Below is a list of Projects for the 4th Congressional District and North Carolina that was included at my request in the Fiscal Year 2008 Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (H.R. 2641). That bill eventually formed part of the end-of-the-year Consolidated Appropriations Act (Public Law 110-161).

Project: UNC Collaborative Initiative in Biomedical Imaging
Funding: $ 984,000
Description: Funding for the purchase of advanced imaging equipment to enable the development of new tools for the diagnosis and treatment of complex diseases such as diabetes, cancer and heart disease. A collaborative initiative among UNC-Chapel Hill, North Carolina State University and UNC-Charlotte is underway to apply state-of-the-art medical imaging technologies to understand how diseases relate to each individual’s genetic map.

Project: Integrated Biomass Refining Institute
Funding: $ 984,000
Description: Funding for the creation of an institute at NC State University focused on developing North Carolina’s rural-based, renewable biomass resources to reduce dependence on foreign energy sources and stimulate economic growth.

Project: Wilmington Harbor Deepening Project
Funding: $ 3,806,000
Description: Funding for the Army Corps of Engineers to continue the deepening of Wilmington Harbor, allowing the port to dock the largest freight ships and bring additional jobs and tax revenue to the state. I joined other members of the NC delegation in requesting this project.

Project: Manteo Bay Maintenance Dredging
Funding: $ 8,550,000
Description: Funding for the Army Corps of Engineers to conduct dredging and widening in order to maintain the navigability and safety of the Oregon inlet. I joined other members of the NC delegation in requesting this project.

Project: Nanostructured Materials for Safe and Clean Alternative Energy
Funding: $ 984,000
Description: Funding for research at NC State University focused on producing clean, safe, and renewable energy using nanotechnology, including molecular photovoltaics and chemical and photochemical processes. This funding will help establish NC State as a leader in the cutting-edge area of nanotechnology research and development.

Project: Consortium for Plant Biotechnology Research*
Funding: $ 3,936,000
Description: Funding for continued plant biotechnology research by the Consortium, with a focus on the conversion of biomass into renewable energy sources. NC State University is a member of the Consortium for Plant Biotechnology Research along with other research institutions.

*Denotes project that was requested by numerous Members of Congress from various states.