Congressman Barney Frank

Congressman Frank's Earmark Requests for the 2010 Fiscal Year

In light of the ongoing interest expressed by many people about the local projects or earmarks that Members of Congress include in federal appropriations bills, and pursuant to a House rule that just went into effect, I am disclosing, as I did last year, a list of the earmarks that I am seeking in the Fiscal Year 2010 appropriations bills. Congress will be working on these bills over the coming months, which an expectation that they would be complete by October 1, 2009.

Under Congressional procedures, only some of the earmarks I am requesting will actually be included in the 2010 funding bills. My practice in the past had been to announce details on earmarks that were actually approved, but starting two years ago, because of the heightened interest in the overall earmark issue, I began disclosing all of my earmark requests, in advance of any decisions being made about whether the requests are actually approved. When the various appropriations bills are finalized near the end of this year, I will then announce which of these 2010 requests have been approved, with the specific dollar figures in each case.

For 2010, as in past years, the projects for which I am requesting earmarks are mainly for state and local government initiatives, along with projects sponsored by non-profit organizations and institutions located in the communities I represent in Congress, plus in a few cases local companies. All the requests are for projects which would either be located in one or more of the cities and towns I represent, or for activities that are substantially in or linked to those communities. They would provide valuable benefits in the local area, with a focus on economic development and job creation, transportation, health care, community and social services, environmental remediation, and education. Neither I nor any of my relatives, or members of my staff have any personal financial interest in any of these projects, which has been true for all of the earmarks I have sought over the years.

Project Name:Advanced Next-Generation Electric Vehicle Drivetrain Development Project

Proposed Recipients: Vectrix Corporation

Amount Requested: $2.5 million

Address:
55 Samuel Barnet Blvd
New Bedford, MA 02745

Explanation of project, including purpose and why this is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds: this is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because funding would be used by Vectrix for research and development to improve their electric drive train to extend the range of their electric vehicles.

Project Name: Advanced Tactical Control System (ATCS)

Proposed Recipients: MIKEL

Amount Requested: $3.2 million

Address:
275 Martine Street
Suite 108
Fall River, 02723

Explanation of project, including purpose and why this is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds: this is a valuable use of tax payer funds because the ATCS technology was developed specifically to be applied across multiple platforms within the US Navy and Armed Services. An improved tactical picture will dramatically impact a commanding officer and crew’s ability to make the critical decisions required to avoid collisions, evade attack and engage targets. US tax dollar cost avoidance to damaged submarines historically ranges from $60 Million (USS San Francisco) to $2 Million (USS Greeneville). The potential loss of thousands of American lives on a single vessel will also be avoided because crew members can improve their chances of survival with ATCS.

Project Name:The Advanced Technical & Manufacturing Center (ATMC) – Funding For Salaries & Equipment Proposed Recipients: The Advanced Technical & Manufacturing Center (ATMC), UMASS Dartmouth

Amount Requested: $2 million

Address:
151 Martine Street
Fall River, MA 02723

Explanation of project, including purpose and why this is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds: this is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because the Advanced Technical & Manufacturing Center (ATMC an economic development outreach unit of the UMass - Dartmouth campus provides technical and manufacturing assistance to established companies as well as start-ups, provides employment for a staff of 14 employees and generates 16 full time jobs that support the general activity of the facility. The objective of this initiative is to create the infrastructure to allow local companies to grow. Through active collaboration with other universities and the private sector, this project will continue to build on recent accomplishments within the region and work to establish a platform based company that embraces the emerging trends in both personal medicine and the environment. Specifically, federal funding will be used to support 12 graduate & PhD students at UMD across an assortment of technical disciplines for a two year period with the goal of establishing a high-growth company in the region generating hundreds of well-paying jobs. Funding will also be used to procure necessary equipment to support this state-of-the-art research.

Project Name: Bristol County Sewers

Proposed Recipient: City of Fall River, City of New Bedford, City of Acushnet, Town of Mansfield, Town of Norton, City of Foxboro

Amount Requested: $4.9 million

Address:
Fall River: 1 Government Center, Fall River, MA 02722; the City of New Bedford: 33 William Street, New Bedford, MA 02740; the Town of Acushnet: 122 Main Street, Acushnet, MA 02743; Mansfield: Six Park Row Mansfield, MA 02048; Norton: 70 East Main St. Norton, MA 02766; and Foxboro: 40 South Street, Foxboro, MA 02035

Explanation of project, including purpose and why this is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds: this is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because this project provides funding wastewater treatment in 6 communities: CSO upgrades in Fall River (under court order) and New Bedford (under consent decree), Acushnet - a project (Phase I, Part B of Area Lateral Sewer Project) to replace aging septic systems with a sewer system connected to the New Bedford wastewater treatment plant, Mansfield, Norton, and Foxboro project for design, land acquisition, and construction for expansion of their wastewater treatment plant.

Project Name:The Buzzards Bay Center

Proposed Recipients: The Coalition for Buzzards Bay

Amount Requested: $250,000

Address:
114-120 Front Street
New Bedford, MA 02745

Explanation of project, including purpose and why this is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds: this is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because this federal assistance will aid in the green renovation of the Coggeshall Counting House in New Bedford’s Waterfront Historic District and National Park into the “Buzzards Bay Center” by The Coalition for Buzzards Bay. The Buzzards Bay Center will expand regional awareness of the challenges facing the Bay, educate and engage people in environmental issues, and provide a firm base from which to grow the organization.

Project Name:Combined Mishap Reduction System

Proposed Recipients: International Compliance Systems

Amount Requested: $3.2 million

Address:
1213 Purchase Street
New Bedford, MA 02740

Explanation of project, including purpose and why this is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds: this is a valuable use of tax payer funds because the project is one of the leading initiatives of the Defense Safety Oversight Council, the senior panel established in 2002 by the Under Secretary of Defense for Manpower and Readiness and charged with reducing preventable accidents across the Defense Department. Twenty-three percent of deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan over the course of the deployments have been due to non-hostile causes, and therefore largely preventable. Across the entire active duty military, 1% of service members are killed or injured in accidents. The CMR project is the principal initiative of the DSOC using data analysis and advanced information technology systems to enable military commanders to intervene to prevent accidents.

The CMR System uses a commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) web-based computer system to link accident reporting data to information the system gathers on a new dimension of safety analysis—“safety climate.” Safety climate is the set of precursor attitudes that individuals and organizations bring to their work and life that shape their tendency to prevent or promote accidents. The data is collected by administering a safety climate survey to servicemembers that is tailored to each functional community across the DoD (aviation, afloat, special operations, etc.). The system processes these two sets of data and produces real-time dashboard reports for commanders at all levels identifying high-risk practices and attitudes in their organizations. Equally important, the system then provides usable intervention options to address the high risk practices, procedures, and attitudes that lead to accidents.

Project Name:Conservation Planning, Massachusetts and Wisconsin

Proposed Recipients: Cape Cod Cranberry Growers’ Association

Amount Requested: $600,000

Address:
3203-B Cranberry Highway
Wareham, MA 02538

Explanation of project, including purpose and why this is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds: this is a valuable use of tax payer funds because conservation initiatives that have been developed by this funding in collaboration with the growers associations in both states have helped growers to prepare conservation plans. In addition, the funds have helped to ensure that cultivation is conducted to the extent possible in a way that protects water quality, prevents soil erosion, and appropriately manages nutrient and pesticide use. The growers who take part in the program work directly with federal and state regulatory officials to help ensure that cranberry growing in both states takes place in an environmentally friendly manner.

Project Name: Cranberry/Blueberry Pest Control, MA

Proposed Recipients: University of Massachusetts Cranberry Station

Amount Requested: $160,000

Address:
One State Bog Road
Wareham, MA 02538

Explanation of project, including purpose and why this is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds: this is a valuable use of tax payer funds because this research, which has been conducted at the University’s branch located in Dartmouth, Massachusetts, and at its Wareham, Massachusetts cranberry station, has focused on pest and weed control, which have impacted crop production. This has been an issue of particular concern as pesticides that were previously prevalent are now being phased out or becoming less effective. Massachusetts is the oldest cranberry cultivating area in the U.S., and its bogs generally have lower yields and higher production costs than those in other cranberry regions. In order for Massachusetts bogs to remain competitive it is important for them to be able to control weeds and pests. The research that has been funded in previous appropriations bills has led to the development of new practices that are enabling Massachusetts growers to improve productivity while effectively controlling pests in a more environmentally sensitive manner.

Project Name:Department of Defense Wage Issue Modification for USFORAZORES Portuguese National Employees

Proposed Recipients: Lajes Field, the 65th Air Base Wing

Amount Requested: $240,000

Address:
Lajes Field, the 65th Air Base Wing
Unit 7710, APO AE 09720-7710
Azores, Portugal

Explanation of project, including purpose and why this is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds: provide funds to pay differential supported by the DoD Azores Foreign National wage survey years 2006 and 2007.

This appropriation in conjunction with Authorization language will allow the United States and Portugal to reopen the 1995 Cooperation & Defense Agreement for the purpose of providing back pay to Portuguese national employees working at the Lajes Field, Azores, Portugal (the 65th Air Base Wing), and to remove the DOD wage survey from the Cooperation and Defense agreement that originally caused the underpayment. The wage issue has been an item of contention between the United States and Portugal over the past few years and this language would help resolve this impasse.

This appropriation in conjunction with Authorization language is a valuable use of tax payer funds because it will allow the United States and Portugal to reopen the 1995 Cooperation & Defense Agreement for the purpose of providing back pay to Portuguese national employees working at the Lajes Field, Azores, Portugal (the 65th Air Base Wing), and to remove the DOD wage survey from the Cooperation and Defense agreement that originally caused the underpayment. The wage issue has been an item of contention between the United States and Portugal for several years and this language would help resolve this impasse.

Project Name: Fall River Hydrology project study

Proposed Recipients: Army Corps

Bill Language Requested:

To direct the Secretary of the Army to conduct a study to determine the feasibility of carrying out a project for ecosystem restoration and hydropower generation for the Quequechan River, Fall River, Massachusetts.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION AND HYDROPOWER

GENERATION, QUEQUECHAN RIVER, FALL RIVER, MASSACHUSETTS.

The Secretary of the Army shall conduct a study to determine the feasibility of carrying out a project for eco-system restoration for the Quequechan River, and for hydropower generation at the Quequechan Falls, Fall River, Massachusetts.

Address:
Army Corps
696 Virginia Road
Concord, MA 01742

Explanation of project, including purpose and why this is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds: this is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because it potentially creates a new source of renewable energy for the City of Fall River. The study will determine the best methods of restoring the Quequechan River and the harnessing Quequechan Falls as a hydro-energy source.

Project Name: First Responder Resume project

Proposed Recipients: SurIDX

Amount Requested: $2 million

Address:
888 Worcester Street
Suite 260
Wellesley, MA 02428

Explanation of project, including purpose and why this is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds: this is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because the funds will be used by SurIDX , in partnership with Microsoft, Verizon and Sprint to finalize the design and to install and maintain a state of the art secure personal credentialing program that will allow first responders to gain appropriate access to national emergencies. This system operates via the existing cell network and a standards based and secure cellular telephone infrastructure, using currently available cell phones, and serves as the primary communication tool for the secure sharing of classified and unclassified information among a multitude of government agencies allowing them to communicate directly and to validate the credentials and responsibilities of first responders during an emergency. It will meet the intent of NIMS under which verification of identity, typing, and source authority for deployment is required , leverages the use of and complies with FIPS 201, the standard developed by NIST for Identity Verification in credentialing of all federal employees and contractors of the Executive Branch of Government, and will enable secure deployment of trusted forms and resumes of experience, education and skills of responders, as well as extending that use to state, local, tribal governments by enabling interoperability of multi -jurisdiction deployments during disaster scenarios.

Project Name: Gunshot Location System

Proposed Recipients: New Bedford Police Department

Amount Requested: $950,000

Address:
New Bedford Police Department
871 Rockdale Ave
New Bedford, MA 02740

Explanation of project, including purpose and why this is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds: this is a valuable use of tax payer funds because gunfire continues to be the single leading cause of crime-related death in this United States. Last year, over 12,000 people were killed by gunfire, the vast majority of it illegal and non-accidental. New Bedford, Massachusetts is one of the largest cities in Massachusetts, with a population of 92,538. City families face significant challenges such as experiencing the 2nd highest unemployment rates in the state and the state’s lowest median household income. The City experienced a staggering 77% increase in calls for shots fired between 2007 and 2008. The New Bedford Police Department believes that ShotSpotter GLS is an essential tool in the City’s war on crime.

Project Name:Marine Renewable Energy Center

Proposed Recipients: University of Massachusetts Dartmouth

Amount Requested: $1 million

Address:
285 Old Westport Road
North Dartmouth, MA 02747

Explanation of project, including purpose and why this is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds:this is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because the National Off-Shore Renewable Energy Innovation Zone (NOREIZ) will be North America's first designated in-ocean test site for marine and wind energy devices. NOREIZ will enable Massachusetts and the United States to develop and grow the marine renewable energy industry.

Project Name: Medical Record Technology Improvements

Proposed Recipients: Community Care Services

Amount Requested: $480,000

Address:
70 Main Street
Taunton, MA 02780

Explanation of project, including purpose and why this is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds: this is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because Community Care Services, a human services organization in Southeastern Massachusetts, requires upgrades for their medical record technology.

Project Name: Mill River Habitat Restoration Project Funding Request

Proposed Recipients: Southeastern Regional Planning & Economic Development District

Amount Requested: $1.5 million

Address:
88 Broadway
Taunton, MA 02780

Explanation of project, including purpose and why this is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds: this is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because the Mill River Habitat Restoration Project focuses on four dams located on the Mill River in Taunton, Massachusetts, including: State Hospital Dam; West Britannia Dam; Whittenton Mill Pond Dam; and Morey’s Bridge Dam. The dams block herring migration, impair water quality, and threaten public safety. The goal of the partnership is to remove obsolete/compromised dams and provide fish passage (fish ladders) at dams that cannot be removed. It is estimated that, with restoration, the Mill River could support an annual herring run of more than 100,000 fish. In addition, The City of Taunton’s downtown infrastructure, residents, and businesses would no longer face a potential flood hazard due to dams that are in disrepair.

To date, project partners have raised approximately $450,000, aside from NOAA grant money, to put towards the initial phase of the Mill River Restoration Project. Project partners are seeking additional funding for construction work to remove State Hospital Dam and for further assessment, design, and construction work at the other three dams. Funding is also needed for the design and construction of any needed fish ladders or other fish passage structures.

Project Name: Muddy River

Proposed Recipients: Army Corps New England District

Amount Requested: $7 million

Address:
Army Corps New England District
696 Virginia Road
Concord, MA 01742

Explanation of project, including purpose and why this is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds: this is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because this project will continue the construction and design work on both the ecosystem and flood control components of the Muddy River project.

Report Language Requested:

Funding for the Muddy River Ecosystem Restoration and Flood Damage Control project shall be made for both the ecosystem restoration and the flood control components of the project.

Project Name:Multiplexed Human Fungal Infection Diagnostic

Proposed Recipients: Primera DX

Amount Requested: $2 million

Address:
171 Forbes Blvd
Suite 2000
Mansfield, MA 02048

Explanation of project, including purpose and why this is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds: the incidence and related mortality due to invasive fungal infection has increased significantly over the past two decades. The goal of “Multiplexed Human Fungal Diagnostic” is to evaluate a diagnostic molecular test for its ability to detect and quantify pathogenic fungal load in subjects, thereby decreasing mortality rates and accelerating restoration to function. This diagnostic test will help improve the survivability and medical treatment outcomes for military personnel that present with fever of unknown origin or have enhanced susceptibility for an invasive fungal infection due to severe burns or trauma wounds. The project will be a collaboration between PrimeraDx, the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP) and Brook Army Medical Center (BAMC). Development and verification of the diagnostic test will be performed by PrimeraDx using mock samples prepared at PrimeraDx and clinical samples provided by AFIP. Clinical validation will be performed at the BAMC.

This is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because this technology will decrease the detection time of fungal infections and improve patient survivability. The capability gap this project addresses is rapid diagnostics for invasive infections common to combat wounds. Burns have historically complicated 5-10% of all combat injuries with infections being the leading cause of mortality. Warfighters commonly suffer burns and trauma wounds which can become infected with various bacteria and fungi. Bacterial infections can be treated with broad spectrum antibiotics, but fungal infections require specific antifugal therapeutics that are more toxic and expensive. Any delay in treating systemic fungal infections with the appropriate therapy may risk the life of the patient (mortality rates range from 30-90% for some infections). Therefore, prompt and accurate diagnosis is of principle importance. This test will reduce “time to results” from the current standard of 2-5 days to a no more than 4 hours.

Project Name: Naturally Occurring Retirement Community (NORC) in Brookline

Proposed Recipients: Jewish Family & Children's Services

Amount Requested: $500,000

Address:

1430 Main Street
Waltham, MA 02451

Explanation of project, including purpose and why this is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds: this is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because the project will involve expanding the social and health services provided to the elderly residents, so they can remain in their own homes.

Project Name: New Bedford Commercial Fishing Berth Expansion

Proposed Recipients: City of New Bedford

Amount Requested: $2 million

Address:
Port of New Bedford, Massachusetts
106 Co-op Wharf
New Bedford, MA 02740

Explanation of project, including purpose and why this is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds: this is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because adding berthing space within New Bedford Harbor will reduce overcrowding of the wharves that poses threats to the safety of the vessels, crews, and associated facilities.

Project Name:New England Fishery Multi-Species Survey

Proposed Recipients: University of Massachusetts Dartmouth School for Marine Science and Technology (SMAST)

Amount Requested: $3 million

Address:
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth School for Marine Science and Technology
706 Rodney French Blvd.
New Bedford, 02744

Explanation of project, including purpose and why this is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds: this is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because it provides continued research on two key New England fisheries: the assemblage of groundfish in the region, and the American lobster. This important research will focus on a range of methods for better estimating stock abundance and health, including ways of continuing to involve working fishermen in the research to develop better information specifically on New England stock abundance and to develop more accurate methods generally for estimating fishery abundance and characteristics.

Project Name: Newton, MA Rapid Transit Handicap Accessibility

Proposed Recipients:Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (MBTA)

Amount Requested: $1 million

Address:
Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (MBTA)
10 Park Plaza
Suite 3910
Boston, MA 02116

Explanation of project, including purpose and why this is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds: this is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because this project will improve accessibility to disabled person at the Auburndale commuter rail station in Newton, MA.

Project Name: Northeast Scallop Fishery Assessment

Proposed Recipients: University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, School for Marine Science and Technology (SMAST)

Amount Requested: $2 million

Address:
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth School for Marine Science and Technology
706 Rodney French Blvd.
New Bedford, 02744

Explanation of project, including purpose and why this is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds: this is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because it continues important research to improve the scientific information available for management of the scallop fishery in Massachusetts and the New England region. The research will focus on developing more accurate assessments of scallop abundance, as well as developing new methods for assessing abundance. The scallop fishery is a key component of the regional economy in New England, and it is essential that regulators have as much knowledge as possible about the abundance and characteristics of the fishery in order to ensure that it can be appropriately managed.

Project Name:Southern New England School of Law's Immigration Law Clinic

Proposed Recipients: Southern New England School of Law

Amount Requested: $125,000

Address:
333 Faunce Corner Road
South Dartmouth, MA 02747

Explanation of project, including purpose and why this is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds: this is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because the Southern New England School of Law's Immigration Law Clinic provides vital legal assistance to clients that have few financial resources, and without this help they would have little or no access to legal representation.

Project Name:St. Aidan’s – Town of Brookline Mixed Income & Affordable Housing Project

Proposed Recipients: Planning Office for Urban Affairs, Inc.

Amount Requested: $2 million

Address:
84 State Street
Suite 600
Boston, MA 02109

Explanation of project, including purpose and why this is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds: this is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because the continued construction of St. Aidan’s Redevelopment (59 units) provides much needed mixed-income and affordable housing.

Project Name:Taunton Nursing Home Renovations

Proposed Recipients: Taunton Nursing Home

Amount Requested: $1.5 million

Address:
350 Norton Avenue
Taunton, MA 02780

Explanation of project, including purpose and why this is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds: this is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because Taunton Nursing Home is a public nursing home providing care to the elderly and poor, and the facility requires construction, renovations and new equipment.

Project Name: Veterans Re-Entry Program

Proposed Recipient:Bristol Community College

Amount Requested: $400,000

Address:
777 Elsbree Street
Fall River, MA 02720

Explanation of project, including purpose and why this is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds: this is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because the transition into higher education is often arduous and unclear for veterans. This is even more difficult for returning veterans suffering physical and psychological injuries. Navigating the maze of information and benefits available to veterans is daunting, and the need to help veterans get into college and the workforce is tremendous. According to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, more than 500,000 personnel utilized their GI Bill benefits (fiscal year 2007). The Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 or “New GI Bill” is now law, but many veterans are unclear of how to take advantage of these benefits. Bristol Community College is interested in starting a new program to help returning veterans transition into college and new careers. The proposed program has three elements: Streamlining Re-Entry, Re-Entry Programs, Post-Placement Assistance.

Congressman Barney Frank Representing Massachusetts' 4th District

Congressman Barney Frank
Representing Massachusetts' 4th District