Thursday January 29, 2009
Responsible Funding for Idaho Projects
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| Idaho Projects Archives |
| FY 2009 Budget |
See also: As a member of the Senate Budget Committee,
I strongly support controlling
federal spending to ensure that federal tax dollars are used in a responsible and appropriate manner. I am a long-time advocate for accountability in the congressional budget and funding processes. As a steward of taxpayer dollars, the federal government has a responsibility to ensure those funds are allocated carefully and in a manner that serves the American people.
In my service as U.S. Senator, I am a strong advocate for the interests of Idahoans at the local and federal level. I look to promote the interests of Idahoans and Idaho institutions throughout the federal government and seek opportunities to address their needs. Idahoans have a great deal to contribute to our nation in a number of ways. It is my hope that that federal support for Idaho projects can help provide to betterment of communities and lives of Idahoans and people throughout the country.
When the federal government allocates money, it is spending your money--tax dollars collected from throughout Idaho and the rest of the country. That is why it is important that there be accountability in the congressional budget and funding processes.
While the majority of the federal budget is allocated to non-discretionary programs like Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and repaying the federal debt, with a further amount devoted to defense and homeland security, about one-third of it is directed through the congressional appropriations process each year. When Congress approves funding for a certain project, it is allocating a specific amount of taxpayer dollars to be spent by a designated agency or an existing program. They represent worthy state and local projects.
Idahoans can contribute to developing our economic strength in local communities, advancing national security, promoting health and justice, improving the environment, improving education, and many other fields. Every year, organizations throughout Idaho ask for my assistance in securing federal funding for specific Idaho and regional projects and programs. These kinds of projects can include improvement to a local city wastewater system to meet federal standards, funding for a state highway project that will increase safety, matching funds for a school safety program and many, many others. It is my hope that the federal support for Idaho projects can better communities and the lives of Idahoans and people throughout the country.
Because Idahoans can and do contribute to our nation, it is important that advocacy of Idaho initiatives be done in a manner that meets the following criteria:
- Reflects fiscal responsibility in use of federal funds.
- Adds value to Idaho communities, critical research efforts, or to the general understanding of important issues, and is consistent with Idaho priorities.
- Federal assistance is appropriate for the project.
- Provides a national benefit or is consistent with ongoing national efforts.
You will find a listing of the projects for Fiscal Year 2009 (October 1, 2008-September 30, 2009) that I have successfully advocated for below. To review an archive with project funding for previous fiscal years, please visit the Responsible Funding For Idaho Archive page.
Defense and Military |
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Defense Projects |
Approved Federal Assistance |
Year |
3-D Technology for Advanced Sensor Systems |
$1,440,000 |
FY09 |
5.56mm Aluminum Cartridge Case |
$1,000,000 |
FY09 |
AB-FIST Trainer Upgrade |
$1,000,000 |
FY09 |
Accelerator-Driven Non-Destructive Testing |
$2,000,000 |
FY09 |
Acoustic Research Detachment Large Scale Vehicles Operations Enhancement |
$480,000 |
FY09 |
Acoustic Research Detachment Test Support Platform Upgrade |
$1,500,000 |
FY09 |
Advanced Continuous Active Sonar for Large Unmanned Undersea Vehicles |
$2,500,000 |
FY09 |
Composite Bottles for Survival Egress Air |
$2,000,000 |
FY09 |
Disaster Response: Communications and Other Infrastructure Restoration |
$4,000,000 |
FY09 |
DNA Safeguard |
$1,200,000 |
FY09 |
Electric Grid Reliability/Assurance |
$1,200,000 |
FY09 |
Electromagnetic Signature Assessment System using Multiple Autonomous Underwater Vehicles, Phase II |
$1,600,000 |
FY09 |
Evaluating ELF Signals in Maritime Environment, Phase III |
$1,600,000 |
FY09 |
Flextrain Exportable Combat Training Capability (XCTC) |
$800,000 |
FY09 |
Highly Corrosive-Resistant Alloy Joining for Nuclear Applications |
$800,000 |
FY09 |
Hybrid Power Generation System |
$1,200,000 |
FY09 |
Integrated Patient Quality Program |
$1,600,000 |
FY09 |
Laser Studied and Enhanced Reactive Materials: Self-Decontaminating Polymers for Chemical-Biological Defense |
$1,600,000 |
FY09 |
Lightweight Ballistic Maxillofacial Protection System |
$3,500,000 |
FY09 |
Logistics Readiness Center |
$1,800,000 |
FY09 |
Medical Modeling and Simulation Through Synthetic Digital Genes |
$1,000,000 |
FY09 |
Reconfigurable Electronics and Non-Volatile Research |
$2,000,000 |
FY09 |
Read Out Integrated Circuit Manufacturing Improvement |
$1,600,000 |
FY09 |
Research on a Molecular Approach to Hazardous Materials Decontamination |
$1,200,000 |
FY09 |
Security Solutions from Life in Extreme Environments Center |
$1,200,000 |
FY09 |
Smart Prosthetic Hand Technology |
$1,600,000 |
FY09 |
Ultra Low Power Electronics (ULPE) |
$3,200,000 |
FY09 |
Ultra Low Power Electronics for Special Purpose Computers |
$1,600,000 |
FY09 |
Vacuum Sampling Pathogen Collection and Concentration |
$3,200,000 |
FY09 |