March 2010 Archives
Congressman to mail in his census at Wesley Chapel Post Office:
LITHONIA, GA – Congressman Hank Johnson (D-GA), who represents parts of DeKalb, Rockdale and Gwinnett counties, is encouraging the public to return their 2010 Census forms.
Instead of just talking about it, Congressman Johnson will lead by example.
On Thursday, April 1 on Census Day, Congressman Johnson will post his family’s census form in the mail at the Wesley Chapel Post Office at 3 p.m.
“Our community can’t afford to lose out on crucial federal funds and programs,” said Congressman Johnson. “In order to get our fair share of funding for our community, we must count everyone. Our schools, libraries, community centers and so many other important programs all rely on Census results.”
Surrounded by local school principals, county commissioners, community leaders, pastors, Census representatives and representatives from the Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials (GALEO), Congressman Johnson will urge constituents return the Census forms and be counted.
The 2000 Census had a 67 percent national response rate, with an estimated undercount of more than 3 million people. According to a recent report, areas most affected by Census undercounting lose about $2,913 per uncounted person in federal funding.
“Right now DeKalb has just a 37 percent return rate. Rockdale has 40 percent and Gwinnett is 39 percent,” said Johnson. The national average is 46 percent. “We can do better,” said Johnson. “Stand up and be counted.”
WHO: U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson
WHAT: Congressman Hank Johnson mails his 2010 Census form
WHEN: Thursday, April 1 at 3 p.m.
WHERE: Wesley Chapel Post Office, 2724 Wesley Chapel Road, Decatur, GA 30034
# # #
Dear Friends,
Nearly a century after Theodore Roosevelt first proposed national health reform, Congress passed and President Obama signed into law historic legislation this week that will free the American people from fear of unnecessary death or destitution due to a lack of health coverage.
I was truly gratified to be a part of the House of Representatives and to cast 1 of the 216 votes needed to bring about fundamental change in the health care system.
I can’t thank my constituents enough for allowing me to represent them in Congress – to cast a “yes” vote at this time of profound change that will save lives and have a positive impact on our quality of life.
This historic bill will be remembered with Social Security, Medicare, Civil Rights and the GI Bill as evidence of American progress and humanity. It protects Americans from health insurance company abuses, reins in spiraling insurance rates, insures 32 million more Americans and is projected to reduce the deficit substantially over the next two decades.
It is our responsibility to protect hard-working Americans and their children. No family should go bankrupt because of illness. Now we have honored our obligation with this historic vote. For more information on what measures take effect immediately, how the Fourth District residents will benefit and how seniors, veterans, children and everyday Georgians have more security under this law, click here.
JOHNSON’S CAREER FAIR – Although health care gets most of the headlines, jobs and the economy have always been my top priority. It’s why I’m holding a career fair on Friday, April 30 at Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church at 182 Hunter Street in Norcross, 30071. We’ll have federal and state agencies on hand and résumé and interviewing experts to help you prepare for your next job. Please bring your résumé and dress for success. Check my Web site for updates.
JOBS IN THE FOURTH – While more than $200 million in American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds have been invested in the Fourth District, much work remains. It is why I support the “Local Jobs for America Act” that directly addresses the needs of the chronically unemployed. I also voted to pass the Small Business and Infrastructure Jobs Tax Act (H.R. 4849), a bill to create jobs—with bipartisan provisions to spur investment in local rebuilding projects and a range of bipartisan proposals to help our small businesses grow, hire and continue to fuel our economy. I’ll also be working to increase funding for Jobs Corps in 2011.
RECOVERY FUNDS FOR SCHOOLS – So far, Recovery funds have provided funding for more than 14,300 jobs in Georgia. But with our school system budgets facing huge deficits, I was pleased that an additional $416 million is now available for Georgia under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. To date, Georgia has received $2.5 billion through the Recovery Act.
FIGHTING TOBACCO USE AMONG YOUTH – I’m pleased to report that a $3.2 million Health and Human Services grant funded by the Recovery Act was awarded to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the DeKalb County Board of Health to fight tobacco use among teenagers. Ensuring the health and welfare of our children is the most important thing we do as a nation and society. The care of health-related diseases due to tobacco use costs the United States more than $100 billion a year and our business bear most of that burden. Any investments we can make to prevent young people from starting such a terrible habit are well worth it. When children make healthy choices, we all win.
GI JOBS TRAINING – Most veterans know that they can use the G.I. Bill to pay for the cost of education, but many are unaware that they can also receive these same tax-free benefits for On-The-Job or Apprenticeship Training programs. While in the program, eligible participants can receive monthly education benefits from the Veterans Affairs in addition to their salary as an income supplement. For more, click here.
HEALTH CARE SERVICES – On Saturday, March 27, the Georgia Free Clinic Network will host a one-day free clinic for Georgians who do not have access to health insurance. Held at the Georgia International Convention Center from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., the event will include diabetes screening, high blood pressure checks, flu vaccinations, HIV testing, glaucoma screening, massage therapy, mental health services and pap smear examinations that will be provided all day.
ARTS COMPETITION – I’m looking forward to my 2010 Congressional Arts Competition, an annual event displaying the community’s finest artistic talent. Eligible high school students throughout the district, which include parts of DeKalb, Gwinnett, and Rockdale counties, are encouraged to apply and display their talent in this year’s contest. To get your school signed up and for student releases, click here.
VIDEO CONTEST AT USA.GOV – Enter USA.GOV’s video contest for a chance to win $2,500. USA.gov is loaded with opportunities to make your life easier, with information on student aid, passports, housing assistance, Social Security, answers to your tax questions and more. Your video should be 30-90 seconds long. Judging is based on your video’s message, entertainment value and creativity. To enter, see USA.gov/contest for full contest rules.
PAGING ALL PAGES – Our office was selected to nominate a page for the June 2010 Summer Session, which begins on Sunday, June 6th and lasts through Friday, July 2nd. Applications can be found on my Web site. The official application will need to be submitted in order to qualify for consideration. This application will need to be filled out by the applicant and their parent/guardian. The page program requires that all applicants be at least 16 years old but no older than 17.
PASSPORT FEES – Passport fees are likely to increase later this spring. If you and your family are planning a trip out of the country and need passports, take some time this Saturday, March 27, to visit a location nearest you before fees go up. No appointment is necessary.
FEDERAL AID WORKSHOP IN STONE MOUNTAIN – The Georgia Department of Human Services will join community partners to hold a Stimulus Workshop at Victory for the World Church in Stone Mountain on Monday, March 29 from 7 to 9 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. The program will include information about assistance for childcare services and job training and employment assistance. Victory for the World Church is at 1170 North Hairston Road in Stone Mountain, GA 30083.
EXPORTS AND JOBS – Last month, I was pleased to join Commerce Secretary Gary Locke at the UPS facility in Doraville to support a renewed effort to increase jobs through exports. So I was pleased to hear recently that the Export-Import Bank of the U.S. supported total exports of more than $2.5 million in the Fourth District for December 2009.
Thank you. I look forward to reconnecting with many of you during my upcoming district work period.
Hank
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Hank Johnson’s (D-GA) today announced that he has returned $55,000 to the United States Treasury to help pay down the federal deficit.
“As Georgians everywhere are tightening their belts more than ever, so too must every member of Congress,” said Johnson, who represents parts of DeKalb, Rockdale and Gwinnett counties. “While our constituents are being forced to do more with less, we must redouble our efforts to be the best stewards we can of hard-earned taxpayer dollars.”
When Members of Congress produce a budget surplus by the end of a calendar year, they have the option to return the overage to the U.S. Treasury.
Rep. Johnson’s return of funds from his Member’s Representation Account (MRA) to the U.S. Treasury is consistent with his fiscally responsible voting record.
Since 2009, he has voted against the Troubled Asset Relief Program that added $700 billion to our deficit and voted in favor of enacting the Pay-As-You-Go system, which was responsible for the budget surpluses experienced under President Bill Clinton.
Congressman Johnson has returned $109,000 to the Treasury since he took office in 2007.
“These are extremely tough times,” said Johnson. “We know there aren’t any quick fixes but our economy is back on the right track,” said Johnson. “I would like to see both sides of the aisles – Democrats and Republicans – put a stop to this rancor and begin to work together toward a common goal of turning our economy around and creating quality jobs.”
# # #
LITHONIA – Rep. Hank Johnson (GA-04) looks forward to hosting this year’s 2010 Congressional Arts Competition, an annual event displaying the community’s finest artistic talent.
Eligible high school students throughout the district, which include parts of DeKalb, Gwinnett, and Rockdale counties, are encouraged to apply and display their talent in this year’s contest.
All entry forms must be received via e-mail, postal mail or fax (770-987-8721). The entries must be designed according to the specifications in the competition guidelines, which can be found at Congressman Johnson’s Web site at hankjohnson.house.gov/services/artistic-discovery.shtml.
Each district will honor its winning artwork by hanging it in the tunnel leading to the United States Capitol building in Washington, D.C., for a year. The 2010 Congressional Art Competition winner from the Fourth District will also receive transportation for two to Washington, D.C., for the ribbon-cutting event to unveil all the 2010 winners.
In addition to having his/her artwork at the Capitol, winners of the competition will be eligible for college scholarships from the Art Institute of Atlanta ($10,000, $5,000, and $2,500) or the Savannah College of Art and Design ($1,500 per year).
If your school plans to participate, please complete a commitment form and return it to the Lithonia or Tucker offices by April 26, 2010. Each school will be allowed up to five entries, and participants must be present at the awards ceremony in order to win.
All art entries must be received in the congressman’s district office, located at 5700 Hillandale Drive, Lithonia, GA 30058 or 3469 Lawrenceville Highway, Tucker, GA 30084 by April 28, 2010.
If you have any questions, please contact Eric Hubbard or Betty Dixon in our Lithonia office at 770-987-2291.
Click here for a school commitment or student application form
###
City of Atlanta, Georgia
55 Trinity Avenue
Atlanta, GA 30303
Project: Atlanta, GA Sewer System Rehabilitation
Recipient: City of Atlanta, Georgia
Funding Request: $2,000,000
Background: The proposed project would improve surface water quality by providing combined sewer capacity relief to capture more stormwater and sewage flows and associated flood relief in several areas of the city. The proposed relief system would allow the flow, typically stored on surface streets, to enter the collection system. Excess flow volume would be diverted and captured in a deep tunnel system for later treatment and release.
Spelman College
350 Spelman Lane, S.W.
PO Box 1551
Atlanta, GA 30314
Project: Environmental Sustainability and Policy Institute
Recipient: Spelman College
Funding Request: $396,000
Background: The proposed Environmental Sustainability and Policy Institute will encompass three concepts: 1) providing environmental sustainability education and outreach efforts for Spelman and Atlanta University Center students, the Spelman community (students, faculty and staff; and neighboring communities) and minority serving institutions (MSIs) in the Southeast region; 2) serving as a point of contact for environmental sustainability and policy workshops and training opportunities for students, faculty, and MSIs in the Southeast region; and 3) providing resources to MSI faculty and policy makers in the same areas of environmental policy and sustainability.
Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission
4310 Lexington Road
Athens, GA 30603
Project: Georgia Streambank Restoration
Recipient: Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission
Funding Request: $500,000
Background: These efforts provide incentives to approved landowners for practices which improve riparian buffers, repair stream banks, protect threatened and endangered species, and provide long-term protection of streams and water quality in Georgia through 10-year agreements. The Commission cost-shares in the application of approved stream bank and riparian best management practices. Funding will be used to provide habitat for wildlife species, some of which are threatened or endangered. The landowner provides 10% match and GSWCC provides $50,000 yearly to administer program.
Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District
40 Courtland Street, NE
Atlanta, GA 30303
Project: Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District
Recipient: Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District
Funding Request: $3,000,000
Background: The authorized mission of the Environmental Protection Agency is "to protect human health and the environment. Since 1970, EPA has been working for a cleaner, healthier, environment for the American people." This project relates to EPA's mission in that it too is working to protect the environment and provide for a cleaner, healthier environment for the American people through watershed management, wastewater treatment and water conservation.
The Water Planning District serves broad public purpose-protecting water supplies and water quality. Rivers and streams don't follow political boundaries, (12 of 16 District counties lie within more than one watershed) regional solutions to problems are the only way to achieve lasting results. The Water Planning District's projects are multi-jurisdictional in nature and beyond abilities of individual local governments. Consequently, federal assistance will allow members to work towards these critical regional solutions. The Water Planning District's plan outlines a variety of related activities required by various state and federal requirements. Successful implementation of District's plans has national significance through protection of water resources of roughly half the Georgia population.
PROGRAM REQUESTS
Program: Forest Legacy Program
Funding Request: $150,000,000
Agency: US Forest Service
Background: Funding for the Forest Legacy Program to provide grants to preserve and protect private forestlands under the threat of clearing and conversion to non-forest uses.
Program: Heritage Partnership Program
Funding Request: $18,000,000
Agency: National Park Service
Account: Heritage Partnership Program
Background: $18 million for the National Heritage Area Program through the National Park Service's (NPS) Heritage Partnership Program. This funding, which is equal to the FY10 appropriation level, would preserve the ability of the National Heritage Areas (NHAs) to continue their work to sustain partnerships that foster job creation and economic, cultural, historic, environmental, and community development. Recognizing the fiscal challenges facing the nation, this request is $31 million less than the authorized amount for NHAs. Based on the proven ability of the NHAs to successfully leverage and match the federal funds they receive, this is the minimum necessary federal investment to sustain this program.
Program: International Affairs programs, including Multinational Species Conservation Fund and Wildlife Without Borders
Funding Request: $30,900,000
Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service
Account: Other
Background: Over the past two decades, these popular and highly effective programs of the Fish and Wildlife Service have provided seed money for public-private partnerships that conserve wild tiger, elephants, rhinos, great apes, marine turtles and neotropical migratory birds in their native habitat. Specifically, we request $5 million for the combined Rhino-Tiger Conservation Fund (the only Fund that addresses two different of species), $2.5 million each for the African Elephant, Asian Elephant, Great Apes and Marine Turtle Conservation Funds. We also recommend $6.5 for the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Fund and $9.4 million for the Wildlife Without Borders Regional and Global Programs, which support capacity building for local wildlife managers in the developing world and help address cross-cutting threats like invasive species, climate change, and wildlife diseases that can pose risks to human populations.
Program: LWCF Land Acquisition
Funding Request: $96,792,000
Agency: Bureau of Land Management
Background: Funding for land acquisition by the Bureau of Land Management through the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) to help preserve, develop, and assume access to outdoor recreation facilities to strengthen the health of the U.S. citizens.
Program: LWCF Land Acquisition
Funding Request: $119,874,000
Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service
Background: Funding for land acquisition by the Fish & Wildlife Service through the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) to help preserve, develop, and assure access to outdoor recreation facilities to strengthen the health of U.S. Citizens.
Program: LWCF Land Acquisition
Funding Request: $119,800,000
Agency: National Park Service
Account: Land Acquisition (LWCF)
Background: Funding for land acquisition by the National Park Service through the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) to help preserve, develop, and assure access to outdoor recreation facilities to strengthen the health of U.S. citizens.
Program: LWCF Land Acquisition
Funding Request: $88,534,000
Agency: US Forest Service
Background: Funding for land acquisition by the Forest Service through the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) to preserve, develop, and assure access to outdoor recreation facilities to strengthen the health of U.S. citizens.
Program: Preserve America - National Recreation and Preservation Account
Funding Request: $4,600,000
Agency: National Park Service
Account: Other
Background: Preserve America helps local communities develop sustainable resource management strategies and sound business practices for the continued preservation and sue of heritage assets. The program complements SAT's bricks-and-mortar grant projects.
Program: Save America's Treasures (SAT)
Funding Request: $25,000,000
Agency: National Park Service
Account: Historic Preservation
Background: SAT is the nation's only bricks and mortar preservation grants program. Over the past ten years, SAT has been a driver of economic development in saving 1,132 of America's most significant places in all 50 states and creating over 16,000 jobs. SAT's decade-long track record exhibits efficient use of federal funding and has leveraged more than $350 million in private matching funds.
Program: State Historic Preservation Offices (SHPOs)
Funding Request: $55,000,000
Agency: National Park Service
Account: Historic Preservation
Background: We request $50 million for SHPOs in FY11. SHPOs carry out the requirements of the National Historic Preservation Act on behalf of the Department of Interior. Funding for SHPOs supports their mission of: 1) locating and recording historic resources; 2) nominating significant historic resources to the National Register of Historic Places; 3) fostering historic preservation programs at the local government level and promoting the creation of preservation ordinances; 4) providing funds for preservation activities; 5) administering federal preservation tax projects (which created over 70,000 jobs in FY09); 6) reviewing all federal projects for their impact on historic properties; and 7) providing technical assistance to federal agencies, state and local governments and the private sector.
Program: State and Tribal Wildlife Grants
Funding Request: $100,000,000
Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service
Account: State and Tribal Wildlife Grants
Background: The State and Tribal Wildlife Grants Program is the nation's core program to prevent wildlife from becoming endangered in every state. Adequate and consistent funding for in essential to fulfilling this shared federal-state mission. Taking action to conserve wildlife before it becomes endangered is environmentally sound and fiscally responsible. This work creates thousands of jobs and stimulates the economy. Now more than ever, we should be focusing limited resources on this kind of smart, effective conservation investment.
Program: Stateside Grants Program
Funding Request: $175,000,000
Agency: National Park Service
Account: Land Acquisition (LWCF)
Background: Funding for the National Park Service's matching grant program to assist states in recreational planning, acquiring recreational lands and waters, and developing outdoor recreational facilities.
Program: Tribal Historic Preservation Officers (THPOs)
Funding Request: $12,000,000
Agency: National Park Service
Account: Historic Preservation
Background: THPOs carry out many of the same functions as SHPOs in tribal areas. There will be over 100 THPOs in FY10. The amount of HPF funds appropriated to THPOs is not keeping pace with this expansion. The addition of new THPOs each year keeps the average level of support per THPO around $75,000. The requested amount would provide a support level of over $100,000 per THPOs. The final amount will depend upon how many THPOs the NPS authorizes in FY10 and how much of the money they use for a grant program.
PROGRAM: High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Program
FUNDING LEVEL REQUEST: $239,000,000
BACKGROUND: The High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program enhances and coordinates drug control efforts among local, State, and Federal law enforcement agencies. The program provides agencies with coordination, equipment, technology, and additional resources to combat drug trafficking and its harmful consequences in critical regions of the United States. HIDTA operates a major command and control center in Atlanta, GA.
PROGRAM: Drug-Free Communities
FUNDING LEVEL REQUEST: $95,000,000
BACKGROUND: Originally funded by Congress in 1997 with the understanding that local problems need local solutions, the Drug Free Communities (DFC) program now supports over 700 drug-free community coalitions across the United States. As a cornerstone of ONDCP's National Drug Control Strategy, DFC provides the funding necessary for communities to identify and respond to local substance use problems.
(in alphabetical order)
PROJECT: Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta’s Child Protection Health Teams Expansion
DESIGNATED RECIPIENT: Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
ADDRESS: 1600 Tullie Circle, Atlanta, GA 30329
FUNDING REQUEST: $1,124,276
BACKGROUND: Would fund the creation of the regional Child Protection Health Teams (CPHT) to provide medical and mental health assessments and treatment to suspected victims of child abuse and neglect throughout Georgia.
PROJECT: DeKalb County Ballistic Identification Laboratory
DESIGNATED RECIPIENT: DeKalb County, Georgia
ADDRESS: 1300 Commerce Drive, Decatur, GA 30030
FUNDING REQUEST: $925,000
BACKGROUND: The Ballistic Identification Laboratory would establish a program to identify and track firearms used during the commission of crimes of violence in DeKalb County, as well as those recovered by other local and regional agencies, which is critical to the safety of our community at large.
PROJECT: DeKalb County Crime Reduction Through Video Surveillance Project
DESIGNATED RECIPIENT: DeKalb County, Georgia
ADDRESS: 1960 West Exchange Place, Tucker, GA 30084
FUNDING REQUEST: $ 1,000,000
BACKGROUND: The Dekalb County Crime Reduction through Video Surveillance Project will enhance the DeKalb County Police Department’s continuing efforts to eliminate gun violence and drug activity. This project would allow the DeKalb County Police Department to equip each of its five precincts with sufficient surveillance capabilities. These systems will provide the DeKalb County Police Department with the flexibility to be mobile and transition with crime as it moves from one area to another. They will also serve as a force multiplier by allowing surveillance of multiple high crime areas without impacting the current workforce. Additionally, these systems will also help to reduce drug trafficking, associated gun crimes, and the overall reduction of county-wide crime.
PROJECT: DeKalb County Gunshot Location System
DESIGNATED RECIPIENT: DeKalb County, Georgia
ADDRESS: 1960 West Exchange Place, Tucker, Ga 30084
FUNDING REQUEST: $1,200,000
BACKGROUND: DeKalb County, and the Metro-Atlanta region as a whole, has one of the highest rates of crime involving the use of firearms in the southeast. DeKalb County is seeking funds to bolster its ability to reduce gun related crimes through the technological use of a gunshot location system. This system detects gunshots and triangulates the location, which is sent to the dispatchers or the officer’s mobile display terminal. This system would be incorporated into DeKalb County Police Department’s existing infrastructure and consists of sensors, communications network, base station, a workstation (computer, monitor, keyboard, mouse) for monitoring, and licenses for DeKalb to install the monitoring software computers. The DeKalb Police Department has specific areas that are substantially higher in gun crimes than others. Therefore, this equipment would be used to target those vicinities in which gun related crimes are highest.
PROJECT: Gwinnett County Police Department Equipment
DESIGNATED RECIPIENT: Gwinnett County, Georgia
ADDRESS: 75 Langley Drive, Lawrenceville, GA 30045
FUNDING REQUEST: $809,900
BACKGROUND: This request would fund tools and equipment to be used by first responder law enforcement officers in Gwinnett County, GA, including sidearms, license plate recognition systems, tasers, thermal imagers, and bicycles.
PROJECT: HIV/Prisoner Re-Entry Program (Georgia State Univ.)
DESIGNATED RECIPIENT: Georgia State University
ADDRESS: P.O. Box 3965, Atlanta, GA 30302
FUNDING REQUEST: $500,000
BACKGROUND: Georgia State University requests funding to expand its innovative prison release preparation program for HIV infected inmates in Georgia. Individuals returning to the community from prison are challenged with re-integrating with family and friends, finding housing and employment, and getting access to health care. Individuals with HIV infection have the additional challenge of access to health care, support of complex therapeutic regimens, and continued reinforcement of behaviors that reduce the risk of transmission.
PROJECT: Mentorship and Education: Rebuilding Communities Initiative
DESIGNATED RECIPIENT: Thurgood Marshall College Fund
ADDRESS: 80 Maiden Lane, Suite 2204, New York, NY 10038
FUNDING REQUEST: $5,000,000
BACKGROUND: This initiative will deliver quality education programs, enhance supplemental learning opportunities and increase services to Public Historically Black Colleges & Universities, their communities and students. It will significantly equip and partner African-American male mentors with at-risk middle and high school male students of color, particularly African American, certifying advocates and role models for the youth within local communities.
PROJECT: Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office Financial Crimes Task Force
DESIGNATED RECIPIENT: DeKalb County, Georgia
ADDRESS: 962 Milstead Avenue, Conyers, GA 30012
FUNDING REQUEST: $ 339,500
BACKGROUND: The Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office is a full-service Sheriff’s Office providing complete law enforcement services to approximately 85,000 residents in the metropolitan Atlanta county. The Sheriff’s Office is committed to providing technological capabilities to maximize law enforcement efforts for deputies and citizens, and has identified key components that would build upon the present mobile data system, including a digital camera storage system, handheld computers for criminal investigations, a GPS/AVL network to record movements of mobile units, thermal imaging devices, and fingerprint identification technology.
PROJECT: Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office Law Enforcement Data Network
DESIGNATED RECIPIENT: DeKalb County, Georgia
ADDRESS: 962 Milstead Avenue, Conyers, GA 30012
FUNDING REQUEST: $188,000
BACKGROUND: The Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office is requesting funding for investigators to prevent and investigate financial crimes, identity theft, and other economic electronic crimes.
PROJECT: Safe Streets Mobile Command Post
DESIGNATED RECIPIENT: DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office
ADDRESS: 4415 Memorial Drive, Decatur, GA 30032
FUNDING REQUEST: $ 347,187
BACKGROUND: The acquisition of a Mobile Command Post that would enable the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office to respond more efficiently and effectively during small/medium/large critical incidents and a variety of often-complicated rescue situations.
PROJECT: Spelman College Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) Program
DESIGNATED RECIPIENT: Spelman College
ADDRESS: 350 Spelman Lane, SW Atlanta, GA 30314
FUNDING REQUEST: $2,600,000
BACKGROUND: The Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) Scholars Program at Spelman College provides scholarship and high impact academic support for highly qualified students majoring in the physical sciences, mathematics, or dual degree engineering.
PROJECT: Youth Violence Prevention Initiative of Atlanta (Georgia State Univ.)
DESIGNATED RECIPIENT: Georgia State University
ADDRESS: P.O. Box 3965, Atlanta, GA 30302
FUNDING REQUEST: $900,000
BACKGROUND: Georgia State University requests funding to help establish a nationally recognized center of excellence to address youth violence, “The Youth Violence Prevention Initiative of Atlanta” (YVPIA). The mission of the YVPIA will be to work collaboratively to build community capacity for youth violence prevention in the City of Atlanta, to significantly reduce youth perpetrated violence, to improve the scholastic performance of students in the city’s most affected schools, and to further research the causes and prevention of youth violence nationally.
PROGRAM: Community Oriented Policing Services
FUNDING LEVEL REQUEST: $1,047,119,000
BACKGROUND: The Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (the COPS Office) is the component of the U.S. Department of Justice responsible for advancing the practice of community policing by the nation's state, local, territory, and tribal law enforcement agencies through information and grant resources.
PROGRAM: Drug Court Discretionary Grant Program
FUNDING LEVEL REQUEST: $65,000,000
BACKGROUND: The Drug Court Discretionary Grant Program provides financial and technical assistance to states, state courts, local courts, units of local government, and Indian tribal governments to develop and implement treatment drug courts that effectively integrate substance abuse treatment, mandatory drug testing, sanctions and incentives, and transitional services in a judicially supervised court setting with jurisdiction over nonviolent, substance-abusing offenders.
PROGRAM: Economic Development Administration
FUNDING LEVEL REQUEST: $400,000,000
BACKGROUND: The Economic Development Administration (EDA) was established under the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. § 3121), as amended, to generate jobs, help retain existing jobs, and stimulate industrial and commercial growth in economically distressed areas of the United States. EDA assistance is available to rural and urban areas of the Nation experiencing high unemployment, low income, or other severe economic distress. In fulfilling its mission, EDA is guided by the basic principle that distressed communities must be empowered to develop and implement their own economic development and revitalization strategies. Based on these locally- and regionally-developed priorities, EDA works in partnership with state and local governments, regional economic development districts, public and private nonprofit organizations, and Indian tribes. EDA helps distressed communities address problems associated with long-term economic distress, as well as sudden and severe economic dislocations including recovering from the economic impacts of natural disasters, the closure of military installations and other Federal facilities, changing trade patterns, and the depletion of natural resources.
PROGRAM: Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program
FUNDING LEVEL REQUEST: $1,000,000
BACKGROUND: In November 2004, Congress consolidated two long-standing local law enforcement grant programs: the
The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program (Byrne/JAG) is a partnership among federal, state, and local governments to create safer communities. BJA awards grants to states and local governments to improve the criminal justice system. The program places an emphasis on breaking the cycle of substance abuse and crime, combating violence, holding offenders accountable, enhancing law enforcement initiatives, and supporting advancements in adjudication.
PROGRAM: Legal Services Corporation
FUNDING LEVEL REQUEST: $516,500,000
BACKGROUND: LSC is the single largest provider of civil legal aid for the poor in the nation. Established in 1974, LSC operates as an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation that promotes equal access to justice and provides grants for high-quality civil legal assistance to low-income Americans. LSC distributes more than 95 percent of its total funding to 136 independent nonprofit legal aid programs with more than 900 offices that provide legal assistance to low-income individuals and families throughout the nation.
PROGRAM: Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Program
FUNDING LEVEL REQUEST: $129,700,000
BACKGROUND: The MEP is a Federal-state-local partnership that enhances competitiveness of
PROGRAM: Regional Information Sharing Activities
FUNDING LEVEL REQUEST: $65,000,000
BACKGROUND: Regional information sharing activities have helped local, state, federal and tribal law enforcement agencies share criminal and intelligence information in order to coordinate efforts and more effectively combat terrorism and criminal activity. Regional information sharing activities offer secure communications, access to intelligence databases, and investigative resources and services—such as analytical support, equipment loans, confidential funds, field staff support, technical support, training, research, publications, and officer safety. In many cases, these are services that law enforcement agencies would not have access to without adequate support.
PROGRAM: Second Chance Act
FUNDING LEVEL REQUEST: $100,000,000
BACKGROUND: The Second Chance Act of 2007: Community Safety Through Recidivism Prevention (H.R.1593/S.1060) is federal legislation designed to ensure the safe and successful return of prisoners to the community. Each year, as approximately 650,000 people are released from state and federal prisons and between 10 and 12 million more are released from local jails, they struggle with substance abuse, lack of adequate education and job skills, and mental health issues. The Second Chance Act will provide grants to local governments and organizations to help provide literacy classes, job training, education programs, and substance abuse and rehabilitation programs for offenders. The bill takes another step toward the goal of reducing the nationwide recidivism rate, which, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics is over 50 percent, and decreasing the billions of dollars spent annually on incarceration.
PROJECT REQUESTS
ART Station, Inc.
5384 Manor Drive
Stone Mountain, GA 30083
Project: Art Station
Designated recipient: ART Station, Inc.
Funding Request: $125,000
Background: $125,000 of the request would be used for facility improvements.
Dekalb County , GA
330 W. Ponce de Leon
4th Floor
Decatur, GA 30030
Project: Bouldercrest Road Improvements
Designated recipient: DeKalb County, GA
Funding Request: 2,000,000
Background: This is a road improvement project that involves additional lanes, safety improvements and sidewalks from I-285 to the Clayton County line. The north end of the project will tie into a future interchange improvement project at I-285 being designed by the Georgia Department of Transportation. The project will alleviate congestion in this growing area of southwest DeKalb County, assist with economic development opportunities and provide an improved link between I-285 in DeKalb County and a rapidly growing area in Clayton County.
City of Conyers, GA
1184 Scott Street, SE
Conyers, GA 30012
Project: Central Conyers Park Initiative
Designated recipient: City of Conyers, GA
Funding Request: $900,000
Background: Federal funding will be used to acquire the land necessary to construct the park. The City will also use the requested funding to restore and dam a lake at the park, as well as provide the necessary amenities associated with parks of this caliber for the edification and enjoyment of present and future generations. Given the explosive economic growth occurring in the northern reaches of Henry County, the southern and eastern portions of DeKalb County and Rockdale County over the last three decades, this project would provide a much needed increase to the amount of parkland and open space in the region. The presence of the Central Conyers Park will increase the foot traffic for commercial venues in downtown Conyers, as well as encourage future commercial activity and increase demand for housing within walking distance of the park The Central Conyers Park is an integral part of a larger initiative to encourage residential and commercial development, investment in the region, and to enhance public safety, health and welfare for the residents of Conyers and surrounding communities.
Rockdale County, GA
962 Milstead Avenue
Conyers, GA 30012
Project: Commerce Crossing Bridge
Designated recipient: Rockdale County, GA
Funding Request: $1,000,000
Background: “Commerce Crossing” is a proposed non-access bridge across Interstate 20 connecting the community's most significant retail tax base with State Route (SR) 138. As Rockdale's primary north-south artery, the SR 138 corridor is the most heavily traveled and congested corridor in Rockdale County with daily traffic at the I-20 interchange in excess of 55,000 vehicles. With this level of traffic the interchange is currently operating at level of service F and will continue to get worse with a projected 50% increase in traffic over the next 20 years.
The non-access bridge would provide access to the community's primary retail district and provide circulation improvements by redirecting 10,000 vehicles per day from the I-20 interchange to the retail district when the bridge is opened to traffic. By 2030, the bridge will accommodate in excess of 18,000 vehicles per day. The “Commerce Crossing” bridge will provide user benefits through improved traffic flow and circulation and by increasing opportunities for pedestrian travel to the retail district. The annual travel time benefit associated with these improvements is $1,727,000 with a fuel cost savings of $216,000. This equates to a twenty year benefit of $30,220,000 (2005 dollars).
City of Conyers, GA
1184 Scott Street, SE
Conyers, GA 30012
Project: Complete Streets Initiative
Designated recipient: City of Conyers, GA
Funding Request: $3,720,000
Background: The Complete Streets Design Concept emphasizes safely accommodating automobiles, bicyclists, pedestrians and public transit riders while using design standards sensitive to those with disabilities.
The adoption of the Complete Streets concept on Hardin Street and O'kelly Street will significantly improve the mobility, accessibility and safety of walking trips to, from and within the Central Conyers community through separating bicycle and pedestrian traffic from vehicular traffic.
In separating bicycle and pedestrian traffic from vehicular traffic, both bicyclists and pedestrians will feel safer using biking and sidewalk facilities, which will significantly increase the usage of both facilities.
With the adoption of the complete streets treatment along Hardin Street and O'Kelly Street, members of the Central Conyers neighborhood will gain improved access to the regional network of parks, open space and trails.
Dekalb County , GA
330 W. Ponce de Leon
4th Floor
Decatur, GA 30030
Project: Glenwood Road Pedestrian Safety Improvements
Designated recipient: DeKalb County, GA
Funding Request: $1,500,000
Background: The project will involve the implementation of pedestrian safety improvements along Glenwood Road from Candler Road to Covington Highway. A county funded phase 1 project west of
Candler Road has already been completed. Improvements being considered include sidewalks, a continuous left turn lane, new turn signals, additional street lighting, and mid-block crossings.
Preliminary design of the project is underway.
City of Decatur
509 North McDonough Street
Decatur, GA 30030
Project: Historic Decatur Recreation Center Rehabilitation Project
Designated recipient:
Funding Request: $7,000,000
Background: The project will rehabilitate, modernize and restore the historic Decatur Recreation Center in downtown Decatur. This facility has been home for many years to Decatur's diverse recreational community as well as Decatur High School's athletic teams. It will be a showcase and national example of the sensitive rehabilitation of a local historic building while modernizing and improving the building to meet new recreational needs and changing community goals. The project includes master planning, project design and construction of improvements, including improvements to the existing office and classroom spaces, new recreational space for seniors, improved locker rooms, new lighting, gym floor and bleachers, new mechanical systems and a new roof.
The construction cost estimate for this project is $7 million. The City of Decatur has employed architectural and engineering consultants to bring the project to the 100% level of design. The City will have spent $385,000 in local funds by the end of this fiscal year for design at which point it will be shovel ready.
Gwinnett Village Community Improvement District
5855 Jimmy Carter Boulevard
Norcross, GA 30071
Project: I-85 / Jimmy Carter Boulevard Bridge Replacement and Interchange Improvement (Gwinnett County, GA)
Designated recipient: Gwinnett Village Community Improvement District
Funding Request: $2,000,000
Background: The proposed interchange improvements include replacement of the existing bridge that carries Jimmy Carter Boulevard over I-85 and reconstruction of the intersections with the existing I-85 on and off ramps. The new bridge will carry 11 lanes, 4 lanes wider than the existing 7 lane bridge. The project will increase both the number of through lanes along Jimmy Carter Boulevard as well as the number of turn lanes onto I-85 (north and south). Currently, the interchange causes extreme delays along Jimmy Carter Boulevard. Due to capacity limitations, queuing often occurs along the on and off-ramps to I-85 creating safety concerns along the interstate.
The current bridge at Interstate 85 and Jimmy Cater Boulevard was built in 1973. In June 2009, the Georgia Department of Transportation's Office of Bridge Design recommended replacement of the existing Jimmy Carter Boulevard Bridge due to its poor geometry, current sufficiency load rating values, and overall need for a range of maintenance items. The bridge's sufficiency rating was 48.39; the Georgia Department of Transportation considers bridges with sufficiency ratings below 50 to be in need of replacement.
In addition to safety concerns, the bridge is a source of significant congestion. This interchange currently supports nearly 60,000 vehicles per day, and a 2005 crash report by Gwinnett County revealed that a large number of incidents occur at this location. Furthermore, in a 2006 congestion report by the Atlanta Regional Commission, the I-85 at Jimmy Carter Boulevard interchange ranked a the 7th most heavily congested arterial roadway in the metro-Atlanta region.
Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority
2424 Piedmont Road, NE
Atlanta, GA 30324
Project: MARTA Bus, Bus Facilities and Security Improvements
Designated recipient: Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority
Funding Request: $12,000,000
Background: This overall project will both help to sustain and improve a State of Good Repair for MARTA bus infrastructure and rolling stock, and also enhance the safety and security of the bus transit system. The funds requested will be used for needed MARTA bus facilities and equipment modernization at several locations, bus vehicle rehabilitation and replacement, and for the planned On-board Bus Security Camera System. The bus security camera system will include the acquisition and installation of up to eight digital cameras per bus on the existing MARTA bus fleet.
Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority
2424 Piedmont Road, NE
Atlanta, GA 30324
Project: MARTA Fare Collection System Improvements
Designated recipient: Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority
Funding Request: $15,400,000
Background: This project will build upon MARTA's innovative Breeze Fare Collection System, by providing funding for two (2) major enhancements: Variable Base Fare capability and the Community Breeze Vending Program. The Variable-Based Fare System Module will enable distance-based and/or time-of-day fares to be implemented. The Community Breeze Vending Program will provide for the acquisition and installation of remote Breeze fare media vending machines in communities throughout the MARTA bus service area. These Breeze Vending Machines will be strategically placed at major retail establishments (e.g., supermarkets) and community facilities (e.g., public libraries) in corridors primarily traversed by MARTA bus service. This combined project will provide the riding public with a more accessible, convenient and regionally integrated transit system.
Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority
2424 Piedmont Road, NE
Atlanta, GA 30324
Project: MARTA I-20 East Transit Corridor
Designated recipient: Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority
Funding Request: $4,500,000
Background: FY 2011 funding is requested to complete the Alternatives Analysis (AA) and a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the I-20 East Corridor High Capacity Transit Line. This proposed high capacity transit expansion project will begin in downtown Atlanta and extend eastward along the congested and growing Interstate 20 corridor into south DeKalb County. This is the next phase in the FTA's New Starts project development process. This fixed guideway transit project is extremely significant and, when completed, will address national and Federal Transit Administration goals to increase mobility and enhance the quality of life for our citizens; while creating jobs, relieving traffic congestion, conserving energy and improving air quality, lowering greenhouse gas emissions, providing access to jobs and promoting economic development and more livable communities.
Dekalb County , GA
330 W. Ponce de Leon
4th Floor
Decatur, GA 30030
Project: Panola Road Improvements from Brown’s Mill Road (GA 212) to Covington Highway (US 278)
Designated recipient: DeKalb County, GA
Funding Request: $4,000,000
Background: This project is the widening of Panola Road from Covington Highway (US 278) to Brown's Mill Road (GA 212). A four lane or six lane divided highway with a raised median is proposed. Bike lanes and sidewalks will also be added. In the middle of the project is the Panola Road at I-20 interchange. A separate project will upgrade that interchange.
Rockdale County, GA
962 Milstead Avenue
Conyers, GA 30012
Project: Sigman Road Extension Project
Designated recipient: Rockdale County, GA
Funding Request: $1,000,000
Background: The Sigman Road Extension project is a new four lane parkway that connects Sigman Road at Interstate 20 (I-20) with State Route 124 (Turner Hill Road) in Dekalb County. As a link between I-20 and several state routes, the Sigman Road corridor is a critical transportation artery for Rockdale and surrounding counties. The Sigman Road Extension project will also provide an economic benefit to Rockdale County by directly connecting Stonecrest mall in Dekalb County with land available for commercial development in Rockdale County.
The existing Sigman Road corridor serves as a major artery in the region's transportation network by providing connectivity between I-20, State Route 20, State Route 138 and State Route 162. The Sigman Road Extension will create a new link to State Route 124 in Dekalb County. Sigman Road and these state routes are the primary arterial roads providing access to I-20 for residents of northern Rockdale, southern Gwinnett, Walton and Newton counties.
Dekalb County , GA
330 W. Ponce de Leon
4th Floor
Decatur, GA 30030
Project: South Stone Mountain Lithonia Road Bike Lanes
Designated recipient: DeKalb County, GA
Funding Request: $2,000,000
Background: The project consists of constructing bike lanes on both sides of South Stone Mountain Lithonia Road from the City of Stone Mountain to the City of Lithonia. Sidewalks will also be added on the east side of the road. Design of the first phase of the project from Main Street in Stone Mountain to Rockbridge Road is currently underway.
PROGRAM LEVEL REQUEST
Program Level Request: Fair Housing Initiatives Program
Funding Level Request: $52,000,000
Agency: Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
Program Level Request: Federal Transit Administration
Funding Level Request: $14,880,000,000
Agency: Federal Transit Administration (FTA)
Background: The President’s FY11 Budget Request includes only $10.8 billion for federal transit programs; a .6% increase over FY10 enacted levels. Also of note, this request includes only $8.27 billion for transit capital formula programs and $1.82 billion for New Starts, which are decreases from the FY10 enacted levels. While I recognize that we are facing a difficult budget climate, I fear that $10.8 billion is simply not enough to maintain the current system, and to continue the proper investments in our public transportation system.
Program Level Request: HOPWA Program
Funding Level Request: $410,000,000
Agency: Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
PROJECT REQUESTS
Asian American Resource Foundation, Inc.
2855 Rolling Pin Lane
Suwanee, GA 30024
Project: AARC Vocational Education School
Funding Request: $1,302,300
Background: The Asian American Resource Center (AARC) proposes to establish a vocational education program. Although the project will be focused on the area's Asian American and immigrant communities, AARC will offer the vocational education program to anyone interested in improving himself or herself. The project is designed to address two problems that currently plague the community:
- It will provide members of the community members with the means to become self-sufficient, productive members of the community. By teaching a desirable job skill to individuals who may otherwise have no marketable job skills, AARC will help individuals find employment and increase their chances of becoming self-sufficient.
Georgia State University
P.O. Box 3965
Atlanta, GA 30302
Project: Child Maltreatment Prevention in Georgia
Funding Request: $500,000
Background: In order to prevent child maltreatment in Georgia and to enhance the health and well-being of at risk families, we are requesting funding to expand the SafeCare program. These funds would support the following:
*Expansion of SafeCare use for high-risk families in the metropolitan Atlanta area.
*Development of a pilot program that involves collaboration with one or more other programs that involve home visitation in the metropolitan Atlanta area.
*Development if a collaborative effort among home visitation programs to improve efficiency and effectiveness and take advantage of synergies among programs.
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta
1600 Tullie Circle
Atlanta, GA 30329
Project: Children's Healthcare of Atlanta's School Nurse Liaison Project
Funding Request: $400,000
Background: The project provides school re-entry assistance for children 5-18 year olds who are discharged from our hospitals with complex medical conditions. Further it provides access to care referral and serve as statewide consultants to the Department of Education (DOE), Department of Human Resources (DHR) and Department of Public Health (DPH) for pediatric health issues, data collection and resource materials. The School Nurse Liaison program provides resources to all public schools in Georgia and many private schools. The project consists of a nurse manager, nurse consultants and an education coordinator who develops the statewide teaching calendar, two yearly newsletters and a website designed for school nurses.
Close Up Foundation
44 Canal Center Plaza
Alexandria, VA 22314
Project: Close Up Fellowship Program
Funding Request: $5,000,000
Background: Provides funds for economically disadvantaged high school and middle school students and their teachers to participate in Close Up Washington civic education programs.
Marcus Autism Center, Inc.
1920 Briarcliff Road, NE
Atlanta, GA 30329
Project: Creation of Statewide Autism Standard of Care Guidelines
Funding Request: $750,000
Background: The Marcus Autism Center will use the federal funding to create standard of care protocols for ABA treatment services for autism. This includes definition of varying treatment models according to acuity and the needs of the child. It will build consensus amongst stakeholder provider base on standard of care model for diagnosis of autism which includes integration of existing national standards (ATN).
Youth Vision, Industry, Business, & Empowerment, Inc.
5240 Snapfinger Park Drive
Suite 125
Decatur, GA 30035
Project: Empowering Tomorrow
Funding Request: $800,000
Background: Youth V.I.B.E. is a non-profit 501(c)(3) afterschool program which provides free services to over 500 youth per year within multiple Metro-Atlanta Schools. Its vision is to Empower Tomorrow's Leaders. It believe its impact compliments the day school and improves the health, academic, arts, business and enrichment activities resulting in greater individual and community success.
Morehouse School of Medicine
720 Westview Dr., SW
Atlanta, GA 30314
Project: Enhancement of the MSM Biomedical Research Facilities
Funding Request: $7,000,000
Background: Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) proposes to expand its biomedical research facilities by approximately 30,000 square feet to centralize our biomedical informatics activities to facilitate greater scientific interchange among several basic, translational clinical, and population science research areas. The proposed expansion of our Medical Education Building (MEB) will be a centrally located, new three story structure on our main campus that will enable us to build upon our existing strengths of currently funded research which requires a significant increase in biomedical informatics computing infrastructure and physical space over the next decade.
Specifically, the new shared space provided by the proposed in this project request will accelerate the development of three emerging areas of biomedical informatics that are prioritized within our institutional strategic plan basic/translational, clinical, and population informatics.
Childrens Healthcare of Atlanta
1600 Tullie Circle
Atlanta, GA 30329
Project: Georgia Children's Health Alliance (GCHA) Strategic Plan Implementation
Funding Request: $600,000
Background: Children's is seeking funding to implement the Georgia Children's Health Alliance's (GCHA's) strategic plan. Initial 2010 plans for implementation include, but are not limited to, specific programmatic and medical provider education and training strategies such as data centralization and growth of Centering Pregnancy sites (group based prenatal care), implementation of the Steps to Grow On program, capacity building for First Steps programs and medical provider education and training around obesity prevention.
Thurgood Marshall College Fund
80 Maiden Lane
Suite 2204
New York, NY 10038
Project: Global Science Leaders Program
Funding Request: $6,000,000
Background: Recognizing a compelling need for high-quality diverse scientific leadership, the TMCF Global Science Leaders Program will support professional and academic career development for HBCU students in the Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields of study.
MedShare International, Inc.
3240 Clifton Springs Rd.
Decatur, GA 30034
Project: Help for Haiti
Funding Request: $50,000
Background: The project will increase MedShare's capacity to provide ongoing relief and recovery efforts to the people of Haiti in the form of desperately needed medical supplies and equipment and create a job in Georgia's 4th Congressional District.
Rockdale County Public Schools
954 North Main Street
Conyers, GA 30012
Project: Increasing Rigor and Student Achievement in Underperforming Groups - Pilot Program Expansion
Funding Request: $967,880
Background: Rockdale County Public Schools will expand the best practices evidence-based AVID
(Advancement Via Individual Determination) Program. This project will prepare students for rigorous course work in math, science, English, and technology. This project will ensure that students have fair and equal opportunity to obtain high-quality education to reach proficiency on state content standards.
Morehouse College
830 Westview Drive, SW
Atlanta, GA 30314
Project: Morehouse College Critical Languages Initiative Asian and Middle Eastern Studies
Funding Request: $2,000,000
Background: Morehouse College requests funding to conduct additional curriculum development, to teach Mandarin Chinese and to expand the language component of the AMES program to support the continued development and implementation of a Chinese minor. The students' response and demand mandates that addition of course sessions to the college's class schedule. Through exposure to primary sources textual, oral and artifacts, the Chinese minor aims to provide familiarity with the region of China, and Asia in general. The area of academic study will examine all subjects comparatively and will be devoid of any particular ideological influence.
The major outcome of this program is culturally sensitive graduates with competence in global affairs, able to carry out rigorous analysis, proficient in Mandarin Chinese, and other languages indigenous to the Middle East and Asia.
Morehouse School of Medicine
720 Westview Dr., SW
Atlanta, GA 30314
Project: Morehouse School of Medicine Center for Healthy Communities
Funding Request: $2,780,324
Background: The facility will provide mental health and substance abuse counseling, career counseling and training and primary care services establishing a permanent off-campus presence in the community. MSM currently implements programs of teaching (service-learning initiatives), research (community-based participatory research), and service (both community health promotion and community-based primary medical care). MSM owns no facility of its own in the community; instead, it rents space, suggesting a temporary presence - owning a building suggests permanence. Other programs of service that could appropriately be housed in the Center for Healthy Communities include a Preventive Medicine Center: This center would serve the community with programs of weight control, smoking cessation, and physical fitness. Public health services would be reimbursed by insurance or paid on a subscription basis.
Georgia Institute of Technology
225 North Ave., NW
Atlanta, GA 30332
Project: Outreach to Underserved Portions of the Entrepreneurial Community
Funding Request: $1,000,000
Background: Minorities and women are underserved in the technology focused entrepreneurial community. Georgia Tech's Enterprise Innovation Institute will work with existing networks for women and minority businesses to understand the specific challenges to entrepreneurship. We will develop and regionally implement a pilot program to increase the proportion of women and minority entrepreneurs.
Reach Out and Read
56 Roland Street
Suite 100 D
Boston, MA 02129
Project: Reach Out and Read
Funding Request: $10,000,000
Background: 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.
Clark Atlanta University
223 James P. Brawley Dr., SW
Atlanta, GA 30314
Project: Research Facility Improvement for Biomedical Research
Funding Request: $5,000,000
Background: Funds are requested to renovate the current animal vivarium and centralize core facilities, and to upgrade the infrastructure of the ~ 2000,000 sq. ft. Science Research Center (gas delivery, deionized water, and vacuum systems, and lab reconfiguration) to support biomedical research programs at Clark Atlanta University.
Rockdale County Public Schools
954 North Main Street
Conyers, GA 30012
Project: Rockdale Career Academy - Tools for Success
Funding Request: $820,000
Background: Locally, nearly 3.500 students take classes at the Rockdale Career Academy, four times the projected number, but many do not have access to the latest equipment or current software they need to train properly as equipment replacement and upgrades are a critical need. Teaching technical courses today requires an adequate supply of 21st century equipment. Funding is requested to replace, refit and upgrade equipment, software and workstations.
Refugee Resettlement and Immigration Services of Atlanta
4151 Memorial Drive
Suite 205-D
Decatur, GA 30032
Project: Safe Places After School and Summer Youth Program
Funding Request: $135,000
Background: The Safe Places After School and Summer Program provides a safe and structured environment for refugee, immigrant and low income youth. The program serves children and youth in grades k-8 attending targeted Title I DeKalb County Schools.
Spelman College
350 Spelman Lane, S.W.
Box 1551
Atlanta, GA 30314
Project: The Spelman College Black Women's Health Initiative
Funding Request: $900,000
Background: The Spelman College Black Women's Health Initiative is a comprehensive project focused on curricular and co-curricular offerings to raise awareness about the health status of Black women and cultivate a generation of young leaders who can contribute to future research, advocacy, education, policy, and business efforts related to women's health.
Spelman College
350 Spelman Lane, S.W.
Box 1551
Atlanta, GA 30314
Project: Spelman College Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) Program
Funding Request: $2,600,000
Background: The Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) Scholars Program at Spelman College provides scholarship and high impact academic support for highly qualified students majoring in the physical sciences, mathematics, or dual degree engineering.
Soccer in the Streets
2323 Perimeter Park Drive, NE
Atlanta, GA 30341
Project: Soccer in the Streets' Job Readiness Program
Funding Request: $500,000
Background: Soccer in the Streets will use its programming to combat the lack of suitable job skills among disadvantaged youth. 20 sites in metro Atlanta will serve 2,000 disadvantaged youth. This initiative will use the sport of soccer as a medium to develop important employment skills such as respect and teamwork, while gaining hands-on experience through both internships and summer employment.
Helping Others Pursue Excellence Ministries, Community Development Corporation, Inc.
(H.O.P.E.)
1580 Agape Way
Decatur, GA 30035
Project: Tabernacle Homes Services Component of an Affordable Housing Plus Services
Funding Request: $900,000
Background: The Tabernacle Homes, as proposed, will be the first of its kind an Affordable Housing Plus Services (AHPS) senior residential development for the DeKalb County Community. The project will consist of mixed-use development complimenting this up and coming active metropolitan neighborhood. This project will require the removal of existing foliage on site and replacing it with a comprehensive new construction project for seniors. The development will integrate all that is best about senior residential living in the city with quality retail, commercial, and community services options - all in one vibrant location.
Teach for America
315 West 36th Street
New York, NY 10018
Project: Teach for America
Funding Request: $50,000,000
Background: Teach for America, a national nonprofit with a demonstrated record of success, will use these funds to recruit, select, train, and provide professional development to top recent college graduates of all academic majors who commit two years to teach in our nation's highest poverty communities in 38 regions across the country.
Thurgood Marshall College Fund
80 Maiden Lane
Suite 2204
New York, NY 10038
Project: Teacher Quality and Retention Program (TQRP)
Funding Request: $6,000,000
Background: The TQRP is designed to prepare 10,000 pre-service public school teachers over 5 years for service in underserved public school districts. This initiative seeks to improve student performance by increasing the knowledge base, attitude, performance, and retention of teachers.
Rockdale County Public Schools
954 North Main Street
Conyers, GA 30012
Project: Technology Revitalization
Funding Request: $5,000,000
Background: This project will replace and upgrade the currently obsolete technology in the school system. Rockdale County Public Schools expects an increase in the number of students who graduate and enroll in post-secondary education at public colleges and universities.
Georgia Institute of Technology
225 North Ave., NW
Atlanta, GA 30332
Project: Tech Teachers for Georgia
Funding Request: $500,000
Background: Modeled after the highly successful and competitive Teach for America program, Tech Teachers for Georgia will recruit and train recent graduates of Georgia Tech and other Georgia colleges and universities to prepare them for two-year positions as teachers in STEM-focused classrooms in a Georgia public school. The program is a collaboration between Georgia Tech and Georgia public school systems and will encourage participants to become fully certified and to pursue STEM teaching careers.
Georgia Institute of Technology
225 North Ave., NW
Atlanta, GA 30332
Project: Undergraduate Teaching Opportunities
Funding Request: $500,000
Background: This program connects undergraduate students who may be interested in college teaching with higher education faculty. Modeled after the successful Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) that provides undergraduates with a chance to experience what it's like to conduct research in a higher education setting, this program provides a venue for students to partner with faculty and learn what is involved in being a professor who (1) helps novice learners gain expertise in a field of study, (2) develops innovative curriculum that addresses important issues, and (3) works to improve student learning in the classroom.
DeKalb County, GA School System
3770 N. Decatur Rd
Decatur, GA 30032
Project: Universal Screener for the DeKalb County School System
Funding Request: $800,000
Background: Purchase a web-based Universal Screener with Data Management System for implementing RTI (Response to Intervention) for grades K - 12. RTI is a system of tiers of interventions to help students succeed. RTI uses assessment tools and intervention strategies to maximize student achievement and to reduce behavior problems. A Universal Screener would enable schools to 1) identify students at risk for poor learning outcomes in mathematics, reading, and writing; 2) monitor student progress; 3) provide evidence-based interventions; 4) adjust the intensity and nature of those interventions based on a student's responsiveness; and 5) identify students with learning disabilities and other disabilities.
PROGRAM LEVEL REQUEST
Program Level Request: Aging Grants to Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian Organizations
Funding Level Request: $1,730,110,000
Background: The OAA is the cornerstone of the nation's long-term care system, providing older adults with critical services that include information and referral, home care, home-delivered meals, adult day care, legal services, transportation and caregiver support. Without these programs, over 8 million older adults every year would need more expensive institutional care or suffer from hunger, isolation, poor health, neglect, abuse, unemployment or other challenges to their quality of life.
For years, OAA appropriations have failed to keep pace with growth in inflation and the aging population, leading to significant shortfalls even as demand increases. As a result, only a fraction of eligible older Americans receive the home health, home-delivered meals, transportation or other vital services as authorized under Title III of the OAA. The need for OAA programs among older adults and caregivers cannot be greater during these difficult economic times. As increasing numbers of older Americans and caregivers face financial trouble, more will come to need the bedrock programs created by the OAA. We support the President's FY 2011 budget request for certain programs within OAA, but request an increase of at least 12% in all OAA programs to respond to an increasing demand for services.
Program Level Request: Basic and Translational Research Program in Sickle Cell Disease
Funding Level Request: $80,000,000
Background: Provides grants to support the Basic and Translational Research Program on Sickle Cell Disease pursuant to P.L. 99-158, the Health Research Extension Act of 1985. This comprehensive research program improves our understanding related to diagnosing, treating, and managing Sickle Cell Disease.
Program Level Request: Birth Defects/Developmental Disabilities - Blood Disorders
Funding Level Request: $50,000,000
Background: Funding will support the CDC's current efforts to develop RuSH (Registry and Surveillance System for Hemoglobinopathies) - a pilot program to design a Hemoglobinopathy Data Center to operate a surveillance and registry program, with particular attention to Sickle Cell Disease. The lack of this type of data system for Sickle-Cell-related diseases limits the ability of the research and treatment communities to understand fully the impact of the disease and to develop health care planning at the local, state, and national levels.
Program Level Request: Community Service Employment for Older Americans
Funding Level Request: $924,476,000
Background: The Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP), authorized under Title V of the Older Americans Act, provides part-time community service employment and training for low income workers age 55 and older. Funding for this program eroded between FY 2002 and FY
2006, then in fiscal years 2007-2009, the minimum wage forced modest increases in the program, but this was solely to sustain the number of participants. In FY 2010, SCSEP received a significant boost in funding to allow needed expansion of the nation's only workforce development program designed exclusively to maximize the productive contributions of a rapidly growing older population. The unemployment rate for adults age 65 and older, though reached a record high of 7.2 percent in December 2009— so the need for SCSEP services remains, and is continually growing. That is why we are requesting an increase of at least 12% over FY 2010 funding for the SCSEP program.
Program Level Request: Environmental Health - Climate Change
Funding Level Request: $15,000,000
Background: CDC's Climate Change Program, currently flat-funded in the President's budget proposal, helps provide local health officials with the technical support and training they need to assess the threats that climate change poses in their jurisdictions; determine their critical health vulnerabilities; and examine what additional capacities are needed to respond. In addition, the program funds research on the potential health effects of climate change, including looking at changes in disease patterns and major environmental catastrophes. Research will help inform the preparedness plans for states and localities that can be developed from the results of local and state needs assessments.
A total of $15 million in FY 2011 would enable CDC to conduct cutting-edge research and provide funds to up to 25 states and localities to conduct a needs assessment to determine their vulnerability to the health effects of climate change and to identify which communities and populations are most likely to be affected.
Program Level Request: General National Institutes of Health Funding
Funding Level Request: $33,434,504,000
Background: The National Institutes of Health is our nation's preeminent medical research institution and represents our best hope for finding cures and treatments for the devastating diseases and conditions that affect millions of Americans. NIH research is essential to containing soaring medical costs, reforming health care, strengthening our economy, inspiring the next generation of scientists and researchers, and maintaining our nation's leadership in innovation. The recent boost in NIH funding in FY2009 and FY2010 was an important step toward regaining the lost potential of the last several years and rebuilding our economy. For these reasons, I am seeking an increase for NIH of at least 7 percent over the FY 2010 baseline.
Program Level Request: Infectious Diseases - Minority AIDS Initiative
Funding Level Request: $145,000,000
Agency: Department of Health & Human Services
Program Level Request: Infectious Diseases - Viral Hepatitis
Funding Level Request: $50,000,000
Background: Nearly 5.3 million Americans are infected with chronic hepatitis B and C and most of them do not know it. Hepatitis B and C silently attack the liver and are a leading cause of liver cancer: one of the most lethal, expensive and fastest growing cancers in America. In 2007 alone, the CDC estimated that 43,000 Americans were newly infected with hepatitis B and 17,000 with hepatitis C, and the diseases combined cause at least 15,000 deaths each year. It is also a leading cause of death in persons living with HIV. Nearly 25 percent of HIV-positive Americans are co-infected with hepatitis C and nearly 10 percent with hepatitis B.
This program supports core prevention services that include hepatitis B and C education, counseling, testing, and referral to care, in addition to delivery of hepatitis A and B vaccines, and establishing a national surveillance system for chronic hepatitis B and C. This increase in funding is critical in developing the comprehensive viral hepatitis program required to prevent new infections and control the spiraling costs of chronic infections.
Program Level Request: Job Corps
Funding Level Request: $1,764,000,000
Background: Job Corps is the largest and most comprehensive residential academic and vocational training program for America's most economically disadvantaged youth between the ages of 16 - 24.
This voluntary program serves nearly 60,000 youth each year at 124 Job Corps centers located across the country, including the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
Program Level Request: MCH SPRANS Sickle Cell
Funding Level Request: $5,250,000
Background: Provides grants to support a National Coordinating and Evaluation Center and 17 community based demonstration sites across the country that provide SCD follow-up and other services to support the comprehensive care for newborns diagnosed with SCD. This program provides a continuity of medical services, education and counseling from birth to persons afflicted with SCD as well as those with the trait.
Program Level Request: Minority AIDS Initiative
Funding Level Request: $190,000,000
Agency: Department of Health & Human Services
Account: Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) - Health Resources and Services
Program Level Request: Minority AIDS Initiative
Funding Level Request: $160,000,000
Agency: Department of Health & Human Services
Account: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
Program Level Request: Minority AIDS Initiative
Funding Level Request: $105,000,000
Agency: Department of Health & Human Services
Account: Office of the Secretary (OS) - General Departmental Management (GDM)
Program Level Request: Minority AIDS Initiative
Funding Level Request: $10,000,000
Agency: Department of Health & Human Services
Account: NIH - National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Background: Minority AIDS Initiative for behavioral research in communities of color
Program Level Request: National Children's Study
Funding Level Request: $194,400,000
Background: The National Children's Study is the largest long-term study of children's health and development ever conducted. It will follow over 100,000 children from before birth to age 21, in order to determine the risks and causes of many complex childhood and ongoing diseases, such as asthma, diabetes, obesity, and autism. $194.4 million provided in fiscal year 2011 will allow the Study to sustain progress as planned.
Program Level Request: Sickle Cell Service Demonstration Program
Funding Level Request: $100,000,000
Background: Provides grants to create treatment centers to provide medical treatment, education and other services for persons with Sickle Cell Disease patients pursuant to P.L. 108-357. Funding this national program will improve the lives of SCD patients through disease management programs to help them live longer, healthier lives while supporting research toward a comprehensive cure and providing community education about this disease and its treatment options.
Program Level Request: State Paid Leave Fund
Funding Level Request: $50,000,000
Background: President Barack Obama's proposed State Paid Leave Fund will provide competitive grants to help states launch paid leave programs by covering startup costs for information technology, staffing, and program operating budgets. The proposed $50 million of funding is necessary to effectively seed new state paid leave programs, while giving states the flexibility to develop programs based on the needs of their states' working families.
Program Level Request: TRIO
Funding Level Request: $1,003,000,000
Background: TRIO serves students from low-income families in which neither parent earned a college degree. Currently, TRIO serves approximately 836,000 low-income, first-generation students in every state and territory in the nation. TRIO provides the critical academic, financial, social, and cultural supports for students that might not otherwise pursue or complete higher education. The College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007 provided $57 million annually in mandatory funds to support nearly 200 Upward Bound programs through academic year 2010-2011. In order to preserve the current number of Upward Bound programs in academic year 2011-2012
(956 total), preventing the loss of services to approximately 12,000 students, Congress must increase Upward Bound's discretionary funding by $57 million in FY 2011. Additionally, new requirements for the Talent Search program included in the Higher Education Opportunity Act significantly increase estimated per-student costs from $393 to $1,200. Greater investments are also needed for TRIO programs to keep pace with the rising costs of services and staffing. An increased investment of $150 million for a total appropriation of $1.003 billion will help ensure that TRIO programs continue providing first-generation students with these vital, life changing services.
Program Level Request: Transfer to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria
Funding Level Request: $300,000,000
Background: The Global Fund is an innovative and effective development financing model designed to combat HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. It has quickly become one of the most successful tools in the world to fight these three diseases that combined kill approximately 5 million people per year. Since 2003, the Global Fund has helped provide antiretroviral therapy for more than 2.5 million people and palliative care and prevention services for millions more. It has also placed 6 million people on tuberculosis treatment and provided 104 million bed nets to prevent malaria. The United States is a founding contributor and ongoing Board Member of the Global Fund.
(in alphabetical order)
Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners - Department of Water Resources
684 Winder Highway
Lawrenceville, GA 30045
Project: Gwinnett Water Production Division Security Enhancements
Funding Request: $1,000,000
Background: This project will integrate with an existing telementry network used for operation and control of Gwinnett's water production and delivery system. This project will enhance existing security system to prevent vandalism and terrorist attacks. This project is shovel-ready, and could likely be completed by the end of 2010. As it stands today, the project includes Access Control, closed circuit TV (CCTV), and Video Analytics. Video Analytics will supplant the need for many of the planned CCTVs at all locations simply due to coverage overlap. It provides the latest technology and interface capability with Public Safety agencies and eliminates the need for a separate security staff to constantly watch monitors.
Georgia Institute of Technology
225 North Ave., NW
Atlanta, GA 30332
Project: Secure Global Supply Chain Initiative
Funding Request: $3,700,000
Background: Building on DHS' current investments in cargo security technology developed through the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI), this pilot will test advanced container security and tracking capabilities across a global supply chain that begins at the Port of Savannah and includes key partners in the EU and China. GTRI successfully delivered advanced container security technology to DHS in 2009. This pilot would allow for the next stages of testing and evaluation, working together with international partners in the public and private sector, and examining the technical and operational protocols required to respond to alarms in the shipping process. This pilot will test technology based on open standards, allowing maximum industry participation and supporting the best possible technical solutions.
(in alphabetical order)
PROJECT REQUESTS
City of Atlanta, Department of Watershed Management
55 Trinity Avenue
Suite 5400
Atlanta, GA 30303
Project: ATLANTA ENVIRONMENTAL INFRASTRUCTURE, GA
Funding Request: 5,000,000
Background: Funding will be spent on water and sewer infrastructure work. The proposed relief system will allow the flow volume, typically stored on surface streets, to enter the collection system. Excess flow volume would be diverted and captured in a deep tunnel system for later treatment and release.
City of Atlanta, Department of Aviation
6000 North Terminal Pkwy
Atrium Suite 4000
Atlanta, GA 30350
Project: Atlanta International Terminal LEED Certification
Funding Request: $450,000
Background: The Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is planning a new international terminal to accommodate significant growth in international traffic. Funding will assist the Airport in meeting Atlanta's initiative to minimize the environmental impacts of City facilities and will be used to design the "Maynard Holbrook Jackson Jr. International Terminal" to LEED Certification standards.
Spelman College
350 Spelman Lane, S.W.
Box 1551
Atlanta, GA 30314
Project: Environmental Sustainability and Policy Institute
Funding Request: $396,000
Background: The proposed Environmental Sustainability and Policy Institute will provide environmental sustainability education and outreach efforts for Spelman and Atlanta University Center students, the Spelman community. It will also coordinate environmental sustainability and policy workshops and training opportunities for students, faculty, and MSIs in the Southeast region and provide resources to faculty and policymakers in the areas of environmental policy and sustainability. The goal of this program is to produce graduates who will pursue careers that will positively impact environmental sustainability policy and its impact on health disparities.
Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District
40 Courtland Street, NE
Atlanta, GA 30303
Project: METROPOLITAN NORTH GEORGIA WATER PLANNING DISTRICT, GA
Funding Request: $3,000,000
Background: Any federal funding would be used to fund construction of conveyance systems to connect both existing and planned water and wastewater infrastructure and facilities, as well as to study and formulate projects relating to water supply, flood control, and other water quality improvements.
Local governments throughout the District's 15-county area (Bartow, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb,
Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Fulton, Forsyth, Gwinnett, Hall, Henry, Paulding, and Rockdale Counties, Georgia) are required to implement the District's three water resource plans in order to receive permits from GA EPD. It is estimated that more than $75 billion will be spent over the next 30 years to implement the plans.
Morehouse College
830 Westview Dr. SW
Atlanta, GA 30314
Project: Morehouse College Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Initiative
Funding Request: $10,000,000
Background: Construct and design a facility to house the Martin Luther King, Jr. papers. This project will preserve the national treasure that is Dr. King's legacy, and help to put Dr. King's message and social impact in historical and present-day contexts.
Georgia Ports Authority
P. O. Box 2406
Savannah, GA 31402
Project: SAVANNAH HARBOR EXPANSION, GA
Funding Request: $2,000,000
Background: The funding is requested for a construction general new start for the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project to deepen the Savannah River Navigation Channel from a depth of 42 feet up to a depth of 48 feet.
(in alphabetical order)
PROJECT REQUESTS
Georgia State University
P.O. Box 3965
Atlanta, GA 30302
Project: Center for Vaccine Scale-Up/Process Research
Funding Request: $1,700,000
Agency: Research, Development, Test And Evaluation, Army (RDTE,A)
Account: 28 (0602787A) Medical Technology
Background: The Center for Vaccine Scale-up and Process Research of Georgia State University requests funding to develop technologies to rapidly develop vaccines/biologics of interest to the military.
Two areas have been identified as critical bottlenecks in accelerating the development process and for supplying sufficient quantities of effective recombinant vaccines in a timely manner: (1)Transition from the laboratory to manufacturing and (2)Rapid assessment and validation of the impact of changes during scale-up and implementation to the manufacturing processes. FY2011 funding would be used to develop a cGMP pilot vaccine facility, available to multiple discovery groups that will be used to develop Turn Key approaches to vaccine development through workforce training and research.
Morehouse College
830 Westview Drive, SW
Atlanta, GA 30314
Project: John H. Hopps Defense Research Scholars Program
Funding Request: $3,000,000
Agency: Research, Development, Test And Evaluation, Defense-Wide (RDTE,DW)
Account: 8 (0602228D8Z) Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Science
Background: This research scholars program is designed to advance core federal missions and Defense Department goals to increase the participation of minority students in emerging scientific and technology fields. The program identifies top tier high school students and places them in a rigorous program in the Division of Science and Mathematics that includes one-on-one mentoring, a summer educational and research program, and challenging internships at top research institutions, with the goal of placing them in doctoral programs on a track to work in the national laboratories.
Georgia Institute of Technology
250 14th St
Atlanta, GA 30332
Project: Maritime ISR Technology Center (MISRTC)
Funding Request: $6,000,000
Agency: Research, Development, Test And Evaluation, Defense-Wide (RDTE,DW)
Account: 211 (0304210BB) Special Applications for Contingencies
Background: Intelligence indications show a myriad of maritime threats to our Nation's most vital interests. Maritime threats ranging from unmanned maritime systems to suicide divers/swimmers could be used in an asymmetric manner against maritime assets, defense critical maritime infrastructure (e.g., ports, pipelines, undersea cables), or otherwise be employed to disrupt maritime operations. As a result of these unconventional threats, Maritime ISR (MISR) has emerged as a critical form of naval warfare confronting the United States, and technology advances are needed to counter potential threats before they escalate and impede our Nation's maritime operations.
The ability to interoperate between maritime systems and land-based systems is becoming an ever more important aspect of MISR. In addition to conducting operations on land and sea, MISR has incorporated elements of air operations to rapidly deliver assets and/or forces. The capacity to operate seamlessly across naval warfare's three diverse mediums of sea-land-air is essential. This ability to operate across mediums will allow for a more dynamic and responsive force that is able to counter unconventional threats.
A Maritime Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance Technology Center (MISRTC) is needed to investigate, develop, demonstrate, and rapidly deploy/counter advances in MISR. This includes investigating evolving maritime threat capabilities, demonstrating low-tech and high-tech modifications to defeat potential defensive measures, demonstrating effective response to threat indications and warnings, exploring countermeasure options, providing insights into the capabilities and shortfalls of systems of record, proposing gap fillers, rapidly instantiating emerging technologies, and fostering interagency information exchange and collaboration.
The purpose of this initiative is to establish the MISRTC. This unique facility and integrated test range will focus on technologies for multi-medium sea-land-air systems, ocean engineering and design tools, littoral water surveillance, and advances in unmanned maritime systems. MISRTC will address the development and demonstration of advanced sensors, innovative maritime defensive systems, and new techniques for maritime measurement, modeling, prediction, and data exploitation. MISRTC will investigate unique approaches to in situ and remote collection, processing, and presentation of information from and about the maritime operational environment.
Clark Atlanta University
223 James P. Brawley Dr., SW
Atlanta, GA 30314
Project: Nanoscience and Biotechnology Laboratories and Research Program
Funding Request: $2,000,000
Agency: Research, Development, Test And Evaluation, Defense-Wide (RDTE,DW)
Account: 8 (0602228D8Z) Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Science
Background: Funds are requested to support the enhancement of the nanoscience and biotechnology research effort at Clark Atlanta University (CAU) in mission critical areas for the Department of Defense and several other agencies; specifically, in the development of sensors (chemical and biological pathogen detection), advanced materials, and bio-nanotechnology solutions (drug delivery and therapeutics). Highly specialized laboratory equipment will be purchased and some minor laboratory upgrades will be performed in addition to developing and training the future science and technology (students) workforce for DoD.
Georgia Institute of Technology
250 14th St
Atlanta, GA 30332
Project: Technology Development for Quiet Tactical UAV
Funding Request:
Agency: Research, Development, Test And Evaluation, Defense-Wide (RDTE,DW)
Account: 211 (0304210BB) Special Applications for Contingencies
Background: This project would help the DOD develop a quieter UAV. From 2000 the number of UAVs used by the Department of Defense has grown from less than 50 to over 6000 as of May 2008 with the majority of the UAVs entering into service in the theaters of Iraq and Afghanistan. The real time imagery provided by these unmanned aerial systems has become an indispensible tool to the warfighter. Growth has been particularly strong in the tactical UAV area, where tactical UAVs are those which are operated by Special forces and other lower echelon units. Aircraft in this class have been used almost exclusively in an ISR (intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance) role.
While often providing actionable intelligence to commanders on the ground, and being the most effective weapon against the Taliban as quoted by a Taliban commander, their utility is often limited by the fact that these UAVs are easily detected by their radiated noise. UAV's in this class have been optimized for endurance, cost, and payload with effectively no consideration of noise built into the design. The combined propeller and engine noise can be audible by an observer on the ground at a distance much further than the onboard sensors can detect humans on the ground. This problem is exacerbated for the Special Operations community who often operate at night where larger optical payloads are required (to capture longer wavelengths) and where the background noise is lower. This provides persons of interest on the ground some time to react before the UAV can provide imagery of the subjects which in turn reduces the utility of the UAV.
Program Level Request: Kidney Cancer
Funding Level Request: Increase President’s Budget by $15,000,000
Background: The National Cancer Institute has found that the rate of usage of VA facilities by veterans diagnosed with kidney cancer increased by over 26%, double the amount of the general population.
Program Level Request: Multiple Sclerosis Research Program (MSRP)
Funding Level Request: Increase President’s Budget by $15,000,000
Background: Preliminary evidence suggests that combat veterans could have an increased risk of developing Multiple Sclerosis (MS).
A study in the Annals of Neurology identified 5,345 cases of MS among US veterans that were deemed service-connected. The number of service-connected cases was a significant increase from previous studies.
An epidemiologic study found an unexpected, two-fold increase in MS between 1993 and
2000 in Kuwait, which suggests an environmental trigger.
Staff at the VA's MS Center of Excellence in Baltimore, MD, has noted the need to further study the increased incidence of MS among combat veterans.
A 2004 report entitled Scientific Progress in Understanding Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses: Report and Recommendations, from a study group commissioned by the VA, suggests more research must be done on the potential link between MS and combat service. Approximately 200,000 veterans who are being treated at the VA have a diagnosis of MS; 5,345 of these veterans' illnesses have been deemed service-connected, as noted above. The VA is currently funding two MS Centers of Excellence to provide clinical care and education for these veterans. Current warfighters may face similar neurotoxin exposure.
Program Level Request: Peer-Reviewed Neurotoxin Exposure Treatment Parkinson's Research Program
Funding Level Request: Increase the President’s budget by $55,000,000
Background: At a time when additional pressure is placed on the warfighter, NETPR-funded research is working to discover the causes, diagnosis, and treatments for Parkinson's disease.
Understanding how neurotoxin exposures occur, the incidence of disease afterwards, and how these conditions may be effectively prevented, treated, or cured will allow the Department of Defense (DoD) to better protect military personnel and minimize the risk of future exposures. The scientific findings from biomedical research conducted through NETPR provides DoD with innovations in materiel design, avoidance protocols for unnecessary harmful exposures, and neuroprotective drugs to prevent damage in the first place, which will considerably improve military readiness. Furthermore, the early detection of nerve cell loss caused by such toxic exposures may provide DoD with better methods of evaluating warfighter performance and faster ways of detecting potential impairments.
Program Level Request: Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Research Program
Funding Level Request: Increase President’s budget by $15,000,000
Background: Created in 2001, the Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Research Program (TSCRP) was established within DOD to “encourage innovative research aimed at understanding the pathogenesis of TSC and improving its diagnosis and treatment.” TSC is a genetic condition that afflicts an estimated 50,000 Americans, causing tumors in the the kidneys, lungs, liver, eyes, skin, and brain, which can lead to seizures, autism and mental retardation. From fiscal years 2002 to 2010, Congress appropriated an aggregate of $29.5 million to the Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Research Program (TSCRP) at DOD. The TSCRP is a national program designed to fulfill a national objective -- finding a cure for TSC.
Funds appropriated to this program are awarded to researchers around the country through a competitive, peer-reviewed process. Research on TSC is having a significant impact on our understanding of epilepsy, autism, cancer and diabetes, and the TSC program at DOD is critical to ongoing progress.
(in alphabetical order)
PROJECT REQUESTS
The University of Georgia, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
101 Connor Hall
Athens, GA 30602
Project: Cotton Insect Management and Fiber Quality, GA
Recipient: The University of Georgia, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
Funding Request: $500,000
Background: The overarching goal of this project is to improve the overall quality, value, and profitability of Georgia cotton. Stink bugs and other insect pest populations significantly damage fiber quality by feeding on developing cotton balls. Control strategies are being developed to control potentially damaging populations of stink bugs and other emerging or introduced pests on cotton fiber quality.
Georgia growers planted more than 950,000 acres of cotton in 2009 with a value approaching $600 million in lint and seed alone. While cotton acreage nationwide has decreased 45% since 2005, Georgia's cotton production continues to remain steady. Growers have benefited immensely from boll weevil eradication and development and evaluation of transgenic cultivars; however, stink bugs and other piercing/sucking insect pests are rapidly increasing under these new management regimes and may imperil our ability to continue economically producing high-quality cotton fiber. Research clearly shows that these insect pests directly reduce seed cotton yield, gin turn-out, and fiber brightness while increasing fiber yellowness. The proposed research will increase profitability and maintain fiber quality through development of better insect sampling techniques, implementation of research-based management thresholds, improved understanding of the biology ecology of these emerging insect pests, improved pesticide management, and continued strong extension programming. Results from these studies will enable Georgia cotton producers to remain competitive in domestic and world cotton markets.
Studies in 2011 will include evaluating the environmental conditions required for stink bugs to enter and exit reproductive diapause, a study on the timing of planting date and stink bug arrival, stink bug feeding behavior on individual plants, efficacy of a newly discovered stink bug natural enemy, continuation of a farmscape-wide investigation of stink bug movement through common crop rotations, studies on the transmission of boll rot pathogens by stink bugs, and development of a quicker sampling plan for making treatment decisions. We will also investigate the mechanism of spider mite outbreaks and how to reduce these infestations. Information will be transferred to the cotton community in the Southeast through extension outreach and publications. Supporting cotton production will stimulate economic growth and create employment in economically challenged regions of Georgia and throughout the Southeast.
Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District
40 Courtland St., NE
Atlanta, GA 30303
Project: Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District
Recipient: Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District
Funding Request: $3,000,000
Background: Local governments throughout the District's 16-county area (Bartow, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglass, Fayette, Fulton, Forsyth, Gwinnett, Hall, Henry, Paulding, Rockdale and Walton Counties, Georgia) are required to implement the District's three water resource plans in order to receive permits from GA EPD. It is estimated that more than $75 billion will be spent over the next 30 years to implement the plans.
USDA/ARS National Peanut Research Lab, Dawson, GA
1011 Forrester Drive, SE
Dawson, GA 39842
Project: Water Use Reduction, Dawson, GA
Recipient: USDA/ARS National Peanut Research Lab, Dawson, GA
Funding Request: $480,000
Background: This joint project (USDA-ARS Dawson and University of Georgia) will evaluate and develop methods for the use of highly effective Subsurface Drip Irrigation (SSDI) systems in row crops. The goal is to develop management criteria for row crop producers to maximize the impact of subsurface drip irrigation on their operations while increasing water use efficiency and water conservation. By utilizing efficient SSDI row crops, growers' economic returns will improve which will greatly benefit U.S. rural economies.
In-field SSDI research projects will be initiated in major row crop areas of Georgia. These projects will span a minimum of 3 years and will demonstrate SSDI installation, ease of use, water savings, crop yield response, and economics. Plant growth, health, and maturation as well as soil moisture characteristics in various drip irrigation systems will be monitored and treatments imposed to identify best management practices for weed, insect, and disease challenges with SSDI drip irrigation.
Use of drip irrigation in row crops is not limited to Georgia. Knowledge gained in the project will be very applicable to other agricultural regions in the U.S. Water conservation while producing sustainable yields is of interest nationally.
PROGRAM LEVEL REQUEST
Program Level Request: Animal Fighting Enforcement and other Responsibilities
Funding Level Request: $90,000,000
Background: We appreciate the Committee’s inclusion of funding and language in recent years for USDA’s OIG to focus on animal fighting cases. Congress first prohibited most interstate and foreign commerce of animals for fighting in 1976, tightened loopholes in the law in 2002, established felony penalties in 2007, and further strengthened the law as part of the 2008 Farm Bill. We are pleased the USDA is taking seriously its responsibility to enforce this law, working with state and local agencies to complement their efforts to address these barbaric practices, in which animals are drugged to heighten their aggression and forced to keep fighting even after they have suffered grievous injuries. Dogs bred and trained to fight endanger public safety, and some dogfighters steal pets to use as bait for training their dogs. Cockfighting was liked to an outbreak of Exotic Newcastle Disease in 2002-2003 that costs taxpayers more than $200 million to contain. It’s also been linked to the death of a number of people in Asia reportedly exposed through cockfighting activity to bird flu. Given the potential for further costly disease transmission, as well as the animal cruelty involved, we believe it is a sound investment for the federal government to increase its efforts to combat illegal animal fighting activity. We also support OIG’s auditing and investigative work to improve compliance with the humane slaughter law and downed animal rules and the Horse Protection Act.
Program Level Request: Animal Welfare
Funding Level Request: $22,333,000
Background: We commend the Committee for responding in recent years to the urgent need for increasing funding for the Animal Care division to improve its inspection of more than 12,000 sites, including commercial breeding facilities, laboratories, zoos, circuses, and airlines, to ensure compliance with AWA standards. Under the 2008 Farm Bill, Congress established a new responsibility for this division – to enforce a ban on imports from foreign puppy mills where puppies are mass produced under inhumane conditions and forced to endure harsh long-distance transport. Animal Care currently has 115 inspectors (with 2 vacancies to be filled), compared to 64 inspectors at the end of the 1990s. An appropriation at the requested level would maintain FY10 funding with a modest increase to cover pay costs and help ensure that the agency can provide adequate oversight of the increasing number of licensed/registered facilities.
Program Level Request: Commodity Supplemental Food Program
Funding Level Request: $17,678,800
Background: The commodity Supplemental Food Program is a critical nutrition program that delivers U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) commodities primarily to seniors, and mothers and children. In this time of economic hardship, reliance on nutrition assistance is greater than ever. CSFP is an important component of our nutrition efforts because it reaches many seniors who qualify for no other programs while providing delivery for those that are homebound.
CSFP provides 600,000 food packages each month in 39 states (including seven new states as a direct result of your action in FY10), the District of Columbia, and 2 Indian Tribal Organizations. This year 96 percent of the participants are elderly individuals with an income at or below $14,079. CSFP food packages are designed to supplement needed sources of nutrients typically lacking in participant’s diets, including protein, iron, zinc, and vitamins B-6 and B-12. CSFP providers also have been very cost efficient: the typical food package has a retail value up to $50 but costs the federal government less than $20 per participant package.
Program Level Request: Emergency Management Systems/Disaster Planning and Response for Animals
Funding Level Request: $1,017,000
Background: Hurricanes Katrina and Rita demonstrated that many people refuse to evacuate if they are forced to leave their pets behind. The Animal Care division has been asked to develop infrastructure to help prepare for and respond to animal issues in a disaster and incorporate lessons learned from previous disasters. These funds are used for staff time and resources to support state and local governments’ and humane organizations’ efforts to plan for protection of people with animals, and to enable the agency to participate with FEMA, in the National Response Plan without jeopardizing other Animal Care programs.
Program Level Request: Humane Slaughter - HMSA
Funding Level Request: $3,000,000
Background: We request that $2 million be allocated out of the $3 million in Human Animal Tracking funding for the purpose of hiring and training a mobile review team to conduct unscheduled audits and undercover surveillance focused assessing compliance with humane handling rules of live animals as they arrive and are offloaded and handled in pens, chutes, and stunning areas.
Program Level Request: Horse Protection
Funding Level Request: $900,000
Background: Congress enacted the HPA in 1970s to make illegal the abusing practice of “soring” in which unscrupulous trainers use a variety of methods to inflict pain on sensitive areas of Tennessee Walking Horses’ hooves and legs to exaggerate their high-stepping gait and gain unfair competitive advantage at horse shows. For example, caustic chemicals – such as mustard oil, diesel fuel, and kerosene – are painted on the lower front legs of a horse, then the legs are wrapped for days in plastic wrap and tight bandages to cook the chemical deep into the horse’s sore legs. Additional tactics include inserting foreign objects such as metal screws or acrylic between a heavy stacked shoe and the horse’s hoof; pressuring shoeing – cutting a horse’s hoof down to the sensitive live tissue to cause extreme pain every time the horse bears weight on the hoof; and applying painful chemicals such as salicylic acid to slough off scarred tissue, in an attempt to disguise the sored areas. Though soring has been illegal for 40 years, this cruel practice continues unabated by the well intentioned but seriously understaffed APHIS inspection program. Several Horse show industry groups, animal protection groups, and the key organization of equine veterinarians have called for funding increases to enable the USDA to do a better job enforcing this law. To meet this goal of the HPA, Animal Care inspectors must be present at more shows. Exhibitors who sore their horses go to great lengths to avoid detection, even fleeing a show when the USDA inspectors arrive. But with current funding, Animal Care is able to attend only about 6$ of the more than 500 Tennessee Walking Horse shows held annually. An appropriation at the requested level will help provide for additional inspectors, training, security (to address threats of violence against inspectors), and advanced detection equipment (thermography and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry machines).
Program Level Request: Investigative & Enforcement Service
Funding Level Request: $14,213,000
Background: We appreciate the Committee’s consistent support for this division, which handles many important responsibilities, including the investigation of alleged violations of federal animal welfare laws and the initiation of appropriate enforcement actions. The volume animal welfare causes is rising significantly as new facilities become licensed and registered. An appropriation at the requested level would maintain FY09 funding with a modest increase to cover pay costs.
Program Level Request: Veterinary Student Loan Forgiveness
Funding Level Request: $5,000,000
Background: This program received $2,950,000 in FY2009, $4,800,000 in FY10, and was projected to need $5,000,000 in its third year under the CBO score to accompany authorization. We appreciate that the Congress is working to address the critical shortage of veterinarians practicing in rural and inner-city areas, as well as in government positions at FSIS and APHIS. A 2009 Government Accountability Office report enumerating the challenges facing veterinary medicine identified that an inadequate number of veterinarians to meet national needs is among the foremost challenges. A 2006 study demonstrated that the acute and worsening shortage of veterinarians working in rural farm animal practice, while domestic pets in both rural and urban areas are often left without necessary medical care. Having adequate veterinary care is a core animal welfare concern. To ensure adequate oversight of humane handling of food safety rules, FSIS must be able to fill vacancies in inspector positions. Veterinarians also support our nation’s defense against bioterrorism (the Centers for Disease Control estimate that 75% of potential bioterrorism agents are zoonotic – transmitted from animals to humans). They are also on the front lines addressing public health problems such as those associated with pet overpopulation, parasites, rabies, chronic wasting disease, and bovine spongiform encephalopathy (“mad cow” disease). Veterinary school graduates face a crushing debt burden of $130,000 on average, with an average starting salary of $65,000. For those who choose employment in underserved rural or inner-city areas or public health practice, the National Veterinary Medical Service Act authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to forgive student debt. It also authorizes financial assistance for those who provide services during federal emergency situations such as disease outbreaks.
Congressman Hank Johnson, who represents Georgia's Fourth Congressional District and serves in the House leadership as Regional Whip for the Southeast, issued the following statement upon passage in the U.S. House of Representatives of legislation reforming the nation's health care and insurance system:
“Years from now, we will wonder what all the fuss was about,” said Johnson.
“This historic bill will be remembered with Social Security, Medicare, Civil Rights and the GI Bill as evidence of American progress and humanity. It protects Americans from health insurance company abuses, reins in spiraling insurance rates, insures 32 million more Americans and is projected to reduce the deficit substantially over the next two decades.
This is a victory for America’s working families. It is our responsibility to protect hard-working Americans and their children. No family should go bankrupt because of illness.
Today, we have honored our obligation to them with this historic vote on health care reform.”
###
(in alphabetical order)
Clark Atlanta University - Nanoscience and Biotechnology Laboratories and Research Program
Funds are requested in the amount of $2,000,000 to support the enhancement of the nanoscience and biotechnology research effort at Clark Atlanta University in mission critical areas for the Department of Defense.
GA Tech - Technology Development for Quiet Tactical UAV
From 2000 the number of UAVs used by the Department of Defense has grown from less than 50 to over 6000 as of May 2008 with the majority of the UAVs entering into service in the theaters of Iraq and Afghanistan. While often providing actionable intelligence to commanders on the ground, and being “the most effective weapon against the Taliban” as quoted by a Taliban commander, their utility is often limited by the fact that these UAVs are easily detected by their radiated noise. UAV’s in this class have been optimized for endurance, cost, and payload with effectively no consideration of noise built into the design. The combined propeller and engine noise can be audible by an observer on the ground at a distance much further than the onboard sensors can detect humans on the ground. This problem is exacerbated for the Special Operations community who often operate at night where larger optical payloads are required (to capture longer wavelengths) and where the background noise is lower. This provides persons of interest on the ground some time to react before the UAV can provide imagery of the subjects which in turn reduces the utility of the UAV. There is a present and pressing need for tactical UAVs which can carry out ISR missions undetected in quiet environments. This project will develop technology which can be used to quiet both present tactical UAVs as well as be integrated into a new ultra quiet UAV. Trade studies have shown that it will be necessary to integrate many of the quieting technologies into a single platform in order to achieve the desired level of noise reduction.
GA Tech - Maritime ISR Technology Center (MISRTC)
The purpose of this initiative is to establish the Maritime Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Technology Center (MISRTC). This unique facility and integrated test range will focus on technologies for multi-medium sea-land-air systems, ocean engineering and design tools, littoral water surveillance, and advances in unmanned maritime systems. MISRTC will address the development and demonstration of advanced sensors, innovative maritime defensive systems, and new techniques for maritime measurement, modeling, prediction, and data exploitation. MISRTC will investigate unique approaches to in situ and remote collection, processing, and presentation of information from and about the maritime operational environment.
Maritime threats ranging from unmanned maritime systems to suicide divers/swimmers could be used in an asymmetric manner against maritime assets, defense critical maritime infrastructure (e.g., ports, pipelines, undersea cables), or otherwise be employed to disrupt maritime operations. As a result of these unconventional threats, Maritime ISR has emerged as a critical form of naval warfare confronting the United States, and technology advances are needed to counter potential threats before they escalate and impede our Nation’s maritime operations.
Morehouse College, John H. Hopps Defense Research Scholars Program
This John H. Hopps Defense Research Scholars Program is designed to advance core federal missions and Defense Department goals to increase the participation of minority students in emerging scientific and technology fields by identifying top tier high school students and placing them in a rigorous program in the Division of Science and Mathematics that includes one-on-one mentoring, a summer educational and research program, and challenging internships at top research institutions, with the goal of placing them in doctoral programs on a track to work in the national laboratories.
The Hopps program will continue to build upon collaborative partnerships developed with the national labs and defense contractors that provide meaningful research and educational opportunities for undergraduate minority students to increase the diversity of the STEM workforce. This is consistent with stated Federal missions aimed at increasing minority participation in the defense research sciences, as well as increasing the number of American born and educated research scientists with doctoral degrees in areas of expertise that are key to the defense industry.
Georgia State - Center for Vaccine Scale-Up/Process Research
The Center for Vaccine Scale-up and Process Research of Georgia State University requests funding to develop technologies to rapidly develop vaccines/biologics of interest to the military. Two areas have been identified as critical bottlenecks in accelerating the development process and for supplying sufficient quantities of effective recombinant vaccines in a timely manner: (1)Transition from the laboratory to manufacturing and (2)Rapid assessment and validation of the impact of changes during scale-up and implementation to the manufacturing processes. FY2011 funding would be used to develop a cGMP pilot vaccine facility, available to multiple discovery groups that will be used to develop “Turn Key” approaches to vaccine development through workforce training and research.
Congressman urges colleagues to sign his letter ensuring disadvantaged businesses participate in Recovery:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Hank Johnson (D-GA) participated in a Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) hearing on March 17 to deal with the unacceptably high unemployment rates in communities of color.
“Out of Work But Not Out of Hope: Addressing the Crisis of the Chronically Unemployed” focused on the fact that African-American and other communities of color have significantly higher rates of unemployment than the national average.
Although Johnson has been encouraged by Recovery Act investments throughout the Fourth District – and particularly in funds for jobs training – the Congressman said he is not satisfied.
“I’ve been optimistic in my work with President Obama and Congress that we can and will turn this economy around,” said Johnson. “We’ve done some good work, but more needs to be done.”
To address disparities detailed in a new report from the Transportation Equity Network that finds minority contractors have received just 2 percent of Recovery highway infrastructure funds, Johnson is gathering signatures on a letter to Transportation secretary Ray LaHood demanding more accountability.
According to the report, as of December 11, 2009, just $986 million of the $48 billion in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds designated to highway projects via state Departments of Transportation have been committed to Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs).
“To say these figures are disappointing is an understatement,” said Johnson. “As Congress continues to focus upon creating jobs in this country, we are determined to ensure that minority and disadvantaged businesses share in the recovery.”
Johnson said he hopes a hearing will be held on the matter and fully expects LaHood to address not only his concerns, but the concerns of the CBC and co-signers of his letter.
Members of the Congressional Black Caucus have also teamed with Education and Labor Chairman George Miller to craft several key provisions in the “Local Jobs for America Act” that directly addresses the needs of the chronically unemployed, such as:
• Targeting funding to community-based organizations serving communities with poverty rates of 12 percent and/or unemployment rates that are 2 percent or more than the national average.
• On-the-job training for thousands seeking new skills for a new economy.
• Targeting those communities hit hardest by the recession especially the chronically unemployed and underemployed.
• Support for programs that retrain, rehire and hire teachers, law enforcement officers and firefighters
Johnson, who serves as Southeast Regional Whip, urges colleagues to pass Health Care Reform
- WASHINGTON -- Congressman Hank Johnson, who serves in the House leadership as Regional Whip for the Southeast, urged Democratic colleagues on Monday to unite behind President Obama’s plan for health care reform.
“Now is the time for unity. It’s time to bring home affordable health care for the American people,” said Congressman Johnson. “This has been a century coming. Americans who are sick should get the care they need, free from unnecessary fear of destitution or death.”
Passage of comprehensive reform, expected later this week, would mark a historic moment in American history.
President Theodore Roosevelt attempted progressive reform of health care while seeking re-election in 1912, but was defeated. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt attempted to pass health care reform in the mid-1930s, but was unable to surmount industry opposition. President Bill Clinton attempted to pass health care reform in 1993, but that effort was stymied by the insurance industry.
Legislation to be considered by Congress this week would ban abusive insurance practices, reform health care delivery to rein in skyrocketing premiums, and cover over 30 million uninsured Americans.
House leadership expects a vote on final passage of the legislation later this week.
###
Congressman joins CBC colleagues at White House, urges focus on 'chronically unemployed':
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Johnson and Congressional Black Caucus colleagues joined President Obama at the White House on Thursday to discuss the urgency of America’s unemployment crisis, especially for minority communities and the chronically unemployed.
AP PHOTO (Alice Keeney): Hank and President Obama arrive in Savannah, GA, on Air Force One - March 2, 2010.
Rep. Johnson acknowledged that President Obama inherited an economy on the brink of collapse and that concerted efforts to avert a depression and stabilize the economy had been successful. But he insisted that the country will face a long-term, chronic unemployment crisis unless further steps are taken to support sustained economic growth.
“We averted disaster and stabilized the economy,” said Johnson. “But that’s not enough. The task at hand is to promote a robust, inclusive recovery. African-American and Latino communities are still reeling. We need to focus our efforts on the most vulnerable Americans.”
Rep. Johnson and his Congressional Black Caucus colleagues have focused in 2010 on direct and targeted job creation and training for the chronically unemployed.
In February, the rate of unemployment for African Americans was 15.8 percent, compared with 12.4 percent for Hispanics and 8.8 percent for whites (Bureau of Labor Statistics, March 5, 2010.)
Johnson and members of the CBC said summer jobs for young people must also be part of our direct job creation efforts. Such programs immediately put people on a payroll at a low cost and at $2,000 per job, would provide 1 million summer jobs for $2 billion.
Finally, Johnson emphasized to the President the importance of ensuring that minority businesses have a fair opportunity to access Recovery Act funds and federal grants.
Health care also on the table
Rep. Johnson told the President that his constituents support immediate passage of comprehensive health care reform. As Regional Whip for the Southeast, Rep. Johnson serves in the House leadership and is involved in efforts to ensure there are sufficient votes to pass a reform bill.
“Mr. President, it is time to set aside our difference and unite behind health care reform. You have my support,” said Johnson.
Some solutions on jobs
Other essential elements of a comprehensive jobs package should include, but not be limited to:
● Creating public jobs initiatives, involving the Department of Labor Employment & Training Administration and the Corporation for National and Community Service, to maximize direct training and hiring.
● Locally directed funding for Summer Youth Employment; collegiate -level internships and/or fellowships; and apprenticeship programs.
● Enforcing the minority contracting requirements under the Department of Transportation; promoting equal access to funding for projects of the National Significant and National Corridor grants in the extension of SAFETEA-LU; and strengthening apprenticeship and training programs.
● Expanding unemployment insurance and COBRA benefits.
● Providing access to capital and technical assistance to capital for small business from SBA and MBDA.
###
El Congresista advierte a los residentes de estafas en el Censo:
Washington, D.C. - Hoy, el Representante Johnson instó a los residentes del Cuarto Distrito y a todos los georgianos a completar su formulario del Censo de 2010. El censo es una herramienta vital de la democracia estadounidense que afecta a todas las comunidades en todo el país.
Los resultados del Censo determinarán la forma en la que más de $ 445 mil millones en fondos federales - para todo, desde escuelas hasta carreteras y centros para ancianos- serán distribuidos entre los gobiernos estatales, locales y tribales en la próxima década. También afecta a la representación en el Congreso y el Colegio Electoral.
"Nuestra comunidad no puede permitirse el lujo de desperdiciar fondos y programas federales cruciales ", dijo el Congresista Johnson. "Con el fin de obtener una parte justa de la financiación para nuestra comunidad, debemos contar con todo el mundo. Nuestras escuelas, bibliotecas, centros comunitarios y muchos otros programas importantes, todos dependen de los resultados del Censo”.
El censo de 2000 tuvo un 67 por ciento en la tasa de respuesta nacional, con un subregistro estimado de más de 3 millones de personas. Según un informe reciente de PriceWaterhouseCoopers, las zonas más afectadas por la subestimación del Censo perdieron cerca de 2.913 dólares por persona en incontables fondos federales.
"Espero que todos se unan a mí para llenar el formulario del Censo", dijo Johnson. "Es la mejor manera de ayudar a nuestra comunidad, nuestras escuelas y nuestros hijos. Únase a mí – pónganse de pie para ser contados. "
Como ocurre con otros esfuerzos públicos, los residentes de Georgia deben ser cuidadosos con estafas y falsos Censos que intentan recabar información personal. La Oficina del Censo ha recibido quejas sobre correos engañosos que incluyen sobres marcados "Censo" e incluyen un "código de seguimiento de censo." La gente debe revisar todos los envíos con cuidado para asegurarse que son realmente de la Oficina del Censo. Documentos oficiales de la Oficina del Censo nunca le pedirá su número completo de seguro social, dinero o una donación, los códigos PIN, contraseñas o información de acceso similares a las tarjetas de crédito, bancos u otras cuentas financieras. Además, la Oficina nunca enviará peticiones en nombre de un partido político. Si los residentes sospechan de un correo, pueden contactar la oficina del Representante Johnson, la Oficina del Censo, o la oficina del Director General de Correos.
El Censo del 2010 es uno de los más cortos en la historia de EE.UU., que consta de sólo 10 preguntas. El Censo se realiza cada 10 años y consta de preguntas sobre el número de personas que viven en su casa y alguna información demográfica acerca de ellos.
Para obtener información adicional acerca del Censo, por favor llame a la oficina del distrito del Representante Johnson al 770-987-2291 o visite http://2010.census.gov.
Congressman warns residents of fake Census scams:
Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. Johnson urged fellow residents of the Fourth District and all Georgians to fill out their 2010 Census form. The Census is a vital tool of American democracy that impacts every community across the country.
The results of the Census will determine how more than $445 billion in federal funds – for everything from schools to roads to senior centers – are distributed to state, local, and tribal governments over the next decade. It also affects representation in Congress and the Electoral College.
“Our community can’t afford to lose out on crucial federal funds and programs,” said Congressman Johnson. “In order to get our fair share of funding for our community, we must count everyone. Our schools, libraries, community centers and so many other important programs all rely on Census results.”
The 2000 Census had a 67 percent national response rate, with an estimated undercount of more than 3 million people. According to a recent PriceWaterhouseCoopers report, areas most affected by Census undercounting lose about $2,913 per uncounted person in federal funding.
“I hope you all join me in filling out the Census form,” said Johnson. “It is the best way to help our community, our schools, and our children. Join me – stand up and be counted.”
As with other public efforts, Georgia residents should be wary of fake Census scams that attempt to collect personal information. The Census Bureau has received complaints about deceptive mailings that include envelopes marked “Census” and include a “census tracking code.” People should review all mailings carefully to ensure that they are indeed from the Census Bureau. Official Census Bureau documents will never ask for your full social security number, money or a donation, PIN codes, passwords or similar access information for credit cards, banks or other financial accounts. Also, the Bureau never sends requests on behalf of a political party. If residents are suspicious of a mailing, they can contact Rep. Johnson’s office, the Census Bureau, or the Postmaster General’s office.
The 2010 Census is one of the shortest in U.S. history, consisting of only 10 questions. The Census is conducted every 10 years and consists of questions about the number of people living in your home and some demographic information about them.
For additional information about the Census, please call Rep. Johnson’s district office at 770-987-2291 or visit http://2010.census.gov.
###
$12.2 million in federal stimulus money announced for state transit; $2.2 million for MARTA to help Atlanta metro system fill widening budget gap:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Monday, Congressman Johnson and Vice President Joseph Biden announced that Georgia will receive more than $12 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds for transit projects throughout the state.
MARTA, which is grappling with a $120 million budget deficit, will receive $2.26 million for its cash-strapped operating budget. The funds are part of more than $98.5 million MARTA has received under the Recovery Act since 2009 – which includes $55.4 million in Transit Capital Assistance, $25 million in Flexed Highway infrastructure (via ARC), $10.8 million in TIGGER funds and $7.4 million in Fixed Guideway Infrastructure.
“I’m pleased to help Georgia access the federal funds we need to stabilize the economy, create jobs, and lay the foundations for long-term growth,” said Johnson. “These funds will not only create jobs in our community, they will help Fourth District residents who rely on MARTA to get to school, work, the grocery store, and the doctor’s office.”
Last summer, Congress enacted a provision that allows up to 10 percent of the ARRA Transit Capital Assistance funding allocated to an urbanized area to be used for general operating assistance, which is how MARTA will be using these funds.
MARTA CEO Beverly Scott was pleased by the announcement.
“We are extremely appreciative for the national leadership and support we receive from Congressman Hank Johnson and other members of Georgia’s Congressional delegation to help ensure that we receive our fair share of federal economic stimulus funding,” said Scott. “While not a permanent solution, these federal stimulus dollars have been critical to helping us maintain transit service this year.”
The $2.26 million in ARRA funding received by MARTA in the grant this week represents a portion of the $3.13 million in ARRA Transit capital Assistance formula funding originally programmed for Clayton County last spring. When Clayton County decided to terminate transit service effective March 31, 2010, based on FTA guidance, their $3.13 million allocation was reallocated, in accordance with the regional policy, to the other active public transit operators/grant recipients in the Atlanta Urbanized Area, including Cobb and Gwinnett counties and GRTA, in addition to MARTA.
###
Dear Friends,
Greetings! It’s been a very productive and busy week. I had the pleasure of flying to Savannah this week on Air Force One with President Obama to see firsthand the benefits the Recovery Act in Georgia. Let history judge us not by the ups and downs of the partisan fray, but by the long-term effects of our policies. The Recovery Act has stabilized a crisis and laid the foundations for growth. I am proud to be President Obama’s partner in this historic effort to revitalize the economy.
INVESTMENT IN THE FOURTH – While more than $200 million in American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds have been invested in the Fourth District, much work remains. There are encouraging signs that we’re making progress – manufacturing grew for the 7th straight month, growth in the service sector accelerated to its fastest rate in more than two years and consumer spending rose a half percent and is up for a fourth straight month.
Here at home, it’s reflected in the fact that stimulus funds are being used so DeKalb Technical College can train and employ more than 220 first responders and Goodwill Industries can train more than 200 residents for green jobs. It shows up in the hundreds of jobs created by the Recovery Act for road, bridge and intersection improvement projects throughout the district and the fact that the ARRA is also putting more than 5,000 Georgians back to work through the Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS). Employers can receive an 80 percent wage subsidy for hiring workers under the program using funds from Recovery Act. Click here for more information about job openings.
HEALTH CARE REFORM AND SENIORS – I was pleased this week to sign a letter urging House leadership to protect Medicare in a stand-alone bill. Last week, the House took an important step in reforming the health insurance industry by removing the industry’s longstanding anti-trust exemption. Our letter urges Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Hoyer to follow that effort by passing the following provisions in H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act:
● Closing the Medicare Part D Donut Hole
● Drug Price Negotiation
● No-Cost Preventative Care
These provisions will strengthen and protect Medicare for our nation’s seniors, and will provide them with real financial relief during these difficult economic times. Regardless of our efforts to pass comprehensive health care reform, we should come together in a bipartisan way and pass these provisions to ensure that seniors get the relief they deserve.
PRESIDENT OBAMA’S WAY FORWARD ON HEALTH CARE – President Obama’s proposal includes the best ideas from across the political spectrum. Now it is time for Congress to unite and pass reform once and for all. This is about lowering premiums, reducing the deficit and covering the uninsured. By expanding coverage and providing subsidies for low-and-middle income Americans, we will make our system fairer and spread risk so the poor and sick get the care they need. By rewarding care that makes Americans healthier, not care that maximizes profits, we will control premium costs.
JOBS FOR TEENS – Recovery funds are also being used by Georgia DHS to employ youth aged 14-18 for summer jobs that pay $8.50 an hour. The program, Georgia TeenWork, not only help teach our kids valuable job skills, but help jump-start the state economy as well. For more, click here or call 1-888-884-4712. Also, I signed a letter this week urging more funding for Jobs Corps, which for 45 years has employed nearly 3 million of the nation’s most vulnerable youth who have turned to Job Corps to secure the job skills they need to start a bright career.
SAVING OUR HOMES, NEIGHBORHOODS – The R.O.C. (Revitalization of Communities) initiative is offering free seminars March 8-11 to individuals and families interested in becoming a homeowner through the Rockdale County Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP). For more details regarding the seminars, click here. You can also contact Rockdale County NSP Coordinator Tanesha Lanier by phone at 770-278-7141 through e-mail. The seminars are free and open to the public and do not require pre-registration. And please don’t forget a similar effort in DeKalb on March 27 and April 17 at the Porter Sanford Center. To register for these seminars, click here.
RACE TO THE TOP – The President has launched the 2010 Race to the Top High School Commencement Challenge that invites the nation’s public schools to compete for the opportunity to welcome President Obama as their 2010 commencement speaker. The challenge is designed to recognize high schools with effective strategies for reducing the number of dropouts, promoting college and career readiness and encouraging college enrollment in support of meeting the President’s goal of producing the highest proportion of college graduates in the world by 2020. For more details, click here. Good luck!
GEORGIA PUBLIC BROADCASTING AWARD – I was pleased to see that Georgia Public Broadcasting was recognized by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting for its innovative Project ExPreSS (Exam Preparation for Science and Social Studies), which brings together the Georgia Department of Education and Georgia Public Broadcasting to assist high school students with their summer remediation classes. Congratulations to GPB, which has demonstrated a great dedication to meeting the educational needs of its local community.
Discurso presidencial en el Colegio Técnico de Savannah para resaltar la creación de trabajos en Georgia:
Savannah—El Congresista Johnson viajó en el Fuerza Aérea Uno a Savannah, Georgia, con el Presidente Obama, quien ofreció un discurso resaltando el impacto positivo del Acta de Recuperación y Reinversión (ARRA).
El Congresista Johnson se unió a la caravana Presidencial al Colegio Técnico de Savannah (Savannah Technical College) donde el Presidente Obama discutió el impacto positivo del Acta de Recuperación en Georgia y en todo el país.
Antes de su salida a Georgia, el Representante Johnson dijo: “La historia nos juzgara no por los altos y bajos de una contienda entre partidos, sino por los efectos a largo plazo de nuestras políticas. El Acta de Recuperación ha estabilizado la crisis y sembrado los fundamentos para el crecimiento. Me siento orgulloso de ser un aliado del Presidente Obama en su esfuerzo por revitalizar la economía”
En meses recientes, el Acta de Recuperación ha creado y salvado trabajos en el Cuarto Distrito Congresional de Georgia, el cual el Congresista Johnson representa.
El Colegio Técnico de Dekalb (DeKalb Technical College) recibió recientemente el subsidio “Servicio de Salud y Entrenamiento Laboral de Alto Crecimiento” (“Health Care and High Growth Job Training”) por $2 millones de dólares para enseñar a más de 220 estudiantes habilidades criticas como personal de respuesta inmediata para el Hospital de Grady y para los bomberos del condado de Rockdale.
Las Industrias de Goodwill en Decatur, Georgia, anunciaron recientemente que entrenarán a más de 200 empleados en trabajos verdes gracias al subsidio “Senderos fuera de Pobreza” (“Pathways Out of Poverty”) financiado por el Acta de Recuperación.
La empresa de paneles solares Suniva en Norcross, Georgia, esta usando fondos del estimulo para contratación en parte gracias a $5.7 millones de dólares en recortes de impuestos del Acta de Recuperación.
La seguridad pública del condado de Rockdale recibió $178,000 dólares en fondos de recuperación para apoyar la aplicación de la ley y mantener oficiales en las calles.
El Congresista Johnson fue el primer miembro del Congreso por Georgia en apoyar al Presidente Obama y fue vice-presidente de la campaña del Presidente Obama por el estado.
WASHINGTON – Today, Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA) testified before a House Budget Committee hearing.
Jobs, economy, foreclosure prevention, public safety, transportation top concerns for Johnson
“I strongly urge this Committee to give high priority to economic recovery and job creation, foreclosure prevention, viral hepatitis funding, justice programs to decrease recidivism, and transportation and infrastructure.
I applaud the President’s budget request of $100 billion for a jobs package to spur economic growth to help put Americans and Georgians back to work. We must invest in programs that help laid-off workers and their families until they find new jobs.
Foreclosure prevention programs are also essential. I support the President’s request for more than $350 million in foreclosure prevention programs.
I also urge the full funding of the Second Chance Act, the COPS Program, and Bryne Justice Grant Program to combat crime and reduce recidivism.
Further, substantial funding is necessary for mass transit and infrastructure programs. Investing in mass transportation and infrastructure projects will create jobs, allow people who want to work an option for getting to work, and will ultimately revitalize our economy by creating jobs.”
####
U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson represents the 4th Congressional District of Georgia, which includes parts of DeKalb, Rockdale and Gwinnett counties in metro Atlanta. He serves as Chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts and Competition Policy.
Presidential address at Savannah Technical College to highlight job creation in Georgia:
SAVANNAH – Congressman Hank Johnson flew aboard Air Force One this morning to Savannah, Ga., with the President, who is delivering an address to highlight the positive impact of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).
Congressman Johnson joined the Presidential motorcade to Savannah Technical College, where President Obama is discussing the positive impact of the Recovery Act in Georgia and across the country. Prior to departing for Georgia, Rep. Johnson said: “History will judge us not by the ups and downs of the partisan fray, but by the long-term effects of our policies. The Recovery Act has stabilized a crisis and laid the foundations for growth. I am proud to be President Obama’s partner in this historic effort to revitalize the economy." In recent months, the Recovery Act has created and saved jobs in Georgia’s Fourth Congressional District, which Congressman Johnson represents.
|
|
DeKalb Technical College recently received a $2 million “Health Care and High Growth Job Training” grant to teach more than 220 students critical skills as first responders for Grady Hospital and Rockdale County Fire Rescue.
Goodwill Industries in Decatur, Ga., recently announced that it will train more than 200 workers for green jobs thanks to a “Pathways Out of Poverty” grant funded by the Recovery Act.
Solar panel manufacturer Suniva in Norcross, Ga., is using stimulus funds to hire thanks in part to $5.7 million of Recovery Act tax credits.
Rockdale County public safety received $178,00 in Recovery funds to support law enforcement and keep officers on the streets.
Congressman Johnson was the first Member of Congress from Georgia to endorse President Obama and served as the President’s campaign co-chair for the state.
###
