Funding Requests for 2010 Fiscal Year Budget
Each year my office receives dozens of funding requests from local law enforcement officials, nonprofit organizations, colleges and universities, municipalities and others throughout the 6th Congressional District. A majority of those requesting funding in the upcoming 2010 fiscal year budget are involved in projects that will help keep communities safe, aid in our national defense and improve the overall quality of life in the district.
Increasing transparency
Requests for funding in the federal budget are commonly referred to as earmarks. Criticism of the Congressional earmarking process has intensified over the past several years despite the efforts of both Republicans and Democrats to reform the process. I believe that all Congressional earmarking should be suspended until the federal budget deficit is cut in half. However, until all Members of Congress agree to suspend earmarks, I will not put my constituents in the 6th District at a competitive disadvantage by unilaterally suspending applications. We are however striving to create the most open, accountable, and competitive process. This Web page is intended to increase the transparency of the budget process and make constituents aware of the type of projects requesting aid.
Citizens Earmark Advisory Board
Members of Congress have responded to the public’s demand for reform. The House Republican Conference requires its members to submit letters stating that the funding requests would not directly benefit lawmakers or their immediate family. And GOP members must provide certification letters explaining the projects requesting funding. This year, I have taken an additional step of creating a Citizens Earmark Advisory Board. The board represents a diverse cross-section of the 6th District, including business owners, school board members, emergency services providers, a union leader, nonprofit group leaders, among others. Board members have reviewed the funding requests that will be submitted during the 2010 Fiscal Year budget process and provided valuable insight into which funding requests should be submitted. They objectively made recommendations on which requests should not be submitted, and I have acted accordingly and honored their recommendations. In short, I want to make sure the people in my district know that these are good projects and that they have been properly vetted.
List of Funding Requests
The following organizations have requested funding in the 2010 federal budget. The requests list the name and location of the group requesting funds and the proposed use of federal aid.
Agriculture
• Camphill Special School, Glenmoore PA - $750,000 requested for central location for the school’s “Transition Program” for 18-21 year olds. The focus of this program is to help these students develop skills and assimilate into everyday life.
• Rodale Institute, Kutztown PA - $349,347 requested for crop-rotation research to improve air, soil and water quality.
Commerce, Justice and Science
• Alvernia University, Reading PA - $500,000 requested to form a partnership with the Reading Police Academy, and create a high-tech laboratory, which will be used by the Academy to train police officers and criminal justice students in investigation techniques for white collar, internet and cyber crime.
• Berks County Emergency Response Team, Exeter Township, PA - $350,000 requested to buy armored vehicle and other equipment to provide safe approach to dangerous scenes.
• Cabrini College, Radnor PA - $250,000 requested for a project that will focus on the impact of domestic violence on children and ways that school personnel can help provide support to students affected by domestic abuse.
• Delaware County Community College’s Institute for Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, Media PA - $332,100 requested for education programs that reflect the best practices among police officers, firefighters, medical, and emergency management service personnel. The Institute assists with NIMS compliance, and other regulations for first responders.
• KidsPeace Delaware/Chester Counties Therapeutic Foster Care Program, Orefield, PA - $350,000 requested to start a therapeutic foster care program in the Delaware/Chester County region. The program will provide community-based placement to children involved with or at risk for involvement with the juvenile justice system, and provide safe and supportive homes to children.
• Police Athletic League of Norristown, Norristown PA - $92,500 requested to support the continued delivery of programs to youth ages 5-18 through the Norristown PAL Center.
• Spring Township Police, Reading PA - $90,000 requested for video cameras for each of the department’s patrol vehicles.
• St. Joseph’s University, Philadelphia, PA - $750,000 requested to support and develop an interdisciplinary approach to dealing with crisis violence and create a state-of-the-art strategy for violence prevention in the communities of Pennsylvania.
• Valley Forge Military College, Cadet STEM Education & Training Initiative, Wayne PA - $450,000 requested for upgrade science laboratory instrumentation for cadets who demand a targeted and technologically advanced training to prepare for military career goals.
Defense
• Analytical Graphics, Inc. (AGI) COTS Technology for Space Command and Control, Exton, PA - $4 million requested to refine existing COTS technologies to make them completely applicable for space command and control programs. The funds will enable development and demonstrations of various COTS technologies for integrated space command and control.
• Arkema, King of Prussia PA - $4 million requested to develop lightweight, breathable clothing resistant to chemical and biological agents.
• Bally Ribbon Mills, Bally PA - $3 million requested to develop a technology and machine to produce 3D bias woven composite structures for aerospace applications.
• Cerus Corporation, Bala Cynwd, PA - $5.1 million requested for blood safety and decontamination technology development.
• Environmental Tectonics Corporation, Southampton PA - $5 million requested to develop and test the Joint Strike Fighter [JSF] Authentic Tactical Fighting System ATFS-400-JSF.
• Fidelity Technologies Corporation, Reading PA - $2.5 million requested for “Paladin” Institutional Maintenance Trainer Upgrade.
• Global Seating Systems LLC, Exton PA - $3 million requested for next generation helicopter seating.
• Global Seating Systems LLC, Exton PA - $5 million for next generation troop seating.
• Morphotek, Exton PA - $4.75 million requested for potent human monoclonal antibodies against BoNT A, B and E suited for mass production and treatment of large populations.
• Rajant, Malvern PA - $5.9 million requested for portable mobile emergency broadband systems.
• Silicon Power, Malvern PA - $1.5 million requested for Electromagnetic Gun Initiative.
• St. Joseph’s University Early Responders Distance Learning Center (ERDLC), Philadelphia PA - $1.25 million requested to provide operational forces, military and civilian first responders, and civilian law enforcement personnel with current information to properly detect, deter, prevent, defeat, mitigate, and respond to life threatening incidents, including natural disasters and intentional acts.
• Video Ray, Phoenixville PA - $3 million requested to develop and demonstrate autonomous inspection and EOD neutralization security ROV system for the US Navy.
• Widener University, Chester PA - $2 million requested for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Related Conditions in Combat Veterans Initiative. Funds would utilize exposure therapies, including biofeedback, to treat combat veterans with anxiety-related disorders.
Energy and Water
• The Delaware River Basin Commission, West Trenton NJ -- $715,000 requested to implement critically important water resources management projects and activities in the national interest.
• The Electric Power Research Institute, Palo Alto, CA - $1 million requested to develop ultra fast power processor for Smart Grid. Silicon Power located in Malvern, PA is a partner on this project.
• Borough of Pottstown, Pottstown PA - $200,000 to allow the Army Corp of Engineers to study flooding problems along Manatawny Creek.
• Topton Borough, Topton PA - $150,000 requested to allow the Army Corps of Engineers to study flooding problems along Toad Creek.
• Valley Forge Watershed Association, Norristown PA - $100,000 to allow the Army Corp of Engineers to study flooding problems along Stony Creek in Norristown
Financial Services
• Delaware County Community College’s Small Business Solution Center, Media PA - $375,000 requested to hire an Assessment Specialist to work with small business owners who participate in the Center’s program; create a paid internship/co-op program for students working with small business owners; offer professional development opportunities to entrepreneurship educators; and provide students with memberships to entrepreneurship associations.
• West Chester University’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Center, West Chester PA - $258,000 requested to create the Entrepreneurial Leadership Center, which will sponsor faculty-lead teams of students to provide the expertise start-up small businesses need to succeed; at the same time, students will learn the skills they need to become entrepreneurs. The project will encourage the development of emerging small businesses.
Interior and Environment
• Downingtown Water Enhancement Program, Downingtown PA - $1.6 million requested to replace all of the 4-inch lines in the borough and construct a new water tower for a larger source of water storage. The water intake source at times needs to be cut off at times in order to stop the flows of contaminants during periods of high runoff and quick thaws in the water.
• Hopewell Furnace National Park, Elverson PA - $210,000 to allow the Army Corps of Engineers study flooding at the park and determine ways to mitigate the problem.
• Phoenixville Water Infrastructure program, Phoenixville PA - $1.8 million requested to retrofit the Borough’s water plant.
• City of Reading Wastewater Treatment Plant, Reading PA - $2.5 million requested for upgrades to address environmental issues as required by Department of Justice Consent Decree.
• Schuylkill River Valley National Heritage Area, Pottstown PA - $1 million to build regional identity, the Schuylkill River Trail construction and promotion, the Heritage Area Gateway System, the Schuylkill River Heritage Area Interpretive Center design and installation, the Schuylkill River Restoration Fund and management support and operation.
• Valley Forge Park, King of Prussia PA - $500,000 requested to build 718 linear feet of paved connector trail and a 10’x100’ bridge spanning Valley Creek.
Labor, Health and Human Services and Education
• Chester County Hospital, West Chester PA - $1 million requested for new building adding 72 inpatient beds, and will allow the hospital to centralize and upgrade surgical facilities and services.
• Chester County Historical Society, West Chester PA - $200,000 requested to promote better public understanding of today’s world through historical perspectives.
• CONCERN Treatment Unit for Boys, Coatesville Campus, Coatesville PA - $400,000 requested for esidential/educational facility expansion increasing the capacity of clients served to meet a pressing need in the Commonwealth for more bed space in semi-secure facilities before more restrictive settings are needed.
• Devereux Center for Effective Schools, King of Prussia PA - $250,000 requested for school-wide positive behavior support for at-risk youth in Reading School District.
• Downingtown Library Company & Downingtown Area Senior Center Building Campaign, Downington PA - $500,000 requested to redevelop an existing mill building on the former Sonoco Paper property. This forms an important civic hub for the community as well as the proposed River Station redevelopment project.
• Elmwood Park Zoo, Norristown PA - $150,000 requested to improve the care and management of the animals and add a winter exhibit for jaguars.
• Harcum College, Bryn Mawr PA - $700,000 requested to provide mentoring and training to science teachers, and expand the health sciences at Harcum.
• I-LEAD, Reading PA - $250,000 requested to support guidance and transition services for students, recruitment and training of faculty and site partners, and enhanced alumni communication. The program seeks to connect employers and students.
• Musicopia, Philadelphia PA - $200,000 requested to bring an interactive music program to 20 schools throughout the 6th Congressional District and to the Norristown Police Athletic League (PAL) summer and after-school program.
• National History Day, College Park MD - $5,000 requested for promoting teaching and learning history for students in grades 6-12 in the 6th District.
• Neuman College, Aston PA - $450,000 requested for Pharmacy Education for Workforce Development in Aston and Phoenixville.
• Phoenixville Education Foundation, Phoenixville PA - $165,400 requested to provide remedial summer and afterschool programming for students in grades K-12 who are not proficient in math and reading on the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment.
• Phoenixville Public Library, Phoenixville PA - $157,000 requested to update the library’s collection.
• Reach Out and Read, Boston MA - $46,591 requested for programs in the 6th District that partner with doctors and nurses to promote reading by providing new books to children growing up in low-income households.
• Reading Area Community College, Reading PA - $1 million requested to upgrade science laboratories for training students in health and technology related careers.
• The Reading Hospital and Medical Center, West Reading PA - $250,000 to acquire a PET/CT unit for advanced diagnostic images.
• Reading Is Fundamental, Washington DC - $25,299 requested for programs in the 6th District aimed at improving children’s literacy and reading abilities.
• The Speaker’s House, Trappe PA - $291,000 requested to educate and engage the public on the issues of the day, by hosting community conversations at local schools and community centers.
Transportation, Housing and Urban Development
• BARTA, Reading PA - $400,000 requested for the design, engineering and construction required to rehabilitate, restore and develop the historic Reading Railroad Franklin Street Station located next to the BARTA Park-N-Transit Facility.
• Borough of Boyertown and Building a Better Boyertown, Boyertown PA - $750,000 requested for Boyertown Main Street streetscape improvements project.
• Borough of Downingtown, Downingtown PA - $1 million requested to build Boot Road Bridge over the Brandywine Creek, which will provide access to Chester County’s lone Keystone Opportunity Zone.
• Limerick Township, Limerick PA - $1 million to improve the Sanatoga Interchange, which lies at the intersection of U.S. Route 422 and Evergreen Road, and to Airport Road, east of the Interchange on U.S. Route 422.
• Montgomery County Community College, Pottstown, PA - $1 million to renovate facilities on campus to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards, and install a green roof to be used as a laboratory.
• Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Harrisburg PA. $1 million for traffic improvements to Route 222, Papermill Road and Broadcasting Road that will result from the development of the Reading Hospital’s “Spring Ridge Campus” on the Tulpehocken Tract in Spring Township.
• Borough of Phoenixville, Phoenixville PA - $1 million requested for new sidewalks, lights, and pavers. The project is part of the Borough’s overall redevelopment plan.
• City of Reading, Reading PA - $250,000 requested for construction of the Reading-Berks Research and Technology Center, the centerpiece of a planned research zone along Route 183.
• Riverplace Development Corporation, Reading PA - $300,000 requested for The Penn Corridor Redevelopment Project to make the downtown areas of Reading, West Reading and Wyomissing clean, safe, lively and attractive.
• SEPTA, Philadelphia PA - $1 million requested for the Ardmore Transit Center.
• SETPTA, Philadelphia PA - $1 million requested for the Paoli Transportation Center.
• Borough of Sinking Spring Revitalization Committee, Sinking Spring PA - $750,000 requested to reconstruct and realign congested intersections along Penn Avenue, and to construct a parallel street to improve traffic flow for economic development activities.
Requests to Extend Previously Approved Funding
The following projects have been approved in previous fiscal years, but need an extension of time to utilize the funding.
• City of Coatesville, Coatesville PA - The extension would allow for the repair and restoration of the Coatesville Train Station.
• Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, Philadelphia PA - The extension would allow for the establishment of commuter rail service along the Route 422 corridor.
