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Inglis releases list of funding requests
(March 28, 2008)
U.S. Rep. Bob Inglis released Friday his list of 16 federal funding requests for projects in South Carolina.
Inglis said, “We were asked to support over 65 projects. In the end, I decided to submit 16 of those for consideration by the Appropriations Committee. The 16 advance a national security objective supported by the Department of Defense or meet my criteria of (1) advancing economic development (2) having a local match and (3) having a federal nexus.”
Inglis’ list of requests appear on the Fourth District website.
Inglis said he supports a one-year moratorium on earmark requests, saying that the moratorium would give the Congress the opportunity to improve the process. “Requests should be transparent; they should be submitted for full vetting by the Appropriations Committee; they should not be “air dropped” at the last minute; and members of Congress should expect to be asked to justify each request.”
Inglis acknowledged that some members of Congress have decided to unilaterally forgo requests, but said he sees little being gained from “unilateral disarmament.”
“By fully disclosing my requests and proceeding in regular order, I can meet my office’s obligation to earmark reform. Forgoing requests won’t cause others to do the same; only a rule change will do that. I support that rule change. In the meantime, I’m acting consistent with the needed reforms.”
In FY08, Inglis requested $155.67 million and received $13.9 million (9%) for projects.
Appropriations: Complete FY09 Projects Requested
Using the criteria of:
- Economic development
- Local match
- Federal nexus
U.S. Rep. Bob Inglis presented the following opportunities to the following appropriations subcommittees for FY09:
Defense
Power Dense Transmissions (Timken)
- $1.6 million requested
- Defense research; local match not applicable
- Will help Army develop gear material system for helicopter power transmissions to enable them to carry more power and torque for longer periods of time.
Advanced Carbon Fiber Research and Testing Initiative (Cytec)
- $3 million requested
- Defense research; local match not applicable
- Funding would be used to install a manufacturing line for high performance PAN carbon fibers required by the military to produce efficient manned and unmanned air and space vehicles as well as for use in missile and satellite components.
Light-Weight Reversible Camouflage Netting (Milliken)
- $2.3 million requested
- Defense research; local match not applicable
- Funding would be used to conduct research on behalf of the US Marine Corps, focused on replacing the carbon-loaded paste RAM technology currently used with an intrinsically conducting polymer (ICP) coated textile. The ICP coated textile will then be assembled into a composite that provides multi-spectral signature reduction in a single systems design for both desert and woodland environments.
Hospital of the Future Program (Spartanburg Regional)
- $3.5 million requested increase
- Defense research; local match not applicable
- The overarching research goals of this project are to: decrease care delivery costs for the Department of Defense and Veterans Administration; improve patient safety through proactive elimination of medical errors; improve the transfer of medical information between care givers and patients; improve patient access to care through electronic health management; and improve the environment of care for both the patient and the provider.
Hydrogen Batteries for Warfighter (Gecko Energy/University of South Carolina)
- $6.5 million requested
- Defense research; local match not applicable
- Will work in conjunction with USC to create hydrogen batteries in order to reduce the weight burden for warfighters. Reducing this burden has become increasingly critical in long duration missions where multiple batteries are needed.
Energy & Water
Clemson University Cyberinstitute
- $6 million requested
- $5.55 million match available from Clemson, $1.5 million from State of SC, $2.1 million from private partners plus in-kind donations of computational infrastructure equipment on a dollar-for-dollar basis
- The Clemson University Cyberinstitute (CUCI) project will assist research universities around the State of South Carolina to perform scientific research in nanotechnology, bioinformatics/computational biology, environment/ecology and global climate change. The project links South Carolina to a nation-wide backbone of world-class university research, industry partners and cutting-edge technology entrepreneurs. CUCI will serve as a conduit for a virtual research campus that brings together cyber resources and strengths from each of South Carolina's research institutions, including Clemson University, the Medical University of South Carolina, and the University of South Carolina.
Clemson University Cellulosic Biofuel Pilot Plant
- $5 million requested
- $1.5 million match available from Clemson, $500,000 from private partners
- Funds would be used to construct and operate a pilot plant at a brownfield industrial site in Charleston, SC to scale-up commercially viable technology for the conversion of cellulosic feedstocks from the coastal plains to biofuels and other higher value products. Clemson University partnered with the Savannah River National Lab, SC State University, & SC Bio.
Financial Services
Upstate Advanced Technology Campus Regional Robotics Center - Building 1
- $1.7 million requested
- $455,000 match available from City of Union and Union County, $350,000 from SCDOC grant
- The facility would offer specific training (hydraulics, pneumatics, electronics, robotic software and diagnostics) for the automotive, aerospace, rail, and super precision industries. The building will be used by Union County, the University of South Carolina - Union, and Spartanburg Community College to develop a highly-skilled workforce. Also supported by Timken, LSP, and Sunoco.
Foreign Operations
Childhood Blindness
- Requested the following bill language
- The Committee remains concerned that 1.5 million children are currently blind, and another 7 million suffer from poor vision. The Committee recommendation includes not less than $5,000,000 for childhood blindness programs in fiscal year 2009. The Committee is also aware of the work done by CBM [Christian Blind Mission, Greenville, SC] and other organizations to assist these children, who can often be helped through simple and inexpensive methods of prevention and low cost care.
Interior & Environment
Improved Access to Sumter National Forest Resources in Union County
- $250,000 requested
- US Forest Service project; local match not applicable
- The funding would be used to improve recreational access to Sumter National Forest resources according to the Forest Service adaptive management plan. The US Forest Service will repair and upgrade facilities upon the Broad, Tyger and Enoree Rivers in Union County, SC and improve signage and mapping to allow better access for visitors.
Maple Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade and Expansion
- $500,000 requested
- Matched by State Revolving Loan Fund - $12.9 million
- The Maple Creek Plant is nearing capacity due to the growth of Greer, SC. Additionally, federal regulations require Maple Creek upgrade its processes in order to secure a reliable, and safe water supply.
Transportation, HUD
Statewide Federal Aid Bridge Replacement Program (SCDOT)
- $5 million requested
- At least 20% local match provided by SCDOT
- Funding would help replace functionally obsolete or structurally deficient bridges. The SCDOT request includes a list of 15 statewide bridge projects, prioritized.
Statewide Interstate Rehabilitation Program (SCDOT)
- $5 million requested
- At least 20% local match provided by SCDOT
- Funding would allow interstates to be preserved, reconstructed, or rehabilitated. These routes are ranked in priority order based on daily traffic (ADT) volumes, length of the project, and the condition of the road.
SC 9 Interchange Improvements in Spartanburg (SCDOT/SPATS)
- $2 million requested
- At least 20% local match provided by SCDOT, Appalachian COG and SPATS
- Would include the widening of SC 9 from SC 292 to Rainbow Lake Road to a 5 lane highway with curb and gutter sections, pedestrian and bicycle facilities, and enhancements.
Spartanburg Downtown Airport
- $2.37 million
- Up to $2.86 million match available from the City of Spartanburg
- Funding would be used to construct a new aircraft apron parking area in an effort to increase economic development in the area by modernizing facilities and services . Meets FAA requirements for federal funding; the FAA - Atlanta Airports District Office is in support of the project and working closely with the Spartanburg Downtown Airport on a funding plan.
Salters Road Expansion Along I-85 (SCDOT/GPATS)
- $2 million
- $1.74 million match available from the City of Greenville
- Expand road and bridge across I-85 to facilitate movement along innovative business and educational corridor that includes CU-ICAR, Millennium Park, and the planned South Financial Headquarters.