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I have made a commitment to restoring our core values of integrity, accountability and responsibility in Congress. That is why my office will conduct its business with the utmost openness and accountability. I will post my daily schedule, any appropriations requests, and my votes right here on my website to ensure the level of honesty and transparency that you expect and deserve. You can view my votes for the 2nd Session by clicking here. My voting record for the 1st Session can be found here
Below is a schedule of meetings and events I held or attended on November 12 - 14, 2010: Friday, November 12:
Saturday, November 13:
Sunday, November 14:
I have also instituted appropriations reforms that increase accountability and transparency for the process. I will only make appropriations requests on behalf of localities, non-profits, or government agencies. Some government agency requests are intended to help local businesses create jobs, however those businesses must competitively bid for contracts before being awarded funding. All projects are selected for meeting at least one of these key criteria:
Below is a list of my submitted appropriations requests for FY 2011 broken out by subcommitte. To see a list of my FY 2010 Appropriations requests please click here . Click here to view the 2009 Surface Transportation Project Requests. Click here to view the 2010 WRDA Authorization Request
Agriculture
The State University System of Florida, led by the University of Central Florida. (UCF)
The project establishes a system-wide initiative to accelerate research and commercial development of emerging technologies for the conversion of cellulosic biomass waste to produce ethanol and other biofuels. This project fully supports the US Department of Energy's Biomass Feedstock Roadmap objective by substantially reducing the hydrolysis costs of making cellulosic ethanol from waste biomass.
Commerce, Justice and Science
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University As part of the Space Transportation Research & Development Institute (STRDI), ERAU and UCF propose to establish a clearinghouse role at KSC for flying auxiliary microsatellite "CubeSats" aboard commercial and government launch vehicles. Funding will be required to procure CubeSat equipment for integration onto various launch vehicles; assign faculty engineers and graduate students to work with NASA KSC and with launch companies like SpaceX and ULA; support travel to two CubeSat conferences; and secure a ‘pathfinder' launch opportunity for an ERAU-developed "FloridaSat" that is now under development. Requested: $1,300,000 Law Enforcement Technology Computer Aided Dispatch System
City of Cocoa A Computer Aided Dispatch System to replace the current system that is more than 10 years old, in critically poor condition and on the brink of failure. Requested: $700,000 Mosquito Lagoon Marine Enhancement Center in New Smyrna Beach
Wildlife Foundation of Florida, Inc. Funds requested will be used for site preparation and construction of a 2500 square foot saltwater fish hatchery building, office building, warehouse, and ponds in New Smyrna Beach. This request will fund Phase I of the saltwater hatchery component. A planned Phase II will involve an expansion of the fish production component to 20,000 square feet which will be capable of raising more than 200,000 sport fish annually for release into Florida east coast waters. This request also includes construction of office space to house 12 employees from the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute and the Fish and Wildlife Commission Division of Law Enforcement. Requested: $3,000,000 NASA Programmatic Request - Shuttle Operations
This request will provide adequate funding to ensure Space Shuttle operations through FY2011. This would allow NASA to spread out the remaining shuttle flights and reduce the risk of schedule pressure. It is essential to maintain domestic access to International Space Station (ISS)while Congress debates the next generation program. The retirement of the Space Shuttle will result in complete reliance on international partners for access to space and the ISS, and will result in the loss of approximately 10,000 highly-skilled jobs. An additional $1.2 billion in FY11 would help to maintain shuttle hardware production lines pending a Congressional decision and hold on to a portion of the workforce that will also be needed for the next program. The Administrator should also be directed to not take any action to terminate or allow to expire any contract, or cancel any solicitation, for products or services necessary to maintain shuttle launch and recovery capabilities through fiscal year 2011.
The President's Budget request includes $428,600,000 for upgrades to the Kennedy Space Center and surrounding area, but provides little direction. Funding is needed to ensure the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) maintains and expands its role as the nation's premier space launch complex. This request would direct $47 million to upgrade Launch Complex 36 and Launch Complex 46 to establish multi-vehicle launch capabilities to support International Space Station (ISS) supply missions and other commercial missions. These upgrades will also support near-term Department of Defense customer needs for operationally responsive space missions as well as NASA science missions. This funding will accelerate the refurbishment work and have both an immediate job impact due to the construction efforts and help to maintain highly-skilled jobs in support of increased launch activity. Ocean Health - Human Health
Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute To better understand and respond to emerging infectious diseases, harmful algal blooms and changes in ocean ecosystem function that threaten the ecological, economic and social assets of Florida and the nation, the project will address emerging threats to coastal communities by evaluating multi-decadal data on marine animal health along the Florida coast. Requested: $562,000
City of Maitland Funding for security upgrades for the City's Police Department Data Systems to comply with NCIC Systems security requirements, portable rapid access fingerprint readers, and secure server technology. This project will provide critical security upgrades for the City's Police Department's data systems including: authentication software and hardware to comply with NCIC system security requirements, portable rapid access fingerprint readers, and secure server technology.
Requested: $100,000
Orange County Orange County government has operated an analog 800 MHz Public Safety radio system since 1992. Supporting 12,500 users across 1,000 square miles, the system is now obsolete. This $6 million first phase will upgrade the system core to digital technology and mitigate the risk of a major failure.
Requested: $1,000,000
Seminole County Funds would be used to upgrade the County's radio system from analog to digital technology for their law enforcement personnel The current system has reached the end of its life and to sustain and maintain operational effectiveness and readiness the County must now migrate to newer technology to meet the demands and threats of the next coming decades. Requested: $1,000,000
Defense Cellular Immunotherapies for Personalized Medicine
Florida Center For Cellular Therapies Funding will be used to help create a technology platform and implementation that will be a pacesetter in the field of personalized therapies, vaccines and diagnostics. This project will provide the immune-engineered cells required for cellular therapies at FCCT such as adoptive immunotherapies and stem cell therapies. Blood cancers, leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma, are an appropriate target for Department of Defense investment since it has been suggested that military personnel may be at special risk for developing these diseases. Requested: $2,000,000 High Power Laser Technologies Initiative
University of Central Florida UCF is proposing a High Power Laser Technology program to provide the Department of Defense and the Nation with focused education and research programs in dual use laser technologies. It will help enhance research and manufacturing opportunities in the private sector of Central Florida.
Requested: $2,000,000
Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute Funding will be used to generate breakthroughs to address the problem of combat-related fatigue. High-level motor performance and endurance is critical for soldiers in combat, and for air and space travelers. Trained armed forces personnel have outstanding skeletal muscle endurance and relative resistance to fatigability. However, during periods of immobilization, which can occur in the field, with prolonged travel, or during recuperation from injuries, muscle "de-training" ensues. De-trained muscles cause significant reduction in performance, easy fatigability, and increased risk of injury. Requested: $2,000,000
University of Florida Funds will allow UF to build, launch, operate, and validate its science and technologies on these first of a kind, miniaturized spacecraft. This project focuses on technology development to reduce component size, weight, and power, which enables small satellite systems to efficiently perform many of the functions of traditionally-sized spacecraft. Work associate with the project will be conducted at the Space Life Sciences Lab at Kennedy Space Center. Requested: $2,000,000 Real-Time Human Motion Capture Technology Development
National Center for Simulation This funding will be used to develop simple, effective, and inexpensive motion capture systems required for electronic tracking and recording of human motion, without intrusive instrumentation, specialized environments, or constraints on motion, such as live military simulation and training applications. Requested: $1,500,000
National Center for Simulation Provides for integration of the Tactical Combat Casualty Care Simulation and Medical Nexus programs to facilitate development of a "continuous learning" capability to organize and deliver medically related learning resources 24/7 at the point of need across a range of computing platforms. Requested: $2,000,000
Energy and Water Development
Florida Inland Navigation District Funds would be used to dredge the IWW in four locations including the Indian River Reach Area; this will maintain the IWW's safe navigability. The Waterway annually provides $14.7 billion in economic output, which includes $4.4 billion in personal wages and 113,849 jobs; transports over 1.7 million tons of commercial cargo and over 500,000 recreational vessels; and increases property values by $19.4 billion. Studies by FIND, the local sponsor of the IWW, have shown that these benefits would be reduced by 50 percent if the Waterway were not properly maintained. Requested: $6,550,000 Ponce de Leon Inlet, Florida (South Jetty Extension)
Volusia County, Florida Funding will be used to award a construction contract for construction of the South Jetty extension. The project will work with the existing north jetty to provide appropriate protection of the inlet from accelerated shoaling rates and hazardous boating conditions. It will also help maintain the inlet for Coast Guard operations and reduce future Federal maintenance dredging costs. Requested: $6,000,000
Canaveral Port Authority Funds would be used to complete the planning, engineering, design (PED), and construction of the navigation improvements in accordance with the final report of the Integrated Section 203 Navigation Feasibility Study for Canaveral Harbor, Florida and authorize the channel dimensions as part of the Federal channel once constructed, upon the issuance of a positive Chief of Engineers report for the project. Requested: $1,000,000
Sediment Trap Feasibility Study
South Seminole & North Orange County Wastewater Transmission Authority Funding will be used for a regional project consisting of the replacement and relocation of 6200' feet of 36" diameter ductile iron force main pressure pipe which transports an average of 7 MGD of sewage generated by 85,000 people within the Cities of Winter Park, Casselberry, Maitland, and unincorporated Seminole County. The subject pipe replacement was put in the ground over 30 years ago and has reached the end of its useful service life. This pipe is under the travel lanes of SR 426 which has an average of 33,000 vehicle trips per day.
Requested: $3,250,000.
Homeland Security
Cape Canaveral Hospital Hurricane Hardening Initiative
City of Cocoa Beach Cape Canaveral Hospital Hurricane Hardening Initiative will strengthen the Cape Canaveral facility in order to reduce its vulnerability to wind and flooding caused by hurricanes. Hardening the patient tower will ensure a safer environment for patients, staff and the hospital itself for those storms during which the hospital remains occupied. Hardened facilities also reduce the probability of damage to the facilities and allow our organization to continue to provide safe patient care during and after a severe weather event. Requested: $1,300,000 South Daytona Emergency Operations Center Replacement Project
City of South Daytona located at The City's Emergency Operations Center is located in a facility that has deteriorated to the point where it cannot be renovated but must be completely replaced. In an attempt to reduce strains on the environment, this facility is being designated as a "Green Building" to reduce pollution and the consumption of electricity. Requested: $2,000,000
Interior Aloma Avenue (S.R. 426) Wastewater Force Main Replacement Project
South Seminole & North Orange County Wastewater Transmission Authority Funding for this regional project will be used for the replacement and relocation of 6200' feet of 36" diameter ductile iron force main pressure pipe which transports an average of 7 MGD of sewage generated by 85,000 people within the Cities of Winter Park, Casselberry, Maitland, and unincorporated Seminole County. The subject pipe replacement was put in the ground over 30 years ago and has reached the end of its useful service life. Recent testing has confirmed that 75% or more of the pipe wall has disappeared due to hydrogen sulfide corrosion. The project will eliminate an existing liability from vehicle accidents; eliminate the liability of public health impacts and pollution of the environment due to discharge of raw sewage; maintain the necessary sanitary service to the general public (85000 people) within the limits of 4 governmental entities; and minimize the use of public dollars by proactively eliminating a known problem. Requested: $500,000 Daytona Beach Storm Water Mitigation Project
City of Daytona Beach Funding will be used for planning, designing and permitting to develop the west Daytona Beach Storm Water Drainage System, including a treatment plant and transmission pipelines, as part of a regionalized solution to mitigate flooding issues. This system will be constructed to fully utilize stormwater, surface water and reclaimed water to meet the water demand in East Volusia County. Requested: $3,000,000 Dunlawton Avenue Stormwater Drainage Improvement Project
City of Port Orange This project is part of a multi-jurisdictional program to address regional flooding and open an evacuation route during emergency events. Funding will be used for construction of stormwater pipes to allow at least one lane of traffic in each direction of Dunlawton Avenue to remain open for evacuation. The project will also enhance water quality and will augment the City's reclaimed water program by pumping water to the existing western reclaimed lake instead of to the Halifax River.
Requested: $3,000,000
St. Johns River Water Management District This project will provide sustainable water supplies for the east-central Florida area by developing and using all available alternative water from the expansion of the Taylor Creek Reservoir, and augment traditional groundwater supplies from the Floridian and superficial aquifer systems. This project will integrate alternative water supplies with traditional, fresh groundwater supplies. Requested: $250,000
FL National Scenic Trail Land Acquisition
City of Oak Hill Project will provide water and sewer service to all Oak Hill businesses and residents in 3 phases. Project area runs approximately 3 miles from Lighthouse Cove South to Bills Hill Road. The water and sewer project includes the installation of approximately 15,840 linear feet of water main construction ranging in size from 6 inch to 12 inch diameter main lines. Sewer construction includes 15,840 linear feet of 8 inch gravity sewer. Requested: $1,000,000
Labor Health and Human Services Aerospace Workforce Transition
Brevard Workforce Development Board The project prepares aerospace workers affected by Shuttle retirement for commercial space activities and for new careers outside of aerospace but in emerging industries of the area, through communications and outreach, skills assessment, and training and re-training. Requested: $2,000,000 Community Preventative Health Network
Parish Medical Center Federal funding will combine already existing programs to create an expanded Community Health Network. Parrish Medical Center will expand the Community Health Network program to provide diabetes education program and a clinical education program. PMC will partner with Brevard County Community College and the University of Central Florida. Requested: $1,000,000 Florida Civic Leadership Academy
Lou Frey Institute of Politics and Government The Florida Civic Leadership Academy builds teacher capacity to teach Florida state and local government and develops the skills young people need to become engaged, effective citizens. Requested: $250,000
Florida Manufacturing Extension Partnership The M.O.S.T. Program is an immediate job placement solution by which up to 750 individuals from the underserved population would be placed in entry level manufacturing jobs after the first two weeks of training. Requested: $500,000
Funding would be used to pay for associated orientation and labor costs, required certifications, educational materials and equipment for recent grads. Through the Graduate RN Training Program, these new graduates are hired, educated and trained to fill new positions for a contracted minimum 24 month period. Requested: $1,666,785
Catholic Charities of Central Florida Funds will be used for renovation including a new roof, HVAC system, electrical and plumbing replacements, and interior reconfiguration of a centralized resident area for the Pathways to Care facility. Pathways To Care (PTC) is a 40 bed licensed non-profit recuperative, medical respite center located in Central Florida. This is a short term program providing 45 days of care to homeless individuals suffering from an acute illness or injury who were recently released from a hospital or medical facility. Requested: $250,000
Mike Curb School of Music, Entertainment and Art at Daytona State College
Daytona State College Funding would be used to build a 70,000 sq. ft. LEED certified building housing classrooms, sound stage, and rehearsal rooms; training 700 students yearly for the music, theater and entertainment industry. Will be connected to the recently acquired Daytona State College News Journal Center for the Performing Arts. Requested: $2,000,000
MRI Diagnostic Capability Upgrade Requested: $1,800,000
STEM T3: Teacher Technology Training Program In partnership with Brevard and Volusia schools, this program will prepare teachers regionally to integrate fresh learning concepts across the STEM curriculum, infuse innovative technology into the classroom, and create a stimulating student-focused learning environment.
Requested: $2,000,000
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University This request is to provide funding for Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University to acquire two Predator- B and one Scaneagle Unmanned System Training Systems. Embry-Riddle is currently providing curriculum that prepares students to become UAS operators. In order to partner with CBP, NASA and other agencies to provide specialized training for potential employees of those agencies, a request is being made for funding to acquire these three systems. Request: $700,000
Military Construction and Veterans Affairs ROTC Joint Military Science Leadership Center
University of Central Florida ROTC Construction of this two-story building, which will include an auditorium, supply storage for Army and Air Force military equipment, four classrooms and 31 offices, will alleviate the pressure on the University of Central Florida's tight classroom situation and greatly improve image of a premier ROTC program commensurate with the third largest university in the nation. Requested: $1,000,000
Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Brevard County I-95 Visitor Information Center
Brevard County. Federal funding would be used for engineering, design and construction of the Visitor Center building which will be located adjacent to the current FDOT restroom facility at the I-95 site. The Brevard County Tourism Development Office would fund the day-to-day operations of the Visitor Center including equipment, labor and utilities. The Tourism Office will hire a minimum of 3 FTE to staff the center 8-10 hours/day 7 days/week. The Visitor Center is proposed to have a historic Redstone rocket or replica placed in front of the building, visible from the interstate. Requested: $2,000,000 Central Park Expansion
City of Winter Park The existing central park is a keystone element of the Winter Park downtown and expanding this area is vital to the long term sustainability of the core business district. The City desires to have the Property become park land for the purpose of expanding Central Park for future generations of Winter Park residents and visitors. This will also help facilitate economic redevelopment of the New York Avenue corridor which would create jobs and spending in the city's downtown core Requested: $2,000,000
Volusia County This trails project would build a multi-use trail on the East Central Regional Rail Trail corridor between SR415 and Guise Road in Volusia County, FL. The vast majority of land is currently under management and development control of Volusia County.
Requested: $500,000
City of Cocoa Funding for extension of Industry Road through to Cidco Road to allow large commercial vehicles to directly access both State Road 528 and Interstate 95, facilitating the business recruitment efforts in the area. The Industry Road extension and the accompanying installation of curb and gutters and street-side stormwater infrastructure will also help against flooding in directing and controlling stormwater flow in the area. Requested: $800,000 Intelligent Transportation System for Kennedy Space Center Access Roads -SR 50, SR 405, and SR 407
Brevard County ITS improvements to Kennedy Space Center entrance roads, Titusville, Florida. Funds would utilize fiber optic cables already installed to improve traffic signal timing and coordination so that signals can respond in real-time to fluctuations in traffic levels will substantially improve traffic flow on this important road. Requested: $2,500,000
City of Maitland This project involves the design and reconstruction of the Park Avenue and US 17-92 intersection to include a right turn lane on Park Avenue and modifications of existing traffic signals at US 17-92 and Park Avenue, and at US 17-92 and Magnolia Road. These proposed modifications will reduce a hazardous weaving pattern on US 17-92 between Park and Magnolia and will enhance traffic and pedestrian safety. It is anticipated that this project will involve the creation of approximately 19 new jobs to facilitate construction of the intersection improvements. Requested: $480,000 Safe and Effective Use of Unmanned Systems in National Airspace System
University of Central Florida The project proposed involves multi-disciplinary research within four critical thrusts to address barriers to developing and deploying RUVs efficiently and effectively in the National Airspace System. The proposal would have the secondary benefit to UCF by addressing a number of UCF's strategic objectives. Requested: $2,000,000
City of Titusville The project will provide a new entry road and taxiway to Space Coast Regional Airport, Titusville, Florida. This will allow new businesses to locate near the airport, creating over 500 new jobs. The cost of the project is estimated at $2,510,000. By providing a new access road from the west, and by providing an additional taxiway, airport services, utilities, and surface transportation will be made available. The businesses which are currently interested in locating in this area could provide employment for over 500 workers.
Requested: $2,000,000
City of Oviedo The project consists of a 2.5 mile roadway widening from a two-lane undivided facility to a four-lane divided urban facility beginning at Pine Avenue and ending at Lockwood Boulevard with continuous 5' sidewalks and designated bike lanes along both sides. This roadway corridor is an east-west principal urban arterial that provides connectivity from the SR 417 (Greenway) to Geneva, Chuluota and the Orange County line. This is the only section of the continuous corridor which is not a 4-lane section. Requested: $2,000,000 State Road 46-Regional Evacuation Route (SR 415 to US1)
Seminole County Widening State Road 46 would significantly improve travel on a regional basis and provide an upgraded hurricane evacuation route. Funds would be used to cover a portion of the project development and environment phase of this project (estimated at a total cost of $8 million), which expands State Road 46 to 4-lanes from SR 415 to US Highway 1 in Brevard County. As an evacuation route, it directly serves Orange, Seminole, Volusia and Brevard Counties. Indirectly, it would serve as a primary or secondary route for other coastal Counties along the east coast of Florida. Seminole County is seeking funding for this regional transportation project.
Requested: $1,000,000
City of Apopka The bridge across U.S.441/State Road 500 will improve access and infrastructure to the City of Apopka's Town Center Project. The bridge will accommodate both vehicular and pedestrian traffic moving between the North and South sections of the Town Center. Requested: $2,000,000 Veterans Medical City Connector
City of Orlando, Florida Funding is requested to design the Veterans Medical City Connector, which will extend from Boggy Creek Road to Florida State Road 15 and provide direct, non-toll access for 400,000 veterans to the new VA Medical Center of Orlando. The VA Center is a $656 million complex, which will supply medical care and ancillary services to the 400,000 veterans living across six east central Florida counties. The Center will create 2,500 new jobs for area residents. The Center is expected to generate an average of 14,500 trips a day, including 4,000 patient visits, 2,500 employee trips, and several thousand trips for delivery and other business purposes. Requested: $3,600,000 |
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