Low Frequency (HLF) Sources for Trident and Virginia Class Submarines. This project will accelerate deployment of acoustic signature protection to Trident and Virginia class submarines operating in the Atlantic. Additionally, it will help maintain the industrial capacity to design and build low frequency acoustic sources since HAI is the sole manufacturer of HLF systems in the United States. This project will fill a critical funding gap while the Navy programs funds to sustain HLF-1 procurement. Requesting Member: Congressman Christopher Lee (NY-26) Bill Number: H.R. 3326 Account: Procurement, Marine Corps--010 Modification Kits Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Carleton Technologies, Inc. Address of Requesting Entity: 10 Cobham Drive, Orchard Park, NY 14127 Description of Request: Provide an earmark of $1,000,000 for the Microclimate Cooling Unit (MCU) for M1 Abrams Tank. The M1 Abrams tank was designed to combat the former Soviet Union on the fields of Europe and as such it does not have an air conditioning system. With the War on Terror taking place not in Europe, but in the extreme climate of the Middle East, tank crews have had to not only combat the enemy, but also the effects of thermal stress and heat stroke. Ambient temperatures of 125 degrees Fahrenheit can yield temperatures inside the tank approaching 150 degrees Fahrenheit A vehicle-mounted air conditioning system has had minimal impact because body armor and other field gear the soldiers are wearing prevent the body from being cooled. Likewise, any benefits of an air conditioning system are lost when the tank operates with its hatches open and crew exposed, as is most often the case in Iraq. The M1A1 version of the tank has no crew cooling system currently outfitted. Use of the MCU will significantly reduce soldier thermal heat stress, greatly improve soldier alertness and performance, and reduce resultant soldier injuries and casualties. Currently soldiers have no way to cool core body temperatures in the heat of Afghanistan and Iraq operations. Some soldiers have resorted to using IV fluids in an attempt to cool core body temperatures. Use of the MCU will significantly reduce soldier thermal heat stress, greatly improve soldier alertness and performance, and reduce resultant soldier injuries and casualties. An Army medical study has demonstrated a soldier work time increase on helicopters from approx 1.0 hours without cooling to in excess of 5 hours with MCU. Similar results are found on tactical and combat vehicles. Requesting Member: Congressman Christopher Lee (NY-26) Bill Number: H.R. 3326 Account: Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Army--30 0603002A Medical Advanced Technology Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Roswell Park Cancer Institute Address of Requesting Entity: Elm & Carlton Streets, Buffalo, NY 14263 Description of Request: Provide an earmark of $2,500,000 for the Advanced Cancer Genome Institute at Roswell Park Cancer Institute Roswell Park Cancer Institute is seeking to develop an Advanced Cancer Genome Institute: a world-class program for the early detection, prognosis and treatment of cancer and other diseases through the establishment and use of cutting-edge genomics instruments and techniques that identify new cancer-related genes and that develop new anti-cancer drugs. Through an affiliation with the National Functional Genomics Consortium (NFGC), which fosters high-level collaborations in cancer genomics and proteomics, the research will benefit cancer sufferers throughout the U.S. The advanced genomics program at Roswell Park can provide expertise and training in the use of genomics and rapid drug development technologies for investigators from the Department of Defense and other government agencies focused on emergency health threats. In the event of emergency health threats such as pandemic or a bioterrorism attack the facilities can be adapted rapidly to help identify pathogenic agents and to develop therapeutic agents. The techniques developed by researchers to identify a gene signature and personalized treatment will be useful in addressing health threats which affect our troops and the public at large. Requesting Member: Congressman Christopher Lee (NY-26) Bill Number: H.R. 3326 Account: Defense Health Program--02 RDT&E Defense Health Program Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Daemen College Address of Requesting Entity: 4380 Main Street, Amherst, NY 14226 Description of Request: Provide an earmark of $1,000,000 for Advanced Military Wound Healing Research and Treatment. Applied research into acute and chronic wounds that will: Optimize wound recovery and outcomes; Develop an assay to predict wound healing; Develop an assay to predict scar formation; Integrate the new technology (assay) into treatment strategies; Develop composite wound applications to enhance wound closure. Improving the healing of patients with acute and chronic wounds will decrease depression, increase function and independence, save limbs, and ultimately save lives. The new technologies we aim to develop can be readily adapted into military medical situations, would be suitable for military deployment in a military setting, and efficacious for use in civilian hospitals or other healthcare settings. Requesting Member: Congressman Christopher Lee (NY-26) Bill Number: H.R. 3326 Account: Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Air Force--2 0601103F University Research Initiatives Legal Name of Requesting Entity: University at Buffalo Address of Requesting Entity: 501 Capen Hall, Buffalo, NY 14260 Description of Request: Provide an earmark of $1,000,000 for the UB Energy and Sensor Informatics Research and Translation Facility. Increase research that will focus on energy informatics. This effort will include energy collection and storage research, nanostructured sensor materials and devices, and informatics associated with efficient and accurate use of the developed technologies. The acquired instruments will be applicable to: (i) chemical and biological sensors for health informatics, (ii) biometrics devices for identification and homeland security, (iii) semiconductor-based photovoltaic devices (solar cells) for energy collection, (iv) nanostructured energy storage devices (batteries), and (v) thermoelectric energy collectors. The facility will enable the development of new devices for homeland security, information technology, and health sciences. Requesting Member: Congressman Christopher Lee (NY-26) Bill Number: H.R. 3326 Account: Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Air Force--34 0603260F Intelligence Advanced Development Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Janya Inc. Address of Requesting Entity: 1408 Sweet Home Road, Amherst, NY 14228 Description of Request: Provide an earmark of $1,000,000 for the Multilingual Text Mining Platform for Intelligence Analysts. Extending the capabilities of Semantex, a text mining platform, to languages of great interest to DoD customers (Arabic, Urdu and Farsi). Semantex is a software platform for extracting useful information from unstructured text, such as open source news, email, social media (blogs, chat etc.) as well as message traffic. The developed platform will support DoD intelligence applications where the current technology is insufficient, providing valuable multilingual multi-source intelligence to analysts and front-line warfighters in both tactical and strategic situations, increasing their effective bandwidth when processing intelligence information. Requesting Member: Congressman Christopher Lee (NY-26) Bill Number: H.R. 3326 Account: Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Defense-Wide--40 OSD 0603711D8Z Joint Robotics Program/Autonomous Systems Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Lithos Robotics Corporation Address of Requesting Entity: 4246 Ridge Lea Road, Suite 61, Amherst, NY 14226 Description of Request: Provide an earmark of $1,000,000 for Autonomous Control and Video Sensing for Robots. Integrate digital radio and autonomous vehicle control system with proven Video Motion Detection for continuous visual sensing to provide surveillance and response via access to denied areas in a variety of complex situations, including EOD, expeditionary force protection in battlefields and highly flexible SOCOM needs. The system will be rugged and easy to use so it can be sent into chaotic zones to conduct surveillance, ID threats, and possibly manipulate devices for threat reduction in manual, semi-autonomous, and fully autonomous modes. The project will result in a persistent surveillance module integrated with a digital radio system, and with a control system for unmanned ground robots. The system can be used by DoD for: 1. Standalone surveillance, force protection, and EOD; 2. Mobile, autonomous or semi-autonomous surveillance and/or force protection, and EOD Requesting Member: Congressman Christopher Lee (NY-26) Bill Number: H.R. 3326 Account: Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Navy--50 0603609N Conventional Munitions Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Veritay Technology, Inc. Address of Requesting Entity: 4845 Millersport Highway, PO Box 305, East Amherst, NY 14051 Description of Request: Provide an earmark of $1,000,000 for Improved Kinetic Energy Cargo Round (I-KEET). The Improved KEET (kinetic energy, electronically timed) round project--initially funded through a Navy SBIR award and then enhanced by a Commercialization Pilot Program grant--accelerates development of a kinetic energy round and provides a non-explosive, lethal mechanism for projectiles. By using the internal propulsion mechanism found in the round to augment the kinetic energy imparted to the projectile by the gun found aboard Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, I-KEET ejects an even larger payload mass (19 lbs vice 17 lbs) in the forward direction at +760 ft/sec relative to the projectile, thereby doubling the kinetic energy and increasing the overall payload kinetic energy by 130% compared to the current round which ejects the payload from the rear. An increased dispersion technique provides a uniform dispersion pattern which increases the lethal area 2.2 times greater than the existing MK 182 round therefore the I-KEET round provides significantly improved surface ship defense against small, fast moving attack boats. The USS Cole attack, hijackings of civilian ships by pirates and last year's incident where five armed Iranian patrol boats harassed three Navy warships in the Strait of Hormuz, point to the fact that a primary asymmetric challenge to surface combatants operating in a littoral environment are attacks by small, fast boats. These emerging littoral threats have refocused Navy priorities for providing global assured access and maritime dominance in shallow water and coastal areas. This, in turn, has led to requirements for technologies to counter the threat, including munitions that fit existing weapons delivery systems that provide greater lethality through payload and dispersion patterns as well as being safer to store and transport aboard ship. I-KEET will (1) Provide greater lethality through payload and dispersion patterns than the current Mk-182 round; (2) Use kinetic energy--not high explosives--to deliver the payload thereby making the rounds considerably safer to store and transport; (3) Fit existing gun systems so no costly delivery system modifications are needed; and (4) Provide better protection against small, fast, hard to target and disable, swarm boat attacks. Requesting Member: Congressman Christopher Lee (NY-26) Bill Number: H.R. 3326 Account: Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Navy--27 0603216N Aviation Survivability Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Calspan Corporation Address of Requesting Entity: 4455 Genesee Street, Buffalo, NY 14225 Description of Request: Provide an earmark of $1,000,000 for Military Upset Recovery Training. This program provides a critical training function; heretofore missing from military pilot training curricula. Data from other related research indicates that even military trained pilots, currently the best trained and most experienced in this regime of flight, are unable to consistently recover from loss of control events, an unanticipated, un-commanded aircraft maneuver that left unchecked leads to a out of control situation and potential accident without this type of specialized training. It is important to note that the current track systems (fighter/other) that both the Navy and Air Force have transitioned, streamlines the curriculum, condenses and focuses the flying training based on the type of aircraft the pilot will fly operationally, but reduces and eliminates much of the advanced handling and aerobatic maneuvers that all military pilots were required to be proficient in. Since the separate track system was implemented about 15 years ago, the current generation of medium and large military aircraft pilots has not been trained in these scenarios. Realistic training for the very dynamic and disorienting events that lead to loss of control accidents cannot be trained in currently fielded aircraft simulators because these devices do not reproduce the critical accelerations and disorienting motions of the actual events. Training done in high performance aerobatic jet training aircraft, while helpful, does not duplicate the skill sets needed to recover a large aircraft and, in some cases, may transfer the wrong impression possibly resulting in a negative transfer-of-training effect that has been shown in itself to be dangerous. Furthermore, current flight training regimes do not address the critical training element not only how to recover from an extreme condition but, how to do so with inoperative controls due to system failure or battle damage. This training is geared towards military pilots operating a wide variety of transport, utility, and patrol aircraft. An important aspect of the upset maneuvers used in training is applicability beyond the specific events trained. The broader purpose of this training activity is to teach pilots how to evaluate a never-before-seen situation and maneuver a large transport airplane back to a safe and stable condition. In the end, the goal is to combine expanded situational awareness, knowledge, and judgment with the requisite stick and rudder skill-sets to successfully master the many flying challenges faced over a career of military operational flying. Continuation of this development effort with operational testing and further analysis of an In-Flight Simulation based training program will support advance of training critical piloting skills in the regime of upset recovery. The initial funding has allowed the In-Flight Simulator will be programmed to exhibit representative characteristics to include relatively heavy control forces and sluggish response so as to illustrate the inherent difficulty in recovering from Jet Upsets in this class of aircraft and to conduct initial evaluations to measure pilot performance and recovery quality. Follow on funding will be used to conduct further development and testing to ensure a program will be effective when implemented into primary test and training regimes. Requesting Member: Congressman Christopher Lee (NY-26) Bill Number: H.R. 3326 Account: Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Navy--15 0603114N Power Projection Advanced Technology Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Moog, Inc. Address of Requseting Entity: Seneca and Jamison Roads, East Aurora, NY 14052 Description of Request: Provide an earmark of $2,000,000 for the Quiet Drive Advanced Rotary Actuator. Moog will develop an advanced actuation system, a quiet, compact electro-mechanical device, using a hypocycloidic gear train that would be an enabling technology for the U.S. Navy, Future Naval Capabilities (FNC) These actuators will provide the Navy with a performance improvement and lifecycle cost advantage compared to today's hydraulic rotary actuator in its efforts to develop the all-electric ship and submarines. These systems will automate many systems, thus keeping sailors out of harm's way. The immediate naval application will be used on submarines (such as bow planes and other structures employing actuator technology). Actuators convert energy from hydraulic, air, or electric power to achieve mechanical movement and control of heavy or remote devices. Current Navy ships have between 100 to 3,000 actuators each. At present, these actuators typically use old style hydraulic technology. Successful completion of the technology will reduce shipboard personnel and reduce repair and maintenance costs. The Department of the Navy has repeatedly stated its desire for an all electric ship. Environmental hazards associated with hydraulic systems will also be eliminated by moving to an electric actuator. Under prior funding, there has been constructed an electric motor which is currently being evaluated. The present design does not meet the strict acoustic requirements of the U.S. Navy. The company, using internal funding, will analyze the prototype, correcting these and other technical issues. Computer models are now being constructed to aid in the analysis and physical models will be built to verify the analytical conclusions. Alternate design concepts will be developed and analyzed with the best proposed as the system solution. The military service need is well documented. In the 2007 Symposium conducted by American Society Naval Engineers/Department of Defense, the Office of Naval Research conducted a panel presentation on the need for the quiet drive technology as applied to Diagnostics and Maintenance in the all electric ship. Over the past 5 years, ONR has repeatedly stated that these actuators would provide the Navy with a performance improvement and lifecycle cost advantage compared to today's hydraulic rotary actuator in its efforts to develop the all- electric ship. Army's TARDEC also supports the work because the results will be able to be used for Advanced Electric Drives configurable to axle and wheel-end applications providing greater drive capabilities and high intelligence capabilities (current immediate use includes HUMVEEs and trucks). Existing military axle and wheel-end systems fail to provide adequate measurement and date retrieval that are needed to increase engine efficiency and torque while preventing breakdown or catastrophic event.

Mr. LEE of New York

Mr. LEE of New York. For months now my constituents in western New York have been asking, where are the jobs? Well, take a look around. Are they in the recently passed national energy tax that devoted more than 50 of its 1,300 pages to lightbulb regulation and just two paragraphs on carbon-free nuclear energy? Or are they in the thousand- page, government-sponsored health care proposal without so much as a mention for malpractice liability reform to dramatically reduce premiums on struggling Americans? Or maybe they're in the recently passed $700 million welfare program for wild horses. The majority has shown it doesn't know how to create new jobs, outside of those for new Federal bureaucrats, but it certainly knows how to create new burdens for our children and grandchildren. This week alone, our Treasury is set to sell off a record $205 billion in debt. Let's start working together to implement responsible solutions to the serious challenges facing our Nation.

Mr. LEE of New York

Mr. LEE of New York. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of the FY10 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations bill. Requesting Member: Congressman Christopher Lee (NY-26) Bill Number: H.R. 3293 Account: Department of Health & Human Services--Health Resources and Services Administration--Health Facilities and Services Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Unity Health System Address of Requesting Entity: 89 Genesee Street, Rochester, NY 14611 Description of Request: Provide an earmark of $800,000 to develop a set of clinical applications to support the goal of enhancing both the quality and the delivery of care within Unity Health System. Will also expedite the implementation of a practice management and ambulatory electronic record system that enables connectivity between the Unity Medical Group physician offices. Of the total project amount, approximately 100 percent is for implementation of information technology. Requesting Member: Congressman Christopher Lee (NY-26) Bill Number: H.R. 3293 Account: Department of Education--Higher Education Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Niagara County Community College Address of Requesting Entity: 3111 Saunders Settlement Road, Sanborn, NY 14132 Description of Request: Provide an earmark of $275,000 to provide additional and updated technology for the Learning Commons project, including SMART classrooms and individual workstations. Of the total project amount, approximately 100 percent is for equipment. By establishing the Learning Commons, the project will improve student success and create an educated workforce by improving access to technology, enhancing learning, and providing a relevant education for graduating students across all disciplines. NCCC has seen increased enrollment, a number of whom are economically disadvantaged, who need this new technology for success in college. Requesting Member: Congressman Christopher Lee (NY-26) Bill Number: H.R. 3293 Account: Department of Education--Higher Education Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Monroe Community College Address of Requesting Entity: 100 East Henrietta Road, Rochester, NY 14623 Description of Request: Provide an earmark of $325,000 to establish a Medical Laboratory Technicians (MLTs) program at the community college. Will establish the curriculum, move it through accreditation process, and recruit its first students. Of the total amount, $272,025 (83.7 percent) is for personnel; $4,550 (1.4 percent) is for supplies; $28,600 (8.8 percent) is for equipment; $1,625 (.5 percent) is for travel; and $18,200 (5.6 percent) is for minor renovations. The establishment of a curriculum to prepare Medical Lab Technicians for licensure to meet new New York State requirements to enter the medical profession. Requesting Member: Congressman Christopher Lee (NY-26) Bill Number: H.R. 3293 Account: Department of Health & Human Services--Health Resources and Services Administration--Health Facilities and Services Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Kaleida Health Address of Requesting Entity: 100 High Street, Buffalo, NY 14203 Description of Request: Provide an earmark of $300,000 to create a new academically-oriented medical, the Global Vascular Institute, to integrate key programs and personnel of Buffalo General Hospital and Millard Fillmore Gates Circle Hospital pursuant to recommendations of the Berger Commission. Of the total amount, 100 percent is for equipment. The project will relocate important clinical services and programs from Millard Fillmore Gates Circle Hospital to the Global Vascular Institute (GVI) at the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus. This will greatly strengthen and improve the quality of health care services in Western New York and provide an important center for medical research and education for physicians. Requesting Member: Congressman Christopher Lee (NY-26) Bill Number: H.R. 3293 Account: Department of Education--Higher Education Legal Name of Requesting Entity: State University of New York at Geneseo Address of Requesting Entity: Erwin 218, SUNY Geneseo, Geneseo, NY 14454 Description of Request: Provide an earmark of $500,000 for the purchase of a Fourier Transform Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectrometer for SUNY Geneseo's Integrated Science Center. Of the total amount, 100 percent is for purchase and installation of equipment. This instrument will replace an aging spectrometer at the College thus allowing Geneseo to continue attracting competitive research grants, training students in critical fields of science and technology, and contribute to economic development efforts in the region. Requesting Member: Congressman Christopher Lee (NY-26) Bill Number: H.R. 3293 Account: Department of Education--Higher Education Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Canisius College Address of Requesting Entity: 2001 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14208 Description of Request: Provide an earmark of $400,000 to help with equipment costs for the new science center and office complex for Canisius College. The new center will include interdisciplinary research laboratories to enable the college to develop new programs in bioinformatics, quantitative science, cellular molecular biology, analytical chemistry and neurosciences. The project will partner with the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus. Of the total amount, 100 percent is for renovation and equipment. As part of the college's master plan, the establishment of the science center will allow the college to consolidate all its science programs in one building. This important capital project will add the community investment at the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus and help Cansius College, which is recognized as one of the top universities for its undergraduate science programs. Requesting Member: Congressman Christopher Lee (NY-26) Bill Number: H.R. 3293 Account: Department of Education/National Projects--Innovation and Improvement/Reach Out and Read authorized under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Reach Out and Read National Center Address of Requesting Entity: 56 Roland Street, Boston, MA 02129 Description of Request: Provide an earmark of $4,965,000. Reach Out and Read is a national program that promotes literacy and language development in infants and young children, targeting disadvantage and poor children and families. Through fifteen years of peer-reviewed and published research, an extensive body of documentation now clearly demonstrates the importance of promoting early language and literacy skills so that children have the essential reading skills to begin school successfully. Yet today, a large number of children do not receive the necessary support and assistance to develop these skills and begin kindergarten read to learn. To close this gap, the federal government provides funding for a variety of literacy programs and strategies that reach children and parents, and the professionals who interact with them. ROR has proven to be among the most effective strategies to promote early language and literacy development and school readiness: pediatricians and other healthcare providers guide and encourage parents to read aloud to their children from their earliest years of their life, and send them home from each doctor visit with books and a prescription to read together. Currently, nearly 50,000 doctors and nurses have been trained in ROR's proven strategies, and more than 3,500 clinics and hospitals nationwide are implementing the program, reaching more than 25 percent of America's at-risk-children. Funding provided by Congress through the U.S. Department of Education has been matched by tens of millions of dollars from the private sector and state governments. Requesting Member: Congressman Christopher Lee (NY-26) Bill Number: H.R. 3293 Account: Department of Education/National Projects--Innovation and Improvement/Reading is Fundamental authorized under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Reading is Fundamental (RIF) Address of Requesting Entity: 1825 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20009 Description of Request: Provide an earmark of $24,803,000. RIF enhances child literacy by providing millions of underserved children with free books for personal ownership and reading encouragement from the more than 18,000 locations throughout all fifty states, Washington, D.C., Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Mr. LEE of New York

Mr. LEE of New York. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of the FY10 Transportation Housing and Urban Development Appropriations bill. Requesting Member: Congressman Christopher Lee (NY-26) Bill Number: H.R. 3288 Account: Federal Railroad Administration--Grade Crossings on Designated High Speed Rail Corridors and Federal Highway Administration--Surface Transportation Priorities Legal Name of Requesting Entity: New York State Department of Transportation Address of Requesting Entity: 50 Wolf Road, Albany, NY 12232 Description of Request: Provide multiple earmarks totaling $4,595,000 for the Empire Corridor West High Speed Rail Improvements. Specifically funds $750,000 in Genesee County, NY; $1,245,000 in Monroe County, NY; $600,000 in Montgomery County, NY; and $2,000,000 in Oneida County, NY. Funds will be used to improve grade crossing safety at selected crossings to facilitate high speed rail on segments of the Empire Service Corridor. Work will include reconfiguration to enhance safety, including improvements such as upgrades to existing warning devices and the installation of channelization devices. This effort would be coordinated by NYSDOT with CSX and Amtrak. This project will enable higher speeds throughout the corridor and would thereby reduce travel times and increase on-time service. Requesting Member: Congressman Christopher Lee (NY-26) Bill Number: H.R. 3288 Account: Federal Aviation Administration--Airport Improvement Program Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority Address of Requesting Entity: 181 Ellicott Street, Buffalo, NY 14203 Description of Request: Provide an earmark of $725,000 to resurface the main runway at the Niagara Falls International Airport. The project will rehabilitate approximately 150,000 square yards of runway pavement to create a smooth operating surface. Of the total project amount, 100% is for construction. Runway 10L--28R serves all NFIA passenger, cargo, military, and general aviation operations. As outlined in the Pavement Management Study, a complete mill and overlay is needed to insure compliance with the Federal Aviation Administration Runway Pavement Standards. Requesting Member: Congressman Christopher Lee (NY-26) Bill Number: H.R. 3288 Account: Federal Transit Administration--Buses & Bus Facilities Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Rochester-Genesee Regional Transportation Authority Address of Requesting Entity: 1372 East Main Street, Rochester, NY 14609 Description of Request: Provide an earmark of $500,000 to provide a fully-integrated Intelligent Transportation System for the buses of the Livingston Area Transportation Service (LATS). Of the total project amount, 100% is for equipment purchases and installation. LATS operates a fleet of 28 buses, which provide ADA-compliant public transportation services to residents of Livingston County. The new CAD/ AVL system will improve LATS productivity and reduce operating expenses, and will help deliver higher quality service to RGRTA's Livingston County customers. Requesting Member: Congressman Christopher Lee (NY-26) Bill Number: H.R. 3288 Account: Housing and Urban Development--Economic Development Initiatives Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Town of Cambria Address of Requesting Entity: 4160 Upper Mountain Road, Sanborn, NY 14132 Description of Request: Provide an earmark of $250,000 for the demolition or rehabilitation of five buildings that were part of the abandoned US military Command Center known as the Nikki Hercules Missile Base. Of the total project amount, 100% is for demolition and rehabilitation. The project will allow these properties to be added to the tax rolls and allow businesses to relocate to the town.

Mr. LEE of New York

Mr. LEE of New York. It amazes me how out of touch we are in Washington. For months now, my constituents in western New York have been asking, where are the jobs, any jobs? Well, according to this chart of job postings, we found out where they are: right here in Washington, D.C., as we continue to hire thousands of Federal bureaucrats. It's one of the only cities that's growing, and all for the wrong reasons. It's appalling that we're continuing to grow the Federal Government while we're running a deficit of $1.18 trillion. When I ran a business, you always had a budget, and you lived within it. When you look around D.C., you see construction cranes all around the skyline. It's because we can't construct enough buildings to house all these Federal bureaucrats that we're now hiring when we have this deficit. We have to stop this excessive spending and work together to create the right jobs in the right sectors.

Mr. LEE of New York

Mr. LEE of New York. Madam Speaker, it is with great pride that I rise today to pay tribute to Dr. Tammie Lee Demler of Wheatfield, NY, for recently being awarded the prestigious Bowl of Hygeia for her outstanding pharmacy service and leadership in our community. For nearly 50 years, the Bowl of Hygeia award program has been a vehicle to encourage pharmacists to excel beyond their standard job duties and pay back their communities through exceptional public service. Dr. Demler is a well deserving recipient of this award. Currently, Dr. Demler is the Director of Pharmacy Services for the Buffalo Psychiatric Center. She additionally serves as the Program Director for the Post Doctoral Pharmacy Residency Program at the University of Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. In addition to her impressive career, Dr. Demler's leadership has been recognized by her peers as she was the first woman elected President of the Pharmacists Society of the State of New York in the organization's 125-year history. Dr. Demler's dedication to the community has included participation as the Erie County Site Staging manager for the Specialized Medical Assistance Response Team (SMART), organizing the world class Taste of Buffalo as a member of the Board of Directors and Restaurant committee. In addition she has been able to use her professional skills in pharmacy to host her own TV segment on WNY Tonight. Madam Speaker, in recognition of the her dedication to our community and improving the lives of Western New Yorkers, I ask this Honorable Body to join me in congratulating Dr. Tammie Lee Demler for being awarded the prestigious Bowl of Hygeia award.

Mr. LEE of New York

Mr. LEE of New York. Madam Speaker, it is with great pride that I rise today to congratulate James Culbertson of Dansville, NY on being named New York State's County Clerk of the Year. This is a true testament to his remarkable contributions to improving the lives of the people in Livingston County. Mr. Culbertson is currently in his fourth term as Livingston County Clerk. In 2008, Culbertson was named President of the New York State Association of County Clerks and is the second Livingston County Clerk to ever hold the position. Mr. Culbertson has significantly reduced red tape for Livingston County residents by implementing and perfecting a state-of-the-art records management system. This achievement made Livingston the state's first county to offer a complete, comprehensive records solution to benefit its constituents. Thus, Madam Speaker, in recognition of his steadfast dedication to improving the lives of Livingston County residents, I ask this Honorable Body to join me in congratulating Mr. Culbertson on being named New York State's County Clerk of the Year.

Mr. LEE of New York

Mr. LEE of New York. Madam Speaker, it is with great pride that I rise today to pay tribute to a dedicated public servant who I am proud to call one of my constituents. Dominic Mazza, who has served as Livingston County Administrator for more than 20 years, has given much of his life to serving the people of New York State. Prior to serving as County Administrator, Mr. Mazza held various financial positions throughout New York State. He assisted with federal and state aid issues for the City of Syracuse and was the Director of Financial and Administration for the City of Cortland. In 1975, he graduated Magna Cum Laude from the State University of New York at Utica where he received a Bachelors of Science degree in Business and Public Administration. In addition, Mr. Mazza also received a Master's degree in Public Administration in 1985 from the prestigious Maxwell School of Public Affairs of Syracuse University. Thus, Madam Speaker, I ask this Honorable Body to join me and the people of Livingston County in thanking Mr. Mazza for his outstanding service and wish him well as he begins his much-deserved retirement.

Mr. LEE of New York

Mr. LEE of New York. I thank my friend from Texas for yielding. I rise to strongly oppose the rule. I had offered an amendment to this measure that deals with one of the less-discussed aspects of the restructuring of the auto industry and, that is, the treatment of retirees. By now we all have heard the stories of workers who have given much of their lives to these companies, only to see their retirement benefits slashed or completely lost. But with Delphi Corporation, which is GM's largest parts supplier, we have an incredibly egregious case of inequity. As part of the restructuring agreement, GM agreed to assume the pension benefits of Delphi's hourly workers, 100 percent guaranteed, while the salaried workers' pension liabilities will be turned over to the federally chartered Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation. When these pensions are turned over to the PBGC, salaried retirees stand to lose up to as much as 70 percent of their pension payments. So basically, we have two groups of employees who've worked side by side for the same company for decades, and being treated so differently by the government. My view, and that of a number of Members on both sides of the aisle, is that it is fundamentally unfair, and it will be incredibly damaging to these families, especially when, going back to the beginning of the year, these same retirees lost not only their health benefits but also their life insurance. In the weeks since the decision has been announced, I have pursued all possible avenues to acquire information regarding how this inequitable decision was arrived at. And last week, I, along with 43 Democrats and Republicans representing 13 different States, requested that congressional hearings on this issue be held in both the House and in the Senate. Now, the amendment I offered simply prevents funds from being allocated to the auto task force until all relevant data and documents pertaining to this matter are turned over. This is certainly an extraordinary step, but you and I, and all Americans, are now 60 percent owners of General Motors, and we have every right to use all tools at our disposal to get to the bottom of this travesty. My amendment was not made in order, which is unfortunate. I have spoken with a number of these salaried retirees, and they recognize the need to make sacrifices in order to ensure a better economy over this long-term period that we're struggling through. They did not, however, sign up for having their benefits that they have earned, the benefits they counted on, being taken from them, and certainly not without a substantive explanation. I urge my colleagues to vote down this rule and give the House an opportunity to stand up for hardworking Americans.

Mr. LEE of New York

Mr. LEE of New York. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding an earmark I received as part of the Financial Services Appropriations bill. Requesting Member: Congressman Christopher Lee (NY-26) Bill Number: H.R. 3170 Account: Small Business Administration--Salaries and Expenses Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Buffalo Niagara International Trade Foundation Address of Requesting Entity: 725 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14203 Description of Request: Provide an earmark of $250,000 to support three approaches by the World Trade Center Buffalo Niagara (WTCBN), a non-for-profit that helps companies to enter, grow, and compete in international markets: (1) The ``Export Canada'' program addresses the needs of small and medium sized-manufacturers and service firms by providing workshops focused on exporting to Canada; (2) Expand WTCBN's international business development services and guided assistance to service a broader audience of companies in a 12-county region of Western New York; (3) Support comprehensive trade education and global skills development programs geared for the agribusiness and manufacturing sectors through strengthened partnerships with educational institutions. Of the total amount, approximately $100,000 (or 40 percent) is for outreach and marketing; $60,000 (or 24 percent) is for education; $50,000 (or 20 percent) is for technology; $30,000 (or 12 percent) is for miscellaneous expenses; and $10,000 (or 4 percent) is for membership activities. Global trade for any individual firm remains a complex matter requiring a wide range of services, market contact and skills. As part of a network of 300 World Trade Centers in 100 countries, WTCBN has the capabilities and contacts to assist regional businesses in every major market in the world. WTCBN is licensed by the World Trade Centers Association to serve companies throughout much of Upstate New York. The WTCBN shares a very similar mission as the Small Business Administration.

Mr. LEE of New York

Mr. LEE of New York. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of the FY10 Energy & Water Appropriations bill. Requesting Member: Congressman Christopher Lee (NY-26) Bill Number: H.R. 3183 Account: Department of Energy--Biomass and Biorefinery Systems R&D Legal Name of Requesting Entity: County of Monroe NY Department of Environmental Services Address of Requesting Entity: 50 West Main Street, Suite 7100, Rochester, NY 14614 Description of Request: Provide an earmark of $1,000,000 for the continued transformation of the Mill Seat Landfill in Riga in to a very efficient bioreactor through innovative harnessing of methane to create energy with large and/or small generating system. This second power plant will result in increased Methane production to produce up to 12.8 Megawatts of Renewable Green power and associated Thermal Load. The project will allow the County to utilize the thermal output to spur economic development adjacent to the Landfill and sell the electricity and related green benefits to offset utility costs. Of the total amount, 100 percent is for purchase and installation of equipment. This state of the art process would provide many environmentally friendly results: eliminates the need for incinerating sludge at the wastewater treatment plant saving non-renewable energy; reduces the use of non-renewable fuel and emissions; and improves the decomposition process via the use of the ``chemically treated biosolids''. This is the first use of chemically treated biosolids from a Waste Water Treatment Plant to increase the decomposition of Municipal solid waste resulting in increased Methane production while extending the life of the landfill by 30-50 percent. Also, Monroe County will use the free thermal associated with the project to entice companies to relocate to the eight 25-acre economic development parcels adjacent to the landfill. Requesting Member: Congressman Christopher Lee (NY-26) Bill Number: H.R. 3183 Account: Department of Energy--Science Legal Name of Requesting Entity: State University of New York at Geneseo Address of Requesting Entity: Erwin 218, SUNY Geneseo, Geneseo, NY 14454 Description of Request: Provide an earmark of $500,000 for the purchase of a Fourier Transform Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectrometer for SUNY Geneseo's Integrated Science Center. Of the total amount, 100 percent is for purchase and installation of equipment. This instrument will replace an aging spectrometer at the College thus allowing Geneseo to continue attracting competitive research grants, training students in critical fields of science and technology, and contribute to economic development efforts in the region. Requesting Member: Congressman Christopher Lee (NY-26) Bill Number: H.R. 3183 Account: Corps of Engineers--Operations and Maintenance Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Army Corps of Engineers Buffalo District Address of Requesting Entity: 1776 Niagara Street, Buffalo, NY 14207 Description of Request: Provide an earmark of $2,696,000 for the routine operations and maintenance of Mount Morris Dam, NY. Failure to fund could result in operating systems failures and structural degradation. Requesting Member: Congressman Christopher Lee (NY-26) Bill Number: H.R. 3183 Account: Department of Energy--EERE--Geothermal Technology Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Daemen College Address of Requesting Entity: 4380 Main Street, Amherst, NY 14226 Description of Request: Provide an earmark of $950,000 to implement a heating and cooling system in Daemen College's largest building, housing many administrative, faculty, and staff offices and many classrooms and laboratories. Of the total amount, $25,650 (2.7 percent) is for personnel; $875,900 (92.2 percent) is for construction; and $48,450 (5.1 percent) is for equipment. Funds will be used to implement the heating and cooling system. The project will create jobs and educate people on energy efficiency. Requesting Member: Congressman Christopher Lee (NY-26) Bill Number: H.R. 3183 Account: Department of Energy--EERE--Other Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Rochester Institute of Technology Address of Requesting Entity: 30 Lomb Memorial Drive, Rochester, NY 14623 Description of Request: Provide an earmark of $250,000 to fund research to address a critical technology gap impeding the deployment and optimization of next generation autonomous microsystems--the ability to effectively and efficiently power these devices. The focus of this research program to date has been to use the facilities and expertise of the NanoPower Research Labs (NPRL) at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) in power conversion and storage using new materials such as carbon nanotubes and quantum dots to develop and commercialize the next generation of autonomous power solutions. Of the total amount, approximately $50,000 (20 percent) is for faculty and staff; $32,000 (12.8 percent) is for materials; $48,000 (19.2 percent) is for services; $3,000 (1.2 percent) is for travel; and $120,000 (48 percent) is for equipment. The federal investment will enable the NPRL at RIT to accelerate the translation of its fundamental research into a wide range of applications, particularly for terrestrial solar energy systems. The economic opportunities of this research initiative are also significant for the upstate New York region, which is at a critical juncture in the need to jumpstart and capitalize on emerging industries.

Mr. LEE of New York

Mr. LEE of New York. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to the life of Alberta Kinney, an Amherst, New York, resident who answered the Nation's call to service during World War II. In 1944, Alberta became part of the first group of women to fly military aircraft for the United States. The primary mission of the Women Airforce Service Pilots, or WASP as they came to be known, was to fly noncombat military missions so that their male counterparts could be deployed to combat. The WASP did much more than fulfill wartime needs, overcoming significant hurdles to carry the torch for Amelia Earhart and pass it on to Sally Ride. Last month, after the President signed into law a measure that honors Alberta and her fellow WASP with a Congressional Gold Medal, it was our hope that she would be able to travel to Washington in the near future to take part in a ceremony commemorating this honor. But sadly, Alberta passed away this past Friday evening. On behalf of the people of western New York, I extend my deepest sympathies to Alberta's loved ones and ask the House to join me in honoring this distinguished member of the Greatest Generation.

Mr. LEE of New York

Mr. LEE of New York. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding an earmark I received as part of the FY10 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act. Requesting Member: Congressman Christopher Lee (NY-26) Bill Number: H.R. 3082 Account: Military Construction--Air Force Reserve Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station Address of Requesting Entity: Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, 2720 Kirkbridge Drive, Niagara Falls, NY 14304 Description of Request: Provide an earmark of $5.7 million for Project #RVKQ 10-9091, the Indoor Small Arms Range that would support the requirements of the Base wings, the units of the new Armed Forces Readiness Center and the Department of Homeland Security tenants. Of the total project amount, approximately $4.4 million (or 77.1%) is for construction of the range; $44,000 (or 1%) is for force protection; $640,000 (or 11.2%) is for supporting facilities; $254,000 (or 5%) is for contingency costs; and $304,000 (or 5.7%) is for inspection and overhead. The current situation requires personnel to shoot at a range in Canada when utilizing the M-24B machine gun and M-249 rifle. Additionally, the current number of firing line positions is inadequate to satisfy the volume of monthly training requirements which has grown with the addition of the Regional Readiness Center at the Base. Due to the fact that the existing range is outdoors and off-Base, students and instructors are exposed to the elements and extreme temperatures for extended periods of time. In addition, an exorbitant amount of time is wasted by personnel who must travel a distance to the range. Also, due to extreme weather conditions, the Wing loses several months of weapons qualifying each year. This new Small Arms Range will allow personnel to meet all necessary mandatory weapons training as well as meeting safety and environmental requirements.

Mr. LEE of New York

Mr. LEE of New York. I want to thank my friend for the time and to rise to strongly oppose the rule for H.R. 2965. Because I strongly support the SBIR and STTR programs, I tried to strengthen this legislation by offering a simple amendment that would help ensure their focus remains on their original mission, to support the true small businesses, the family-owned startups that rely on these programs as their main source of seed capital. Embedded in this legislation is an erroneous provision that makes venture capital-funded companies eligible to participate in these two critical grant programs. This is a serious flaw. I have major concerns about the potential for highly organized and well-funded venture capital organizations to swamp the system and crowd out those small businesses, those small businesses that are creating the jobs in this country, from getting access to capital. Many of these small businesses reside in my district here in western New York, and there is such a hard time right now trying to stay afloat. This bill, now allowing venture capital to come in, is the wrong message. This sentiment has been echoed by members of my 26th District advisory board. One of the members wrote: ``It appears likely that the changes proposed in the bill will result in a distribution of dollars to areas that have a greater number of venture capital-backed companies, such as Massachusetts and California.'' My amendment was not accepted, which is unfortunate, because just last year the Senate forged a sensible bipartisan compromise on this issue. Hopefully, they will play a similar role now given the House's failure to lead on this issue. Washington is simply not doing enough to support small businesses in these tough economic times. That's why I urge my colleagues to vote down this rule so we can craft a stronger bill.

Mr. LEE of New York

Mr. LEE of New York. I want to thank my friend for the time. Mr. Speaker, I rise to oppose the rule for H.R. 2997. Over the last year, the rapid decline in the price of milk has had a devastating impact on family farms in my district and throughout the Northeast region. This year farmers have reported receiving less than $11 per hundredweight for their milk, which is less than the $17.50 per hundredweight it costs to produce it. This gap is a killer for our dairy farmers and will lead to huge job losses in my region. Dairy farmers in Livingston County, New York, are projected to lose more than $23 million this year. In Wyoming County, New York, losses are projected at $28 million. And in Genesee County, over $60 million. I cannot emphasize enough how important dairy is to the western New York region. It is the Nation's third largest dairy State, generating over $2 billion in milk sales annually. More than 145,000 jobs in transporting, processing, and marketing milk are directly attributable to the region's dairy industry. That is why I offered two commonsense proposals to help our struggling dairy farmers, including one to enhance the Milk Income Loss Contract program and another to raise the dairy product support price. This would help ensure our struggling dairy farmers can remain viable in these tough economic times. Mr. Speaker, I regret that my amendments were not accepted. Our failure to act is reckless. Our dairy farmers are running out of time. I urge my colleagues to vote down the rule so we can give this crisis the attention it deserves.

Mr. LEE of New York

Mr. LEE of New York. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding an earmark I received as part of the Agriculture Appropriations bill. Requesting Member: Congressman Christopher Lee (NY-26) Bill Number: H.R. 2997 Account: Natural Resources Conservation Service--Watershed/Flood Prevention Operations Legal Name of Requesting Entity: State University of New York College at Brockport Address of Requesting Entity: 350 New Campus Drive, Brockport, NY 14420 Description of Request: Provide an earmark of $500,000 for the Genesee River Watershed project. No systematic studies have attempted to identify the causes of the water quality issues that also affect the near-shore of Lake Ontario. Identification will provide a basis for management practices in order to improve water quality. Of the total amount, $283,000 (or 56.6%) is for salaries for project administrator and field agents; $113,200 (22.64%) is for fringe benefits; $86,500 (17.3%) is for supplies, travel, and equipment; and $17,300 (3.46%) is for indirect costs.

Mr. LEE of New York

Mr. LEE of New York. I thank my friend for yielding. The people in my district know only too well that when Washington applies itself to a problem, it overregulates and always hides the true cost to the taxpayer. This bill is truly no different with it being over 1,100 pages in length and 50 pages dedicated to regulating light bulbs. In order to garner enough votes, the majority has tried to shift the most punitive cost of this bill to later years so they can get it passed. Early on, it will be the government footing this enormous bill with your tax dollars, and then down the road this subsidy will shift to consumers who will pay directly to sustain this program through higher, job-killing energy prices. Either way, it's the taxpayer who bears the burden. This bill is truly a pipe dream. We need to focus on an energy solution that rewards innovation using American-made energy, not trying to find a way to tax our way to prosperity and continue this horrific job loss. That is why I urge my colleagues to oppose this bill.

Mr. LEE of New York

Mr. LEE of New York. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding an earmark I received as part of the FY10 Interior Appropriations bill. Requesting Member: Congressman Christopher Lee (NY-26) Bill Number: H.R. 2996 Account: Environmental Protection Agency--STAG Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Project Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Town of Pendleton, NY Address of Requesting Entity: 6570 Campbell Boulevard, Lockport, NY 14094 Description of Request: Provide an earmark of $500,000 for the sewer grinder pumps project in order to convert the low pressure system to a gravity system and will provide residents with a higher level of services and alleviate flooding of homes and roads. Of the total amount received, 100% is for the purchase of replacement units (as a cost of $2,716 each). The Town of Pendleton will provide the labor to install each unit, which takes 4 hours and 4 laborers to complete. The Town of Pendleton operates and maintains a sanitary sewer system on behalf of Town sewer districts. These districts currently provide sanitary services to more than half of the Town residents. The sanitary system is primarily a low-pressure system, with the exception of several new subdivisions served by gravity systems. The low-pressure system was constructed during the 1970s and is comprised of approximately 14 miles of sewer mains and 453 pump stations. The pump stations are pre-assembled package stations that were installed within individual service laterals. The stations grind residential waste and discharge it under pressure to the system. Years of harsh environmental conditions, improper waste products and normal wear and tear have caused significant deterioration in the pump stations. The stations are becoming increasingly problematic for the Town. System maintenance has steadily intensified with a current average of over 30 maintenance calls per month.

Mr. LEE of New York

Mr. LEE of New York. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding an earmark I received as part of the FY10 National Defense Authorization bill. Requesting Member: Congressman Christopher Lee (NY-26) Bill Number: H.R. 2647 Account: Military Construction--Air Force Reserve Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station Address of Requesting Entity: Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, 2720 Kirkbridge Drive, Niagara Falls, NY 14304 Description of Request: Provide an authorization of $5.7 million for Project #RVKQ 10-9091, the Indoor Small Arms Range that would support the requirements of the Base wings, the units of the new Armed Forces Readiness Center and the Department of Homeland Security tenants. Of the total project amount, approximately $4.4 million (or 77.1%) is for construction of the range; $44,000 (or 1%) is for force protection; $640,000 (or 11.2%) is for supporting facilities; $254,000 (or 5%) is for contingency costs; and $304,000 (or 5.7%) is for inspection and overhead. The current situation requires personnel to shoot at a range in Canada when utilizing the M-24B machine gun and M-249 rifle. Additionally, the current number of firing line positions is inadequate to satisfy the volume of monthly training requirements which has grown with the addition of the Regional Readiness Center at the Base. Due to the fact that the existing range is outdoors and off-Base, students and instructors are exposed to the elements and extreme temperatures for extended periods of time. In addition, an exorbitant amount of time is wasted by personnel who must travel a distance to the range. Also, due to extreme weather conditions, the Wing loses several months of weapons qualifying each year. This new Small Arms Range will allow personnel to meet all necessary mandatory weapons training as well as meeting safety and environmental requirements.

Mr. LEE of New York

Mr. LEE of New York. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding an earmark I received as part of the FY10 Homeland Security Appropriations bill. Requesting Member: Congressman Christopher Lee (NY-26) Bill Number: H.R. 2892 Account: Science & Technology--Research, Development, Acquisition, and Operations Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Rochester Institute of Technology Address of Requesting Entity: 30 Lomb Memorial Drive, Rochester, NY 14623 Description of Request: Provide an earmark of $500,000 for the Remote Sensing for Situational Awareness and Decision Support project, which will allow the Rochester Institute of Technology's (RIT) Chester F. Carlson Center for Imaging Science to create a Remote Sensing TestBed (RSTB) for Border Security and Disaster Management. This research will focus on remotely sensed data from an affected area delivered in real- time or near real-time by using instruments and software developed at RIT. Of the total amount received, approximately $310,000 (or 62%) is for materials and flight services and approximately $190,000 (or 38%) is for personnel, including faculty, staff, and students. RIT is seeking additional funding from the New York Foundation for Science, Technology and Innovation (NYSTAR) and the NYS Department of Homeland Security. Timely and effective response to border incursions, disasters, or infrastructure failures requires situational awareness on the part of decision makers. The lack of such timely and useful geo-spatial data was a key aspect of the response to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Often the best source of situational awareness is remotely sensed data from the affected area delivered in real-time or near real- time. Using instruments and software developed at RIT, they have deployed prototype airborne systems and successfully tested these systems to validate their capabilities in addressing these critical issues. The demonstrations to be conducted will process and display precision geo-referenced imagery to users in an operational setting, enable incident managers to command and view sensor information in a form that is intuitive and useful to decision makers, and deliver training to enable the deployment of these systems as part of their ongoing operations.

Mr. LEE of New York

Mr. LEE of New York. I thank the gentleman from Florida for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise to strongly oppose this rule. I was here on the floor last night and waiting to offer an amendment to the pending appropriations bill that would give Congress the opportunity to take a step towards restoring fiscal reality in Washington. Unfortunately, the moments before my amendment was to be considered, the House was shut down and, with it, the ability to have sorely needed debate about the need for belt tightening. Ironically, not long before that, I was holding a telephone town hall meeting with residents throughout western New York, and one of the questions I received was about whether I was disheartened with the process in Washington. And my response was that after 5 months in Congress, I was frustrated mostly with the way in which Washington continues to spend taxpayer dollars freely without any understanding of how the middle class lives in these difficult economic times and how we will ever pay back this exorbitant amount of debt. My amendment and those offered by my colleagues presented a valuable opportunity to turn back the page on the excessive spending and work on a bipartisan basis to identify ways to make Washington do more with less. These spending bills call for across-the-board increases in already bloated Federal programs while workers and businesses in my district struggle to figure out how they are going to get by on less and, in too many cases, far less than they are used to having. Our constituents who are struggling to make ends meet deserve better. I urge my colleagues to vote down this rule so we can have a truly open discussion of the shared sacrifices required to put our Nation's fiscal house in order.

Mr. LEE of New York

Mr. LEE of New York. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding an earmark I received as part of the Commerce and Justice, and Science Appropriations bill. Requesting Member: Congressman Christopher Lee (NY-26) Bill Number: H.R. 2847 Account: Office of Justice Programs--Byrne Discretionary Grants Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Genesee Community College Address of Requesting Entity: One College Road, Batavia, NY 14020 Description of Request: Provide an earmark of $537,000 for the Integrated Campus Security Initiative that will install digital surveillance cameras; a talk-a-phone emergency and paging system; fire and audio warning public address systems; and doors with keyless entry locks on all Genesee Community College campuses in Batavia, Albion, Arcade, Dansville, Medina, Lakeville, and Warsaw, NY. Of the total project amount, approximately $66,000 (or 11%) is for digital surveillance and security cameras; approximately $75,000 (or 12%) is for emergency phones and paging system; approximately $185,000 (or 30%) is for fire and audio systems; and approximately $291,000 (or 47%) is for doors with keyless entry locks. This funding will complete the project. To date, Genesee Community College has established the network, the bandwidth necessary to achieve the project; formed necessary relationships with area law enforcement, including MOU's that define all roles; and set aside $80,000 (or 13%) for the project. The Integrated Campus Security Initiative will provide additional safety for all members of the College community and the right environment that enhances student learning and institution effectiveness. The College also trains local law enforcement officers for four counties and this project will present an additional training tool for these officers.

Mr. LEE of New York

Mr. LEE of New York. I thank the gentleman from Florida for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise to oppose the rule and the underlying bill. The legislation we're set to consider today is the latest demonstration of Washington's failure to understand how the middle class lives in these difficult economic times. Try, for instance, to explain the logic in granting a 23 percent increase to overseas foreign service officers to the workers in my district who are either taking pay cuts or who are losing benefits as their families in my district are doing their best to make ends meet. When Washington spends money, it does not have to fund these salary increases. It is not just the disconnect on spending that is cause for concern. In the last month alone, gas prices in my district have been up over 41 cents. These are resources coming from individuals who are struggling in my district to make ends meet. Now Democratic leaders are pushing for an ambitious national cap-and-trade tax. This new energy tax will cost between $200 and $300 a month for struggling families. This affects not only families but small businesses, ranchers and farmers. I can't think of a worse way to deal with our pressing energy needs than to have a tax situation. We need to be looking at an all-of-the-above strategy, be it nuclear power, wind or solar. We need not be looking at trying to tax right now, which will push businesses further away and which will create a loss of jobs in our communities. Whether it's the excessive spending in the measure we are considering today or whether it's this new national energy tax, Washington continues to grow more and more out of touch with middle-class America and with the families of my district. I urge my colleagues to vote down the rule and to oppose the underlying bill.

Mr. LEE of New York

Mr. LEE of New York. I thank the gentleman from Texas for yielding. I rise to oppose the rule on the legislation in consideration of H.R. 626. Having run a business, I understand how important it is to look out for workers and to be supportive, especially in these difficult economic times, when families are making tough choices with regard to how they spend their money and their time. I believe this debate should be focused on whether Washington should be granting additional fringe benefits to public sector employees in a period when private sector workers in hard-hit areas, like western New York where I come from, are struggling to hang on to their jobs. This is why I offered a simple amendment that said that legislation would not take effect until the national unemployment rate is down to 4 percent and no State has an unemployment rate greater than 7 percent. I regret that the House will not have the opportunity to consider this amendment, because I think it provides a commonsense way to address the timing of this measure. Take an area of my district like Niagara County where tens of thousands of jobs are tied to the auto industry. The unemployment rate there is nearly 11 percent, a figure that was reported before General Motors and Chrysler began their restructuring, which we already know will lead to more job losses. We also know that these workers who are able to hang on will have to accept significantly reduced compensation packages in order to stay employed. These are tough times, regardless of what industry you're in. But think about these auto workers, the farmers, the retail workers who are being forced to do more with less just to keep their jobs and to keep their heads above water. Think about them when Washington turns around and proposes more generous fringe benefits for public sector employees. It sends the wrong message at the wrong time, and it's just another example of how Washington continues to find ways to spend money it doesn't have. Again, I'm disappointed that the House will not have the opportunity to consider my amendment.

Mr. LEE of New York

Mr. LEE of New York. I have an amendment at the desk.