First District Earmarks

Many constituents are interested in federal "earmarks" and how they work. The responsible application of earmarked funds, which are federal resources designated for local projects of high public purpose, can have widespread benefits for our state, our communities, and our nation.

In making such requests, my office seeks to use taxpayer dollars prudently considering cost-benefit analyses and community support. A questionnaire given to those submitting earmark requests to my office may be viewed here. A majority of my requests support higher education, alternative energy, medical research, military construction, environmental protection and infrastructure, and transportation and community development initiatives that have regional and national benefits. The federal appropriations process is lengthy and complicated, involving 12 separate bills. Once earmark requests are reviewed and funded in the legislative process, they are posted on this website.

For your information, below is a categorized list of the First District earmarks requested by my office and included in the FY 2009 House appropriations legislation.

Agriculture and Energy

National Drought Mitigation Center (University of Nebraska-Lincoln) - $469,000

This funding is for the National Drought Mitigation Center (NDMC), which conducts research and educational programs on drought mitigation and planning for drought. The project has assisted numerous states and municipalities in developing drought plans and implementing drought response action teams. The Center has received national visibility for providing information on the severity of drought throughout the United States. Both print and electronic mass media routinely use Center produced materials in their news stories on the drought.

Bioenergy Research Program: Value-Added Products from Renewable Fuels (University of Nebraska-Lincoln) - $1,903,000

The funding will be used by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to establish a pilot-scale corn-ethanol bioenergy facility and research program. Research will focus on developing new processes for removing value-added components from corn before and after fermentation to biofuel and on exploring new commercial uses for these products. Establishment of a research facility and program will help ensure the economic viability of the rapidly expanding biofuel industry during periods of commodity price uncertainty for grain and ethanol. The ability to test feed formulations with greater amounts of biofuel co-products will be critical to the livestock industry as corn and soybean prices rise in response to expanded biofuel production. This research facility’s goals align with the U.S. Department of Energy’s goal of displacing 30 percent of 2004 gasoline demand with biofuels, primarily ethanol, by 2030. Achieving this ambitious goal requires a rapid expansion of the fuel ethanol industry and research on the most efficient and cost-effective means of producing ethanol and of utilizing the by-products of that process.

Intelligent Controls Project for Net-Zero Energy Buildings (University of Nebraska-Lincoln) - $475,750

The funding will be used by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to develop intelligent real-time controls for buildings using distributed electrical generation systems. The U.S. Department of Energy has set a goal of marketable net zero energy buildings – buildings with annual net energy consumption of zero – by 2025. Because residential and commercial buildings consume almost 70% of U.S. electricity, reducing energy use in existing and new buildings is critical to achieving zero energy buildings. Many large buildings needing an uninterrupted power supply, such as hospitals, schools, manufacturing facilities, hotels, and retail buildings, use distributed generation systems that include diesel generators and steam and gas turbines and could include solar, wind, and fuel cells. The intelligent controls developed by this project will decide in real time which energy source to employ and how much to charge and discharge storage systems to balance energy use and emissions over a year. These controls will enable operators to determine the optimal mix of on-site power generation and utility grid-supplied power needed for large buildings to maximize energy consumption and carbon emission credits. This research will lead to improved distributed generation applications in retrofit and new construction that reduce the energy use and carbon footprint of buildings.

Education

Systems Biology Research Facility (University of Nebraska-Lincoln) - $1,088,000

This funding will be used toward construction of a University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL)/Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Research Facility. This facility would provide critically needed space for UNL and ARS research addressing two areas of national concern: renewable energy and water resource conservation and management. Agriculture is expected to provide almost 40 percent of the nation’s liquid fuels within 30 years. This will further intensify demands on our soil and water resources. UNL and ARS scientists have been collaborating at UNL since the 1930s. Very strong collaborative programs continue today, including the ARS program at UNL that has been developing improved switchgrass varieties for 30 years and is the leading program in the world on the use of switchgrass for cellulosic ethanol. These scientists are scattered across the UNL campus and the proposed building will enable them to share collaborative, cutting-edge research space that will move this important research forward more rapidly. This project would advance major research focused on essential national efforts.

Collaborative Education Center (Northeast Community College) - $761,000

This funding is for a new collaborative education center in South Sioux City, Nebraska. Northeast Community College (a comprehensive community college) and Wayne State College (a regional comprehensive public state college), and South Sioux City, Nebraska, are partnering in this project. The new College Center will serve the area by creating a “one-stop” consolidated service center offering community and economic development resources in addition to providing educational opportunity for area residents at an affordable price.

Health Care

Environmental Health Information Database (University of Nebraska Medical Center) - $238,000

This funding is for the University of Nebraska Medical Center to create a Midwest Health Informatics database to assess environmental influences on the development of diseases by collecting health information from 50,000 Midwesterners. Currently most information about the relationship between disease and the environment is generated by major databases located in large urban areas on the east and west coasts which tend to be regionally specific and generally not applicable to rural areas. This database would be the first research cohort in the Midwest to study the relationship between rural populations, the environment, and disease development.

Southeast Nebraska Cancer Center Foundation/National Functional Genomics Center - $1,200,000

The funding will support intensive research of the causes of cancer, as well as treatments and cures. The research will include current genomics-based clinical trials involving the development of molecular signatures at the National Functional Genomics Center (NFGC). As an affiliate member of the NFGC, the Southeast Nebraska Cancer Center provides clinical support for validation of molecular signatures of cancers and serves as the first clinical facility to provide patients for trials, and to establish research protocols for distance access to the NFGC.

Law Enforcement

Lincoln Police Department Security Upgrades (City of Lincoln) - $ 132,000

This funding would help the Lincoln Police Department engage in the emerging technology of digital recording systems for police patrol cars. The proposal would equip 20 police patrol vehicles with digital video systems integrated with the Department’s existing mobile data computers. These systems will capture video from car-mounted cameras onto flash memory media that can be downloaded for archiving. These systems will replace older analog video tape recorders and cameras and integrate digital content into extensive Intranet resources, so digital video can be used by police and prosecutors. The equipment will allow for greater efficiencies within the Department and accelerate information-sharing with neighboring jurisdictions.

Infrastructure Development and Environmental Protection

Lincoln's Antelope Creek Flood Damage Reduction Project - $4,620,000

The Antelope Creek Flood Damage Reduction Project is a partnership between the City of Lincoln, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the Lower Platte South Natural Resources District, the Army Corps of Engineers, the Department of Transportation and the Department of Housing and Urban Development to reduce flooding threats to over 800 dwellings and 1,200 floodplain residents.

Western Sarpy-Clear Creek Flood Damage Reduction - $2,775,000

The Western Sarpy-Clear Creek Flood Damage Reduction seeks to protect drinking water supplies that provide up to 50% of Nebraska’s population in the eastern part of the state from flooding due to potential ice jams on the Platte River. Elected officials at local, regional and state levels in Nebraska have been long committed to this project’s construction because of risk to water supplies and other infrastructure, including I-80 and U.S. Highway 6 and military facilities at the National Guard Camp near Ashland.

Sand Creek Environmental Restoration Project - $400,000

The Sand Creek Environmental Restoration Project seeks to restore several historic wetlands and add to the national wetlands inventory.

Missouri National Recreational River - $335,000

This funding is for the Missouri National Recreational River (MNRR), located on the Missouri River from Gavins Point Dam downstream to Ponca, Nebraska. Federal activities pursued within the MNRR must protect and enhance the values for which it was designated – scenic, recreational, fish and wildlife, historic, and cultural. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers would use funding for bank stabilization, easement acquisition, and fee title purchase.

Fremont Section 205 Flood Control Study – no specific dollar amount

This funding is for the federal share to complete the Fremont South Section 205 Flood Control Study. Funding for this project will continue urgent feasibility planning to strengthen an existing flood control levee in order to remove a portion of South Fremont from the threat of flooding in the 100 year flood plain. The total cost of the project is $1,086,000 split equally between the Corps of Engineers and the nonfederal sponsor.

Schuyler Section 205 Flood Control Study – no specific dollar amount

This funding under the Section 205 authority is for the federal share to continue the Schuyler, Nebraska, Flood Control Study. The purpose of the study is to plan for mitigation of flooding in 40% of the city which is anticipated to be placed in the flood plain for the first time when designated by FEMA. The total cost of the study is $772,000 split equally between the Corps of Engineers and the non-federal sponsor.

City of Lincoln Wastewater Treatment Upgrades - $550,000

This funding provides federal assistance to the City of Lincoln for the upgrade of the Theresa and Northeast Wastewater Treatment Plants. These improvement projects are essential for assuring air and water quality, protection of the environment, public health and safety of the community. The City expects to incur the majority of the costs to make improvements to the collection and treatment facilities through a capital construction program funded by user fees and federal assistance.

Transportation and Community Development

Antelope Valley Transportation Improvements - $570,000

The Lincoln Antelope Valley Transportation Project devotes resources to significant road and pedestrian improvements, as well as the reduction of traffic congestion in Lincoln’s central core. The project includes eliminating two dangerous mainline at-grade rail crossings and improving access to state military areas and surrounding neighborhoods. This is an important component of the comprehensive Antelope Valley project, which is a partnership of the City of Lincoln, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the Lower Platte South Natural Resources District, the Army Corps of Engineers, the Department of Transportation and the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Nebraska Highway 35 – $380,000

The intent of this project in northeast Nebraska is to develop the most efficient route from Norfolk to South Sioux City. Currently, the route is comprised of several short segments of highway winding its way to the northeast. This project has significant regional and national importance; it would provide substantial safety and economic development benefits. The Nebraska Department of Roads has classified the Highway 35 project as a planned expressway.

CEDARS Children’s Crisis Center - $142,500

The funding will be used for construction of a new Children’s Crisis Center for abused, homeless, and runaway youth in Southeast Nebraska. CEDARS Youth Services plans to build a children’s crisis center to provide short-term emergency shelter, immediate professional assessment of each child's needs, intense family-centered therapeutic services, and an environment that inspires a rapid return to stable and enduring family living. The 18,000 square foot facility will not only provide immediate safety and protection for vulnerable children and youth across the Midwest, but also a comfortable family-friendly setting for them to begin reunification or to meet prospective foster parents in a safe, professional supervised setting. While primarily helping persons from the Midwest area, the Center has recently served youth from the states of Tennessee, Georgia, California, Michigan, Texas and others.  CEDARS is the only emergency shelter provider for children and youth in Southeast Nebraska, and this children’s crisis center will expand the current service capacity by as many as 12 children each day. This is a 50% increase.

Rulo Bridge Replacement Project - $95,000

This funding is for the Rulo Bridge project between Nebraska and Missouri. The funding would be used for the initial planning and design of a replacement bridge. The current Rulo Bridge was built in 1939 and is too narrow to handle modern-day traffic. It also has dangerous curves in both of its approaches, limiting visibility and making it difficult for safe passage of vehicles meeting each other.

National Defense

Novel Coating Technologies for Military Equipment (University of Nebraska-Lincoln) - $4,800,000

This funding will help develop coating technologies for the protection of military equipment. Novel coating technologies developed at UNL will enable high-performance surface coatings to be applied to airplanes, warships, tanks, and other large military equipment on site and in an open atmosphere, avoiding the current high costs in time and money of equipment disassembly and the use of vacuum chambers. These surface coatings will have improved hardness, wear resistance, anti-corrosion, and thermal barrier properties.

Advanced Magnetic Nanosensors for Defense Applications (University of Nebraska-Lincoln) - $4,800,000

The project addresses the Department of Defense (DoD) priority research area of nanotechnology-based warfighting with an emphasis on new devices for defense and security. Research funding will focus on the development of two types of sensors for military application: magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs) to sense extremely small magnetic fields, enabling detection of explosive devices (such as IEDs) and motion; and micro-cantilever detectors (MCDs), highly sensitive devices to detect molecules attached to magnetic nanoparticles, creating an advanced biological sensor capable of detecting a single virus or bacterium. This research will provide clear pathways for applications developers to improve signal and reduce noise, two of the critical challenges to effective nanosensors.

Novel Systems for Developing Therapeutics Against Botulism (University of Nebraska-Lincoln - $4,000,000

This funding will help develop therapeutic applications for exposure to botulism neurotoxin, a biowarfare agent and the most potent known toxin to humans. No FDA licensed vaccines against botulinum neurotoxin exists and there are no therapeutic molecules that can counteract its deadly effects once it enters the nerve cell. Development of such a therapeutic is the U.S. Army's highest priority for botulism research. Scientists at UNL and the U.S. Army have collaborated 12 years on the first generation botulism vaccine, which has been effective against some of the original toxin.