FISCAL YEAR 2009 FUNDING REQUESTS

Below, is a list of funding requests that Congressman Childers submitted to the Appropriations Committee for its consideration during the Fiscal Year 2009 appropriations process. Each request is listed alphabetically and is included under the appropriate subcommittee, and includes the name of the project, the entity that requested funding, and the amount of funding requested.

Agriculture

Breeding for Sweet Potato Lines Resistant/Tolerant to Chilling Temperatures Pontotoc, MS (Mississippi State University) $253,000 - Funding would be used by the North Mississippi Research and Extension  Center-Pontotoc Experiment Station to develop sweet potato breeding lines and  production strategies to increase tolerance to environmental stress, such as chilling temperature, which would result in higher yields and profitability.

Development of Acoustic and Seismic Technology to Characterize Soils, Assess Water Content, and Reduce Production Costs University of Mississippi $700,000 - funding would be used for research to benefit the agricultural and environmental communities by developing measurement techniques for identifying problem areas to prevent soil erosion, manage sediment transport, and identify areas with subterranean hard layers that inhibit crop growth.

Improving Erosion and Sediment Transport Models University of Mississippi $1.5 million - Funding would be used for research in various areas including prevention of soil loss from farm land, industrial development slow downs, loss of human lives and properties, and water contaminations during catastrophic dam-break and levee breach floods. Funding would go to The National Center for Computational Hydroscience and Engineering's (NCCHE) team of research scientists and engineers to develop an entirely new computational model for improving erosion.

Improved Beef Cattle Profitability in North Mississippi North Mississippi (MSU) $620,000 - Funding would be used for research to reduce input costs for beef cattle through improved management of resources including forage systems. The funding would be used by the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station and the Prairie Research Station to develop technologies in both forage systems and genetic potential of cattle herds.

National Center for Natural Products Phase II Construction University of Mississippi, Oxford. $10,000,000- The NCNPR has established a premier program of research in discovery of new natural products and in understanding how they may be useful as new drugs or agrochemicals. To optimally achieve this vision of a premier, world-class natural products research organization, the center are pursuing an expansion of their current facility to a second phase. Phase II will provide capabilities for extension of Phase I discovery operations into the drug development stages. Phase II will allow enhanced capabilities for analog development, scaling up isolation and synthesis, analytical chemistry, characterizing mechanism of action, toxicology, and animal efficacy studies, and development of regulatory agency (FDA, EPA) approval filings.  

Department of Defense

Geographically Isolated Warrior Program North Mississippi Health Systems (NMHS) $3.5 million - Follow-up treatment for veterans returning from high stress combat tours of duty is essential.  Various illnesses are becoming well established as a consequence of hazardous and extended tours of duty in both Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operations Enduring Freedom (OEF). Funding would be used to enable a community health system to reach out to separated service members and assist in identifying those who may be at risk for various post-combat illnesses.  The North Mississippi Health System's extensive network of primary care clinics and community hospitals in coordination with the Department of Defense would receive funding to implement this pilot project. 

Energy and Water

Gulf of Mexico Hydrates Research Consortium University of Mississippi $1.2 million - Funding would be used for the continuation of the University's efforts to develop and deploy an integrated multi-sensor station on the seafloor in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) to provide continuous monitoring of gas hydrates and the gas hydrate stability zone. The station is designed to effect responsible decision-making regarding hydrate exploration, exploitation, and the environment as they affect seafloor stability, resource potential, and associated free gas escaping to the water and atmosphere. 

Sweet Potato Energy Feedstock Produced in North Mississippi Using Alternative Methods for Bio-ethanol Refineries-Pontotoc, MS Pontotoc Research Station-(Mississippi State University) $400,000 - Funds would be used to support the further research and development of sweet potatoes as a source of ethanol. Further funding is needed to support a research facility, laboratories, and research staff. 

Interior and Environment

Center for Marine Resources and Environmental Technology University of Mississippi $900,000 - Funding would be used to support the center, its research and its work with Minerals Management Service (MMS)/DOI. The Center engages in research, training, education and technology transfer related to characterization and utilization of marine mineral resources of the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), promoting efficient identification, assessment, exploration, and Research is currently focused on the completion of the first sea-floor observatory in the northern Gulf of Mexico designed to monitor the gas hydrate stability zone, the role hydrates play in sea-floor stability and their potential as an energy resource.

Mississippi Hills Institute for Heritage Resource Management University of Mississippi $500,000 - This project will create a management entity to develop and strengthen the heritage tourism industry in the region. The project will assist communities of the region in the conservation, interpretation, development, and marketing of their historic, cultural, natural recreational assets. 

Marshall County Sewer Improvements Project Holly Springs, MS $743,875 - The project would provide a new sanitary sewer conventional collection system consisting of approximately 21,900 linear feet of gravity sewer line, 63 manholes, approximately 3,200 linear feet of pressure sewer line, and one lift station.  The treatment facilities are already in place, and the project only consists of collection lines and the previously mentioned lift station. Monroe County Courthouse Renovation Monroe County, MS $250,000 - These funds would provide for restoration of the antebellum courthouse which is still in active use. Specifically, funding is for completing window renovations and re-enforcing multiple structural weaknesses across the building.

Homeland Security

Panola County Fire Department Panola, MS $215,000 - The Panola County Government is requesting funds in order to purchase a new fire truck, along with obtaining firefighting turnout gear for their various local fire departments.

Labor/Health and Human Services (HHS)/Department of Education (ED)

Itawamba Community College Fulton, MS $8 million - To provide for the consolidation of the Tupelo and Fulton Nursing School Programs in order to provide additional nursing specialists to the increasing population of a five county region.  In the previous academic year, Itawamaba Community College only had the physical capacity to accept 26 practical nursing admissions out of 125 qualified applicants.  Relocation and consolidation under one central campus located in Tupelo, MS could in the long run save costs, while increasing admissions in the nursing school program. 

Mississippi in Motion, MAFES, East Mississippi Research and Extension Facility, Mississippi Mississippi State University $450,000 - Funding would support the Mississippi In Motion Diabetes Health Maintenance Program (MIM) is a research based, peer-reviewed curriculum for a community/industry based 12-week program designed to promote healthy eating and to encourage positive physical activity behaviors for adults 18 years and older. Participants complete a pre-test and post-test; heights and weights are obtained and body mass indices (BMI) are calculated at the beginning of the program and at the end of the 12-week educational session.

Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD)

Amory National Guard Armory Improvements Amory, MS $40,000 - Funding would be used for general improvements to the former National Guard Armory that now serves as a community center to the City of Amory.  These renovations will provide definite economic development opportunities to the citizens of Amory.

Town of Sherman, MS Roadway and Traffic Improvements Sherman, MS $1,083,334 - Funding for the repair and rebuilding on Warehouse Road a collector street located east of Highway 9 North in Town of Sherman, MS. Currently, Warehouse Rd connects Third Ave and Sixth Ave. The town is requesting funding to rebuild the roadbed to accommodate the increased traffic load in the area.

West-Point-Clay County Community Growth Alliance, West Point, MS West Point, MS $2 million -Funding would be used for the acquisition and development of an industrial park located in Clay County, MS, which currently suffers from an over 15% unemployment rate.  The proposed site is in close proximity to US Hwy 45.