Funding Requests for FY 2008 submitted by Rep. Cliff Stearns Florida Citrus Mutual, Citrus Canker & Greening Research
$2 million. Funds support continued research conducted by the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences on canker and greening research, and in a new project to study citrus gene sequencing, which will help to sustain Florida citrus in the future.

University of Florida, Displacing Imported Petroleum with Renewables
$2 million from Agriculture Subcommittee. The funding would be used for decrease U.S. dependence on imported energy through the creation of new industries based on renewable feedstocks, out of the Department of Agriculture CREES account.

University of Florida, Displacing Imported Petroleum with Renewables
$2 million from Energy & Water Subcommittee. The funding would be used for decrease U.S. dependence on imported energy through the creation of new industries based on renewable feedstocks, out of the Department of Energy EERE, Biomass Program.

University of Florida, Remote, Enviro Monitoring & Diagnostics in the Perishables Supply Chain
$2 million. Working in cooperation with the Army Natick Soldier Center, UF/IFAS CFDR will manage a multidisciplinary program to identify and demonstrate wireless technologies such as radio frequency identification (RFID) in a simulated perishables supply chain. This project will address two areas critical to the delivery of optimum quality combat rations and other perishable products: 1) Wireless technologies will be coupled with various environmental and bio-sensors in order to accurately capture and transmit environmental storage and product quality data, and programs developed to automatically calculate in real time the remaining shelf life of combat rations and other perishable products. 2) A concurrent effort will investigate the modeling and optimization of the refrigerated cargo containers used by DoD and commercial industry to store and transport combat rations and other perishable products.

University of Florida, Smart House Project
$ 1.25 million. This project would utilize technology from the University of Florida Smart-House to deploy smart technology in the homes of frail elders, and monitor their health-related needs with a telehealth approach. This proposed National Center will establish a large demonstration of the use of smart technology to support independence and health for home based frail older persons. The model includes provision of supportive technology and monitoring technology in the home, and a system of ongoing monitoring so that needs can be identified early and interventions provided before a crisis develops. To ensure a cadre of trained professionals to deliver smart technology related services, the American Occupational Therapy Association will develop an education program for occupational therapists based on this model.

Lake County, 800 MHz radio for Emergency Operations Center
$1 million. Project Description: Funding for an 800 mhz radio system to serve the public safety needs and Emergency Operations Center of the County. An 800 mhz radio system will allow for the coordination of Lake County’s emergency response services. The project would allow for the first time portable radio communications across the county. After the recent tornados that struck the County, and in previous years Hurricanes, having an 800 mhz radio system will better equip the County’s public safety personnel to respond and offer assistance. Both the Sheriff’s office and the municipalities in Lake County support the project.

Marion County, Law Enforcement Fingerprint Technology Program
$300,000. Marion County needs to purchase fingerprint identification equipment to capture fingerprints required for FBI criminal background checks. The equipment and software will collect demographic data and fingerprints scans and submit both to the appropriate background check authority, which will in turn provide instant feedback. The County also needs to purchase ticket printers for patrol cars. The printers will make routine traffic stops more efficient and improve the processing time of multiple violations.

Banyan Biomarkers, Traumatic Brain Injury
$1 million. In FY08 Banyan will complete its DoD-funded feasibility study of severe traumatic brain injury. In FY08 Banyan intends to initiate a feasibility study to determine the clinical utility of Banyan’s proprietary biomarkers in mild and moderate brain injury. Experience of military medics in Afghanistan and Iraq indicate that these brain injuries are occurring much more frequently than in previous conflicts. Blast injuries to the brain caused by improvised explosive devices (IEDs) are common, and are very difficult to diagnose. However, it is critical that these injuries are also diagnosed on the battlefield so that casualties can be appropriately triaged, treated, and rehabilitated. Therefore, in FY08 Banyan will embark on a program to validate biomarkers for mild and moderate brain injury.

Florida Institute for Human & Machine Cognition, Process Integrated Mechanism for Human-Computer Collaboration
$1 million. Process Integrated Mechanism for Human-Computer Collaboration and Coordination will assist the Department of Defense with overcoming the challenging problem of helping humans and machines coordinate effectively. To do so, the project will utilize the novel technology of a Process Integrated Mechanism (PIM), which ties together computers and humans into a single collaborating system by virtue of a single program that rapidly moves between all the computers in the system.

Camp Blanding (Florida National Guard), Weapons Skills Trainer
$3 million. The Florida National Guard has mobilized over 8,000 soldiers and airmen in recent years in response to the Global War on Terrorism. The lack of firing range availability and training time have dictated that the Guard rely more heavily on simulation at training sites. Under the new mobilization guidelines, Soldiers and Airmen must be more highly trained when called. The Weapons Skills Trainer is a highly realistic and efficient system used to refine shooting skills and improve unit/collective action.

Camp Blanding, Regional Training Institute
$5 million. This project is to complete construction of the RTI at the Camp Blanding Training Site, FL. The readiness of the Florida Army National Guard and Air National Guard in general will be affected if the school cannot adequately accomplish its mission to train soldiers. The student quota continues to grow with the need for new training requirements.

Camp Blanding, Communications Facility for the 125th Fighter Wing
$6 million. The Florida Air National Guard has a mission critical requirement to replace the current communication facility at the 125th Fighter Wing, Jacksonville International Airport, FL. Current facilities were built in 1968 and are inadequate to meet the needs of the Air Guard’s growing post 9/11 homeland security missions, its heavily tasked fighter aircraft missions, and its demanding mission supporting 10 geographically separated units throughout

Florida. Vicus Technologies, Hypersonic Thermal Protection Materials Development
$1 million. The current interceptors (THAAD, LEAP, & KEI) require the development of a deployable shroud that can meet design requirements and address the threats of the 2010+ time frames. High interceptor burn out velocity and extended ranges drive the need for high performance thermal protection materials which address the shroud, kill vehicle, and boosters. An aggressive technology program is required to develop the thermal protection materials to meet the interceptor development goals identified by the Ballistic Missile Defense Service.

Keystone Heights, Keystone Heights Community center and Emergency Operations
$1.1 million. The current building utilized for City Hall operations is extremely undersized both for our current staff and projected growth, poorly constructed and severely outdated. In addition, the geographical location of the area is a disadvantage, 35 miles from the County EOC. The only proximate municipality for residents of the three counties intersects at Keystone Heights our city boundaries. The other counties’ Emergency Operations centers are more than 30 miles away as well. The construction of a new building, which would meet or exceed current standards, would enable the City of Keystone Heights to provide critical and timely emergency assistance. A new state-of-the-art structure would also enable them to set up an Emergency Operations Center.

Marion County, Communications and Emergency Operations Center
$5 million. Marion County needs to upgrade its current facilities by adding approximately 27,000 sq. feet to the existing building. This will include a new 911 Dispatch Center and supporting office and technology space for the Sheriff's Office, EMS, County Fire Department, and City of Ocala Fire Department. The upgrade also includes a new room for the Marion County Emergency Operations Center along with office and technology space. This facility will give Marion County and its five municipalities a stable platform for continuity of operations on both a daily basis and during man-made and natural events, which might threaten our community.

City of Starke, Wastewater and Stormwater System Rehabilitation
$1 million. Rehabilitation and upgrades to the wastewater system and improvements to the stormwater management system will preserve the integrity of the wastewater system and protect the water quality in the City of Starke.

Central Florida Community College, Equine Studies Program
$225,000. In Marion, Citrus, and Levy counties, there are over 1,000 horse farms and 60,000 related jobs. With the development of the 500-acre Florida Horse Park just south of Ocala, we can only expect Florida’s $7 billion equine industry to continue to flourish and provide the perfect environment to encourage equine education and employment opportunities in Marion, Citrus, and Levy counties. Many of those horse farms employ workers who have limited education and opportunities for career advancement. The owners often have difficulty finding workers with more advanced training and education in the equine industry. CFCC has begun to meet that need with a pilot two-year Associate in Science degree in Equine Studies, the first in the region. A second program will offer certification as an Equine Assistant Manager, which prepares persons previously or currently employed in the equine industry.

Gainesville/Alachua County, Homeless Services Initiative
$2.8 million. This project will expand the operation of the one-stop center to include core services desperately needed to effectively transition individuals to selfsufficiency, plus to begin construction of the first phase of a permanent campus-like one-stop homeless assistance facility that could address the housing needs of the homeless population in Gainesville, FL. Tekna Theos,

Student Teacher Aerospace Education in Rural Schools
$100,000. Student Teacher Aerospace Education in Rural Schools (STAIRS) is a program designed to heighten high school math and science interest, increase student participation in aerospace themed competitions, and promote aerospace and other technical career fields to secondary students. STAIRS will accomplish this by expanding its current aerospace outreach activities, developing new aerospace themed competitions and experiences, and creating workshops and classroom tools to better equip teachers.

Town of Baldwin, Improvements to Implement a Quiet Zone
$300,000. There are approximately 72 trains going through the town in a 4-hour period. Each train blows anywhere from 4 to 6 times at each of 9 crossings in Baldwin. The Quiet Zone will improve the quality of life for residents by reducing noise pollution and enhance the economic development opportunities along the corridor.

Gainesville Regional Airport, Taxiway Rehab and Aircraft Parking Ramp Rehab and Lighting
$2.5 million. These basic infrastructure improvements are urgently needed to accommodate the continued growth of scheduled air service. One of the airport’s primary taxiways that links both air carrier and general aviation activities to the airport’s two runways is in critical need of rehabilitation, and the aircraft parking ramp and lighting is essential to ensuring future development.

Marion County, Belleview Bypass and Baseline Road Project
$1 million. Belleview Bypass and Baseline Road construction, Marion County, Florida Funds would be used to design and construct 9.2 miles of a new 4- lane, rural, divided roadway (Belleview Bypass) and improvements to State Road 35 (Baseline Road) in the Belleview area. The new managed access 4- lane roadway begins south of the City of Belleview at US 441 and loops around the city on the east to tie into Baseline Road north of the city at 92nd Place. Marion County, Suntran Bus Purchase, $1 million. This request will allow Suntran to purchase 2 additional ADA buses to be added to an area that include high concentrations of retirees and public transit dependent citizens.

City of Newberry, Right of Way Cost for State Road 26 Bypass System
$1 million. State Road 26 is part of the Florida Intrastate Highway System (FIHS) and strategic Intermodal System (SIS). As a SIS facility, this roadway should have the highest priority for maintenance and improvement under the state highway system. At this time, SR 26 passes through the middle of downtown Newberry, causing traffic jams and impeding emergency service vehicle response.

Santa Fe Community College, Fine and Applied Arts Education Building
$1 million. For construction and equipment for a Fine and applied Arts Educational Building at Santa Fe Community College in Gainesville, Florida. $7 million is needed to complete this public-private partnership project. Project funding will include $14.7 million from Florida State Revenue Bonds Capital Improvements Series 2006A and private contributions. George Washington University, Cancer Institute, $600,000. The Institute provides cancer education, patient care, research, and outreach. Cancer is responsible for one in every four deaths in our nation, and cancer is disproportionately high among certain minority and vulnerable populations nationwide and in metropolitan Washington, D.C.