Project Requests for FY2008 Budget

The office of Congressman Todd Platts is regularly contacted by not-for-profit and other organizations within the 19th Congressional District, as well as state and local government entities, to request federal funding as part of one or more programs funded in the eleven annual appropriations bills.  The following is a list of requests that were submitted to Congressman Platts’ office and which have been forwarded to the House Appropriations Committee for consideration.  These projects compete against all other projects submitted by Members of Congress for consideration by the Committee: 

Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill

1.  Harrisburg Area Community College (HACC):  Harrisburg Area Community College will use the funding to create the York Health Careers Center at their York, Pennsylvania branch campus. 

2.  Military Heritage Center Foundation:  The Foundation serves as the primary coordinator of a public-private partnership to build the Army Heritage and Education Center in Carlisle, PA.  The Foundation's Voices of the Past Speak to the Future creates educational opportunities for high-school students by assisting teachers with education plans as well as hosting school trips.  The Foundation will use this funding to provide staff salaries, equipment and supplies, staff travel and support to teachers' conferences and symposia, production and distribution of teacher support materials, and internships for students.

3.  York Memorial Hospital:  York Memorial Hospital will use this funding to purchase a Medic Unit, emergency response advanced life support unit.  The Medic Unit responds to critically ill and severely injured patients.

4.  David Wills House Museum and Visitor Center:  Recognized as one of the most historically significant buildings in America, the Wills House will act as a visitor center and museum in historic Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.  The building has undergone renovation by the National Park Service and is now in need of start up funds to operate the museum and obtain information to disseminate to visitors.  Funds would also be used to purchase uniforms and supplies to create historic interpretation.

5.  William F. Goodling Regional Advanced Skills Learning Center:  The William F. Goodling Regional Advanced Skills Learning Center is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) training center providing industry-led training to incumbent workers, dislocated workers, and new entrants into the workforce.  Training is also provided to high schools seniors.  The Advanced Skills Learning Center will use this funding to support staff salaries, purchase computer hardware and laboratory supplies, and create new program development.

6.  The Holy Spirit Hospital:  Holy Spirit Hospital operates Teenline, a community-based mental health service aimed at preventing teen suicide.  Teenline provides student assistance to students and families in crisis as well as trains school personnel on a variety of behavioral health prevention and treatment topics.  Holy Spirit Hospital will use this funding to provide salaries for staff, creation of training and presentation materials, as well as purchase of awareness and prevention materials.

7.  Cumberland Perry Association for Retarded Citizens:  Cumberland Perry Association for Retarded Citizens is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) with a primary mission to improve the general welfare of people with mental retardation.  The Cumberland Perry Association for Retarded Citizens will use the funding for technology upgrades to improve security of patient information and make communication between other offices more efficient.

8.  Shippensburg University:  Shippensburg University will use these funds to expand existing campus hard wire, wireless, and fiber optic networks to nine academic buildings.

9.  WellSpan Health, Healthy York Network:  Healthy York Network is a consortium of thirteen local organizations (including hospitals, pharmacies, and assistance agencies) that work to improve access to healthcare for those who lack the ability to pay.  WellSpan Health will use the funding to hire a prevention specialist and to partially fund five financial case workers at the various Healthy York Network locations. 

10.  West Shore Advanced Life Support Services, Inc:  West Shore Advanced Life Support Services, Inc is a not-for-profit 501 (c)(3) that is the sole provider of Advanced Life Support paramedic service to four counties.  The Advanced Life Support Services will use this funding to outfit one ambulance with electronic Capnography equipment.  Capnography is the measurement of carbon dioxide in each breath of the respiratory cycle.

11.  Family First Health:  Family First Health is the only Federally Qualified Health Center serving York and Adams counties by providing primary medical care to all, regardless of their ability to pay.  Family First Health will use this funding to create a dental office to provide dental services to low-income individuals.

Homeland Security Appropriations Bill

1. Cumberland County 911 Center and Emergency: The funds requested will go towards the renovation of a building to house the 911 Center and Emergency Management Care Center for Cumberland County.  The project will allow for full implementation of the National Incident Management System and the integration of new automated systems.

2.  Cumberland County Emergency Services:  The funds requested will go towards the construction of a training facility for firefighters that includes a “burn building,” new classrooms, improved closed confinement rescue area, and fixed restroom facilities for the Cumberland County Department of Emergency Services.  The facility would provide paid and volunteer emergency service providers with an area to train for fire response, vehicle and close space rescue, and hazardous material incident response.

Agriculture Appropriations Bill 

1.  NutriCore NorthEast:  NutriCore NorthEast is an alliance of corporations, industry organizations, research universities, and municipal communities established in 2003 as the National Center of Excellence in Food and Nutrition Research.  This not-for-profit funds nutrition research programs and coordinates services to both industry and government agencies to maximize their investments in food or nutrition research and development.  NutriCore would use these funds for research projects as well as staffing and overhead costs.

2.  Horn Farm Center for Agricultural Education:  The Horn Farm Center for Agricultural Education is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) that strives to preserve at-risk farmland and to educate students of all generations about farming and its heritage.  Funds will be used for fundamental materials and resources necessary to start the basic operations of the Center, including:  hiring an Executive Director; hiring a Master Farmer; developing a pole barn; and rebuilding the main barn building (which was destroyed by a fire). 

Science, State, Justice, and Commerce Appropriations Bill

1.  York County Department of Emergency Services:  The funds requested will go towards the purchase of mobile communications systems, such as radio, satellite, voice recording, and telephone equipment, to be installed in the Mobile Command and Communications Vehicle owned by the York County Department of Emergency Services.  This program will allow for the Vehicle to be used in the event of an incident rendering the 9-1-1 Call Center incapacitated. 

2.  York County Children’s Advocacy Center:  The funds requested will go towards the employment of an Executive Director, Forensic Interviewer, and an Administrative Assistant, for the York County Children’s Advocacy Center.  These individuals will provide all of the administration, agency collaboration and communication, program assistance for victims and families, and financial, management and public relations activities.

3.  York County Lodge No. 73 Fraternal Order of Police:  The funds requested will go towards the construction of a Live Fire Law Enforcement Training Facility in the York County to train in “live fire” situations.  This project would provide equipment for a training facility that would be used by local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, as well as military, nuclear power plant security, and state and local correctional facilities.

Interior Appropriations Bill 

1.  Susquehanna River Basin Commission:  The funds requested will maintain and improve the Susquehanna Flood Forecast Warning System (SFFWS).  The SFFWS warns residents and communities of oncoming floods.  This warning system is especially important in the Susquehanna River basin as it is one of the most flood-prone regions in our country.

2.  Franklin Township Board of Supervisors:  Funds requested would be used for the design and construction of a sewer system consisting of approximately 50,000 feet of sewer line.  A recent study indicated that 70% of the sewage facilities in Cashtown and McKnightstown have a potential for a system malfunction with nearly 30% with confirmed malfunctions.  In addition, 54% of well samples tested positive for coliforms and 14% tested positive for fecal coliforms. 

3.  York City Sewer Authority's Poorhouse Run Interceptor:  Funds requested would be used for improvements to the Poorhouse Run Interceptor that will allow for physical inspection, self-cleaning, and improved hydraulic capacity.  These improvements will eliminate sewage spills over ground into surface water and private basements. 

4.  Borough of Carroll Valley:  Carroll Valley obtained a land acquisition loan to construct a new treatment plant and sewer system that was vitally necessary to the expanding community.  The funds requested would be paid towards the loan. 

5.  York City Sewer Authority's Wastewater Treatment Plant:  Funds requested would be used to improve operational and energy efficiency through replacement of obsolete and aging plant infrastructure.

Energy and Water Appropriations Bill

1. Messiah College Biodiesel Fuel Generation Project:  Funds will be used to develop a small-scale lab facility for biodiesel process development, and research small-scale biodiesel business alternatives that would benefit disadvantaged neighborhoods and promote entrepreneurial opportunities.

Transportation, Treasury, Housing, and Urban Development Appropriations Bill

1.  Carlisle Regional Performing Arts Center:  The Carlisle Regional Performing Arts Center owns and operates the Carlisle Theater in Carlisle, Cumberland County.  The funds requested will be used towards the cost of the renovation of the Carlisle Theater, including installation of lighting and sounds systems; ADA upgrades to theater access, seating area and restrooms; upgrades to theater stage and dressing rooms; and repairs to water damaged areas of the facility. 

2.  York County Transit Authority ("rabbittransit"):  The York County Transit Authority will use the funding to purchase transit vehicles, including buses and other support vehicles.

3.  West Manheim Township:  The funds requested will be used in Phase I development of the West Manheim Township park for construction of two baseball/softball fields, walking and bicycling trials, landscaping and support roads, and parking. 

4.  Streetscape Improvements in the City of York, PA:  The funds requested will be used for streetscape improvements to Philadelphia Street in the City of York, such as construction of curbs and sidewalks, handicap ramps, ornamental street lighting and landscaping. 

5.  Cumberland County Bus Rapid Transit:  The funds requested will be used for engineering and construction of a Bus Rapid Transit segment connecting Cumberland County with the Harrisburg Transportation Center using the Cumberland Valley Railroad Bridge.

6.  Shippensburg University Foundation:  The funds requested will be used in Phase III of the Shippensburg Regional Conference Center for construction of an additional story that would include a dining and kitchen facility to accommodate up to 750 people.

7.  York Spanish American Center:  The funds requested will be used for third floor renovation, as well as installation of roofing, windows and insulation at the York Spanish American Center's building on East Princess Street in the City of York. 

8.  Replacement of Wolf Bridge in Cumberland County:  The funds requested will be used to replace the existing Wolf Bridge, a steel truss bridge built circa 1899.  The bridge connects Middlesex and North Middleton Township with U.S. 11 and I-81.

9.  Improvements along Army Heritage Drive:  The funds requested will allow for road improvements, including turning lanes, and traffic signal improvements needed to accommodate increased traffic created by development of the Army Heritage and Education Center. 

Military Construction Appropriations

1.  United States Army Heritage and Education Center:  This project is required to provide the U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center with facilities to support the adequate curation, conservation and storage of artifacts; and conservation of documents, research, office and associated activities to support the U. S. Army Military History Institute (USAMHI), the Army Heritage Museum, and in coordination with the Center of Military History, other Army historical activities. 

2.  York Readiness Center:  Two armory facilities in York, Pennsylvania including the North George Street armory constructed in 1913, home to the Battery F (TA), 109th Field Artillery, and the Eden Road facility built around 1972 housing D Troop 2-104th Cavalry, (formerly Company B, 337th Engineering Battalion) a component of the 56th Brigade, Stryker Brigade Combat Team (SBCT).  The structural and resource deficiencies at both aging facilities severely limit the operational readiness and training capabilities of PAARNG units.  The critical shortage of adequate classrooms, supply rooms, arms vaults, showers, kitchen facilities, and parking areas adversely affect the training and quality of life of current units and make meeting their mission essential training requirements difficult to achieve.  The York Readiness Center is necessary to maintain war readiness.

Defense Appropriations (requests for funding above the President’s request)

1.  Combat Vehicle Improvement Programs:  The BAE Ground Systems Division, located in York, Pennsylvania, produces Bradley Fighting Vehicles for the United States Army.  This request would provide needed Research, Development, Test & Evaluation dollars to continue necessary technical system upgrades and develop technology improvements, including the implementation of an active protection system (APS), for Bradley Fighting Vehicles.

2.  Improved HMMWV Tactical Military Shelter: This project would fund the design, development, and testing of a new Tactical Military Shelter by Gichner Shelter Systems, located in Dallastown, Pennsylvania, for use on United States military HMMWV shelter carriers.

3.  Expeditionary Fire Support System (EFSS) Projectile Technology Enhancements: The EFSS is a close fire support, all-weather, quick responsive indirect fire system supporting Marine Expeditionary Units.  The system is produced in part by the General Dynamics facility located in Red Lion, Pennsylvania.  This request would fund improvements to the family of mortar munitions fielded under the EFSS program and is made in support of the fiscal year 2008 USMC Unfinanced Priority List.

Defense Appropriations (requests made in support of funding levels already included in the President’s Budget request)

1.  Bradley Base Sustainment Program:  This request seeks to protect funding included in the President’s FY 07 Emergency Supplemental, the FY 08 Base Budget, and the FY 08 GWOT supplemental requests for the procurement of Bradley Fighting Vehicles for the United States military.  The BAE Ground Systems Division located in York, Pennsylvania, produces the vehicles.

2.  Bradley Fire Support Vehicle (BFIST):  This request seeks to protect funding included in the President’s FY 07 Emergency Supplemental, the FY 08 Base Budget, and the FY 08 GWOT supplemental requests for the procurement of Bradley Fire Support Vehicles (BFIST) for the United States military.  The BAE Ground Systems Division located in York, Pennsylvania, produces the vehicles.

3.  Improved Recovery Vehicle (M88 MOD):  This request seeks to protect funding included in the President’s FY 07 Emergency Supplemental, the FY 08 Base Budget, and the FY 08 GWOT supplemental requests for the procurement of Improved Recovery Vehicles (M88 MOD) for the United States military.  The BAE Ground Systems Division located in York, Pennsylvania, produces the vehicles.

4.  M109A6 Paladin (RDTE):  This request seeks to protect funding included in the President’s budget request for Research, Development, Testing and Evaluation to ensure the Paladin and its companion vehicle, the FAASV, remain sustainable for the United States military through 2050.  The BAE Ground Systems Division located in York, Pennsylvania, produces the vehicles.

5.  M109A6 Paladin:  This request seeks to protect funding included in the President’s budget request for procurement of the M109A6 Paladin.  The BAE Ground Systems Division located in York, Pennsylvania, produces the vehicles.