The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“EARMARK DECLARATION” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Energy was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E1741-E1742 on July 13, 2009.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
EARMARK DECLARATION
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HON. VERNON J. EHLERS
of michigan
in the house of representatives
Monday, July 13, 2009
Mr. EHLERS. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards, I am submitting the following information regarding projects I received funding for as part of H.R. 3183, the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2010.
Requesting Member: Congressman Vernon J. Ehlers
Bill Number: H.R. 3183
Agency: Department of Energy
Account: Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Legal Name of Requesting Entity: The City of Grand Rapids
Address of Requesting Entity: 300 Monroe Ave. NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Description of Request: This bill provides $250,000 for the City of Grand Rapids to purchase and install an estimated 400 solar panels on the roofs of several City buildings to demonstrate the benefits of onsite solar panels. This funding is a valuable use of taxpayer money because the panels will help reduce the city's energy consumption and dependency on the national grid by drawing from a localized energy source. Approximately three-quarters of the funding will be used to purchase the solar panels, and approximately one-quarter of the funding will be applied to the installation of the panels. This project is of national significance and a good use of taxpayer dollars because it will support local ``green'' jobs and promote more widespread commercial use of solar technology whose value is proven, but whose cost must become more competitive with conventional sources of energy.
Requesting Member: Congressman Vernon J. Ehlers
Bill Number: H.R. 3183
Agency: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Account: Construction
Legal Name of Requesting Entity: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Address of Requesting Entity: U.S. Army Engineer District, Chicago, 111 North Canal Street, Suite 600, Chicago, IL 60606
Description of Request: This bill provides $7,575,000 for the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal Dispersal Barrier. This funding is a valuable use of taxpayer money because, historically, the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River were separated naturally by a landmass. However, since the completion of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, aquatic species can move freely between the two water systems. A temporary dispersal barrier (Barrier I) has been operating for nearly 7 years, and construction of a permanent barrier (Barrier IIA) will be completed this year.
Requesting Member: Congressman Vernon J. Ehlers
Bill Number: H.R. 3183
Agency: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Account: Construction
Legal Name of Requesting Entity: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Address of Requesting Entity: U.S. Army Engineer District, Chicago, 111 North Canal Street, Suite 600, Chicago, IL 60606
Description of Request: This bill provides $3,200,000 for the Great Lakes Fishery and Ecosystem Restoration program. The Great Lakes sustain a nationally and internationally significant fishery that has been degraded by habitat losses, contamination, and invasive species. This funding is a valuable use of taxpayer money because under this program, the Corps will coordinate with other Federal, State, and local agencies and the Great Lakes Fishery Commission to plan, implement, and evaluate projects supporting the restoration of the fishery, ecosystem, and beneficial uses of the Great Lakes. A range of aquatic habitat restoration projects can be done under this program including riparian habitat and wetland restoration, dam removal to reestablish free flowing tributaries, fish passages, and erosion and sedimentation control. This program is an important component of the Great Lakes Strategy developed by the U.S. Policy Committee in 2000 as well as the 2005 Great Lakes Regional Collaboration Strategy.
Requesting Member: Congressman Vernon J. Ehlers
Bill Number: H.R. 3183
Agency: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Account: Investigations
Legal Name of Requesting Entity: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Address of Requesting Entity: U.S. Army Engineer District, Chicago, 111 North Canal Street, Suite 600, Chicago, IL 60606
Description of Request: This bill provides $4,000,000 for technical assistance to Remedial Action Plans (RAP) Committees. This funding is a valuable use of taxpayer money because, under the 1987 Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, the United States and Canada agreed to develop remedial action plans for each of the 43 internationally recognized Areas of Concern (26 U.S. sites and 5 shared U.S. and Canadian sites). RAPs embody a comprehensive ecosystem approach to restoring and protecting beneficial uses and to identifying specific actions to resolve pollution problems. This Corps of Engineers program authorizes the Corps to provide technical support to states and local organizations in the development and implementation of RAPs. The Corps' expertise in dredging and sediment management is valuable for the planning and designing of contaminated sediment cleanups. State and local agencies from 25 RAPs in Indiana (Grand Calumet River), Ohio
(Black, Maumee and Cuyahoga Rivers), New York (Buffalo River, Eighteen Mile Creek, Rochester Embayment and St. Lawrence River), Michigan (Deer Lake, Torch Lake, Muskegon Lake and White Lake; River Raisin, Rouge, Saginaw, St. Marys, St. Clair, Detroit, and Clinton Rivers), Minnesota
(St. Louis River), Wisconsin (Milwaukee Bay, Menominee, Sheboygan, and Fox Rivers), and Pennsylvania (Presque Isle Bay) have requested funding.
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