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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 by clicking here.
Below is a schedule of meetings and events I held or attended on November 20 - 22, 2009:
Saturday, November 21:
Sunday, November 22:
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 appropriations requests for FY 2010 broken out by subcommitte. The list includes a programmatic request to increase NASA funding by $2 billion to help minimize the spaceflight gap and a request to provide adequate funding to make the new Orlando VA Medical Center a reality. To view my 2009 Surface Transportation High Priority Project authorization requests for the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act (SAFETEA), please click here.
Agriculture Florida Biomass Waste to Biofuels Conversion Program The State University System of Florida, led by the University of Central Florida (UCF) 4000 Central Florida Boulevard Orlando, Florida 32816 Funding would be used to accelerate research and commercial development of emerging technologies for the conversion of biomass waste from the State of Florida to produce ethanol and other biofuels. Request: $1,000,000 Commerce, Justice, Science ARISE Life-Management Skills Intervention/Re-entry Program for High Risk Youth The ARISE Foundation 824 US Highway 1 Suite 240 North Palm Beach, FL 33408-3838 The ARISE Intervention-Re-entry program provides Florida Juvenile Justice Staff on a statewide basis with in-depth training and specialized Life Management Skills lessons to conduct guided group discussions with incarcerated high-risk youth. ARISE has centers in the 24th Congressional District. Request: $250,000
Aviation and Hurricane Research Utilizing Unmanned Aerial Systems Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University 600 S. Clyde Morris Boulevard Daytona Beach, Florida 32114 Embry-Riddle requests funds to acquire an Unmanned Aerial System, together with needed training, operation, and maintenance, and establish an Unmanned Aerial System testing and research center in Central Florida, preferably at Kennedy Space Center for aviation and hurricane research. This will provide for the ability to study weather patterns in active hurricanes. Request: $3 million
Ocean Health - Human Health Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute 4020 South Highway A1A Melbourne, Florida 32951 The project will address emerging threats to coastal communities by evaluating multi-decadal data on marine animal health along the Florida coast to better understand and respond to changes that threaten the ecological, economic and social resources of Florida and the nation. Request: $430,000
NASA Programmatic Request NASA is tasked with bringing the Constellation program online while still operating the Shuttle program with inadequate funding levels. Following the Columbia disaster and hurricane damage, NASA had to reallocate funds from within its budget for return to flight and repair activities, causing the Constellation program to fall further behind schedule, widening the space flight gap to at least five years. A five year space flight gap will no doubt have an adverse impact on jobs, national security, and advances in science. The retirement of the Space Shuttle in 2010 will result in our complete reliance on international partners for access to space and the International Space Station, and will result in the loss of thousands of highly-skilled jobs. An additional $2 billion in FY10 would prevent the close-out of shuttle hardware production lines pending a Congressional decision on shuttle retirement date and would help accelerate Constellation and reduce the spaceflight gap.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program Programmatic Request Representatives Lois Capps and Mike Castle recommend increased funding for the Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program. This program funds coastal land conservation across the nation and Florida did not receive any funding in the previous fiscal year. Fully funding this NOAA program will allow coastal and estuarine projects in the 24th Congressional District to move forward.
Orlando Health/Orange County Children's Advocacy Center Orlando Health 3160 Southgate Commerce Blvd. Suite 50 Orlando, Florida 32806 The purpose of this project is to provide crisis intervention and counseling to child victims of sexual abuse and their non-offending family members in Orange County and Central Florida. Florida has the highest rate of child abuse in the nation, and Orange County, Florida has the highest number of investigated abuse reports. Request: $200,000
Youth Crime Watch of America Operations in Florida Youth Crime Watch of America 9200 South Dadeland Boulevard Suite 417 Miami, Florida 33156 Funding would be for Youth Crime Watch operations in Brevard, Seminole, and Volusia counties to enhance school safety and increase student civic involvement. It also seeks to improve support to local programs, update training materials and publications, and better measure program outcomes Youth Crime Watch of America (YCWA) empowers youth to prevent crime, drugs, and violence in their schools and communities Request: $200,000
Defense Fighting Combat-Related Fatigue Syndrome Burnham Institute for Medical Research 1030 N Orange Avenue Suite 102 Orlando, Florida 32801 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. Request: $1,000,000
Medical Modeling and Simulation National Center for Simulation 3280 Progress Drive Orlando, Florida 32826 The Joint Medical Simulation Center will serve as the principal center and focal point for collaboration between the primary defense organizations conducting research and development in medical modeling and simulation for training, therapy, and rehabilitation. Recent combat experience in Afghanistan and Iraq has shown that realistic and readily-available training for medical specialists saves lives on the battlefield. Request: $1.6 million
Soldier Personal Cooling System Army Natick Soldier RD & E Center Kansas Street Natick, MA 01760 This request will enable the Army to develop improved soldier personal cooling systems. Personal cooling greatly improves soldiers' cognitive abilities, increases mission duration and improves health and safety. This project could create jobs in the 24th District through a competitive bidding process. Request: $1.2 million
Media Exploitation Tool Integration with Intelligence C2 Systems Marine Corps Systems Command 2200 Lester Street Quantico, VA 22134 Digital media exploitation rapidly extracts data from enemy devices and media captured on the battlefield. Development of this tool will allow for collection/conversion of raw data into actionable intelligence for timely analysis/dissemination. This project could create jobs in the 24th District through a competitive bidding process. Request: $2 million
Energy and Water Ponce de Leon Inlet South Jetty Extension County of Volusia Volusia County 123 West Indiana Avenue Deland, Florida 32730 Funding will be used to award a construction contract to initiate and complete construction of the south jetty at Ponce de Leon inlet. The extension of the jetty will complete the 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 dredging costs. Request: $2,500,000
Gross Science Hall STEM Lab Upgrades Bethune-Cookman University 640 Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Boulevard Daytona Beach, Florida 32114 Funding is sought to update aging laboratories, classrooms and equipment in Gross Science Hall. The upgrades will include clean labs, safe spaces for the storage of chemicals, modern ventilation equipment, and technologies that help the environment and reduce energy costs. Request: $500,000
Intracoastal Waterway from Jacksonville to Miami, FL Florida Inland Navigation District 1314 Marcinski Road Jupiter, Florida 33477 Funding would be used for two maintenance dredging projects and two Dredge Material Management Area construction projects for the Intracoastal Waterway in St. Johns County, St. Augustine, and Indian River County. Funds would be used to dredge in two locations: Matanzas Inlet (St. Johns County) and in the vicinity of St. Augustine. In addition, funds will be used for the restoration of Dredged Material Management Area in St. Johns County and construction of Dredged Material Management Area in Indian River County. Request: $1,000,000
Regional Surface Water Facility at Yankee Lake Seminole County Government 1101 East First Street Sanford, Florida 32771 Funding will be used to construct a new regional alternative water treatment facility allowing Seminole County and regional utilities to meet state initiatives to reduce the reliance on groundwater. This new facility will include an intake, pump station, and a pipeline from the St. Johns River to the facility. The project will reduce Seminole County's reliance on fresh groundwater by increasing the production of reclaimed water and will protect the Wekiva Basin springflow. Request: $1,000,000
Photovoltaic Power Electronics Research Initiative (PERI) University of Central Florida 4000 Central Florida Blvd Orlando, Florida 32816 PERI's goal is to design a new solar energy generation system at low cost, higher efficiency, and highest reliability through the development of innovative system technologies that eliminate the expensive installation costs associated with residential solar power. The ultimate purpose of this research is to dramatically reduce solar energy cost through technology innovations and system integration that will foster a new solar energy based industry and create new R&D and manufacturing jobs. Request: $1,250,000
X-Ray Photonics and EUV Lithography University of Central Florida 4000 Central Florida Blvd Orlando, Florida 32816 This project utilizes existing infrastructure and assets supplied by the University of Central Florida and proposes the continued funding of the UCF X-Ray Photonics Facility. UCF will use the funding to start detailed planning of a third major facility, the High Power X-Ray Facility (HPXRF). This facility is anticipated to lead to the development of several new x-ray technologies, particularly for high resolution x-ray imaging of living cellular organisms and use in computer chip fabrication. Request: $1,000,000
Homeland Security Emergency Operations Center Renovation City of Maitland 1776 Independence Lane Maitland, Florida 32751 Funding for renovation of the Water and Recreation structure owned by the City of Maitland where a room is currently used as a make shift EOC since 1992. When it becomes necessary to activate the EOC, a transition of the room into a functional EOC takes several hours to accomplish and requires a significant connection of equipment and preparation of supplies. The project will include updating the existing electric, phone system and data infrastructure along with the acquisition of computers, radios, televisions, and projector smart boards to complement an existing weather monitoring system. Request: $158,800 Interior Willa Lake Circle Stormwater Project City of Oviedo 400 Alexandria Boulevard Oviedo, Florida 32765 Funding for this project will restore the natural water flow to Lake Jessup now disrupted by the Cross Seminole Trail and Greenway projects to mitigate the effects of pooling stormwater in two residential areas of the City. Request: $200,750
Winter Park Gravity Sewer Improvement Project City of Winter Park 401 Park Avenue South Winter Park, Florida 32789 Funding will result in sewer system improvement and upgrades along Fairbanks Avenue. The section of Fairbanks Avenue between Kilshore Avenue to Cambridge Boulevard does not have any sewer lines. The project will install a gravity sewer system in this section. Septic tanks will be eliminated and replaced with sanitary sewer lines for sewage disposal. Request: $125,000
Florida National Scenic Trail Land Acquisition Florida Trail Association 5415 SW 13th Street Gainesville, Florida 32608 Funding will result in acquisition of land to protect 16 critical segments (3.8 miles on 525.7 acres) of Florida National Scenic Trail. This includes a 173-acre tract which the USDA Forest Service has a signed contract to purchase from a willing seller, but cannot protect without an appropriation of at least $870,000. Recommended Funding: $870,000
Holly Creek-Zellwood Wastewater Project Orange County Government 201 Rosalind Avenue Orlando, Florida 32802 Funding will allow for an Orange County proposal to build a wastewater collection line from the site of the development, which would then be turned over to the City of Apopka, Florida. The site is within the boundary of an area where septic tank installation is severely restricted in an effort to protect the Wekiva River. Request: $750,000
Replacement of wastewater pipes and mechanical equipment South Seminole and North Orange County Wastewater Transmission Authority 410 Lake Howell Road Maitland, Florida 32751 Funding for this project enables the replacement of water pipes, force mains, and mechanical equipment approaching the end of their service lives operated by the Wastewater Transmission Authority. The project therefore involves the replacement and relocation of 6200 feet of 36 inch diameter ductile iron force main pressure pipe. The Aloma Avenue section has already been planned, designed, and engineered and construction could immediately commence, with a completion of this phase in 12 months, avoiding a serious environmental hazard and maintaining services. Request: $1,000,000
Volusia Integrated Water Resources St. Johns River Water Management District 4049 Reid Street PO Box 1429 Palatka, Florida 32178 This project will integrate alternative water supplies in Volusia County, Florida, which will reduce the projected regional groundwater deficits. This project will develop up to 20 million gallons per day of additional water supply from the St. Johns River and other alternative water sources. Request: $600,000
Labor Health and Human Services, Education Aerospace Workforce Transition Brevard Workforce Development Board 596 Haverty Court Suite 40 Rockledge, Florida 32955 The project prepares aerospace workers affected by Shuttle retirement for commercial space activities thereby reducing US dependency upon foreign countries and their space launch capabilities. The program will transition current workers to new aerospace ventures and emerging industries. Request: $3,000,000
Apopka Public High School/Apopka YMCA Family Center Central Florida YMCA 433 N. Mills Avenue Orlando, Florida 32802 This project follows the first of its kind, successful model the Central Florida YMCA has established in the Lake Nona community. The co-located NorthLake Park Public Elementary School/Lake Nona YMCA Family Center, opened in 1999, integrates the resources of the YMCA and the resources of the local school district to produce a track record of proven results. Request: $600,000
The Civics Connection Florida Joint Center for Citizenship 4000 Central Florida Boulevard Howard Phillips Hall 314 Orlando, FL 32816 Project to engage former Members of Congress as teachers for the next generation of citizens, passing on the accumulated civic skills and wisdom of the current generation. Request: $478,000
Florida MEP Mobile Outreach Skills Training Program Florida Manufacturing Extension Partnership 1180 Celebration Boulevard Suite 103 Celebration, Florida 34747 Fulfillment of this request will fund the Florida Mobile Outreach Skills Training (M.O.S.T.) Program, which is a job creation solution by which up to 500 individuals from the disadvantaged population would be placed in entry level manufacturing jobs within two weeks of training. Request: $1,000,000
Primary Care Access Network (PCAN) Orange County Government 201 Rosalind Avenue Orlando, Florida 32802 The Orange County Government has developed a comprehensive public-private healthcare delivery system for the uninsured, the Primary Care Access Network (PCAN). In June 2007, The Central Florida Regional Commission on Homelessness (CFRCH) began its planning to end homelessness in ten years in the region's counties including Orange, Seminole and Osceola, as well as the City of Orlando. One of the areas of planning is healthcare for the homeless, an area that is of serious concern for the community as a whole, as well as the local hospitals' emergency rooms. Recommended Funding: $250,000
Teacher Technology Training Project for Seminole County Public Schools Seminole County Public Schools 400 E Lake Mary Boulevard Sanford, Florida 32773 Funding for the Teacher Technology Training Project will develop and implement teacher professional development courses to instruct teachers in the Seminole County Public School district on how to effectively utilize technology in the classroom to make learning relevant, accessible, and enjoyable for students to learn. Request: $2,500,000
Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Industry Road Extension City of Cocoa 603 Brevard Avenue Cocoa, Florida 32922 Funding for extension of Industry Road through to Cidco Road would 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. Request: $400,000
Widening of West International Speedway Boulevard (US-92) City of Daytona Beach 301 S. Ridgewood Avenue Room 200 Daytona Beach, Florida 32114 The widening of West International Speedway Boulevard is critical to long-term concurrency management and increasing the Department of Transportation's level-of-service standards through provision of capacity relief. The roadway currently has a "D" level-of-service rating. Request: $3,000,000
Daytona Beach Shores Environmental and Accessibility Improvement Project City of Daytona Beach Shores 2990 S. Atlantic Avenue Daytona Beach Shores, Florida 32118 The Daytona Beach Shores Environmental and Accessibility Improvement Project will provide paved bike trails and mitigate stormwater runoff from 1 ½ miles of roadway, capturing and treating it in a pond and redistributing it as reuse water for irrigation. Request: $500,000
Oak Hill Water & Sewer Project City of Oak Hill 234 South US Highway 1 Oak Hill, Florida 32759 Project provides for installation of water and sewer service to residents and businesses located along the corridor of US HWY 1 in Oak Hill, FL, Volusia County. Project area runs approximately 3 miles from Lighthouse Cove South to Bills Hill Road. Request: $100,000
SR 426/CR 419 Improvement Project City of Oviedo 400 Alexandria Boulevard Oviedo, Florida 32765 Federal funding is requested to assist in the acquisition of right of way and in the construction of these high priority improvements for SR 426/CR 419, a "Regionally Significant Roadway," in Oviedo, Florida. Recommended Funding: $1,000,000
Ridgewood Avenue (US 1) Corridor Improvements Project City of South Daytona 1672 S. Ridgewood Avenue South Daytona, Florida 32119 Ridgewood Avenue in South Daytona is a mix of residential and commercial development. This corridor was identified as a "Redevelopment District" with great potential for future growth. Phase I of this corridor's redevelopment involves making improvements to the infrastructure to enhance both pedestrian and vehicular transportation. Recommended Funding: $800,000
Fairbanks Avenue Roadway Improvement and Beautification Project City of Winter Park 401 Park Avenue South Winter Park, Florida 32789 Funding to upgrade and repave Fairbanks Avenue, improving its safety and beautifying the roadway. The Fairbanks corridor is the main gateway into the City from Interstate-4. The City is working in partnership with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to upgrade this critical gateway through repaving, beautification, a landscaped median and construction of a sanitary sewer system. Request: $1,000,000
Innovation Way & Beachline Interchange Orange County Government 1672 S. Ridgewood Avenue South Daytona, Florida 32119 The Innovation Way and Beachline Interchange will dramatically impact the daily lives of Central Floridians by improving the expressway system. The Innovation Way and Beachline interchange will allow for an influx of commerce and economic development in the area. The significant congestion along the expressway will be greatly alleviated by the interchange. This will provide a safer roadway for Central Florida residents and reduce congestion related traffic accidents. Request: $1,000,000
State Road 46 - Regional Evacuation Route (SR 415 to US 1) Seminole County Government 1101 East First Street Sanford, Florida 32771 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. Request: $1,000,000
Veterans Affairs New Orlando VA Medical Center Orlando VA Medical Center 5201 Raymond Street Orlando, Florida 32803 Funding is needed for a new Medical Center to accommodate the central Florida area. The project includes 134 inpatient beds, an outpatient clinic, a 120 bed community living center, a 60 bed domiciliary, parking garages and support facilities all located on a new site. The design phase is complete and funds are needed to complete construction. Recommended request: $371,300,000
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Thomas Bill Search
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