Washington, D.C. — U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) today asked Congress to provide federal funding for 2nd District priorities, selecting 51 of the 153 requests he received to pass on to the House Appropriations Committee. The earmarks Larsen asked Congress to fund reflect a range of local needs in all of the six counties he represents, including funding to invest in economic growth, local law enforcement and our national security.
This is the second year that Larsen has made his list of earmark requests public. When Larsen released his appropriations requests last year, he went above and beyond House disclosure rules in a personal effort toward transparency for his constituents. This year, House ethics rules have followed Larsen’s voluntary efforts and now require all Members to post their requests for Fiscal Year 2010 online.
“This year, as in the past, my office received a large number of earmark requests from local constituents, communities and organizations – 153 in total,” said Larsen. “After careful consideration, the 51 requests I have decided to support reflect a range of local needs and would make important investments in Northwest Washington communities and our long-term economic growth.”
In reviewing community requests for earmarks, Larsen considered whether the project is a valuable use of taxpayer funds, if it meets 2nd District needs and priorities, if it is prepared to use federal funding effectively, and if it can be funded in an earmarked account. The House Appropriations Committee will evaluate all the requests it receives to determine which merit funding.
“In the interest of transparency and accountability, I encourage my constituents to go online to www.house.gov/larsen to view my full list of funding requests,” said Larsen.
Larsen’s requests to the Appropriations Committee are listed below, organized by the bill in which they would be funded and listed alphabetically. This list complies with House transparency rules by listing the name of the project, the entity that would receive funding, the address of the organization, and the project’s purpose.
Agriculture
Agriculture Research Service (ARS) Facility in Pullman
P.O. Box 643140
Pullman, WA
$10 million for a United States Department of Agriculture-Agriculture Research Services (ARS) facility located in Pullman, WA to provide ARS scientists with state-of-the-art research facilities. A new USDA-ARS facility, fully integrated with the Washington State University Life Science/Biotechnology complex, will provide modern laboratories and equipment to conduct agriculture research to keep Northwest growers competitive in the global market. Agriculture is a top employer in Washington state. More than $14.8 billion in food and agricultural products were exported through Washington ports last year, the third largest total in the U.S.
Floriculture and Nursery Research Initiative
Agriculture Research Service (ARS)
Whitten Building, Room 302-A, 1400 Independence Ave
Washington, D.C.
$8.5 million to conduct research into the threat of imported pests that can devastate the nursery and floral industries. Floriculture and nursery crops are the third largest domestic crop in the nation. Pest and disease management research is critical to the continued success of growers in Washington state and across the country.
Organic Cropping
Washington State University
P.O. Box 643140
Pullman, WA
$500,000 for research into priorities identified by Northwest organic farmers including developing wheat varieties for organic systems, seed treatments for organic vegetable production, and studying economic trends in organic production. Several of these projects have the potential to advance sustainable agriculture on a national scale. There are nearly 700 certified organic farms in Washington state. Washington state is second in the nation in “farmgate” sales of organic products directly from the producer with $159.8 million sold.
Pacific Northwest Small Fruit Center
Washington State University
P.O. Box 643140
Pullman, WA
$500,000 for research into plant breeding, pest management, genetic research, and processing methods for small fruits. The Center helps Northwest farmers integrate scientific research into their farming and processing. Research done by the Center is focused on profitable and environmentally-responsible farming and production practices. Washington state leads the country in raspberry production and is a leading producer of other berries and grapes as well. In 2007, Washington raised 55 million pounds of red raspberries valued at $27.9 million.
Protecting the Pacific Northwest Grape and Wine Industry from Plant Viruses
Washington State University
P.O. Box 643140
Pullman, WA
$300,000 to combat the presence or spread of devastating plant viruses affecting the Grape and Wine Industry. The Washington state wine, grape and grape juice industries provide approximately 19,000 jobs and contribute $ 3 billion annually to the state’s economy. Washington is the largest producer of juice grapes and the second largest producer of premium wine grapes in the United States. Around 900 Pacific Northwest wineries depend upon the production of quality wine grapes. This project would help to ensure that planting materials entering the Northwest are virus-free, that our vineyards remain virus-free, and that we prolong the longevity of the industry.
Potato Breeding Lines for Biotic and Abiotic Yield
Agriculture Research Service
24106 N Bunn Rd
Prosser, WA
$136,000 for ongoing research at the Agriculture Research Service facility in Prosser to develop and evaluate new varieties of potatoes with special attention to disease, pest, and stress resistance, as well as yield and quality characteristics. This funding supports cooperative research with Washington State University, Oregon State University, and the University of Idaho to evaluate the genetics of seeds provided to farmers to help them plant potato crops that will succeed in their unique soil and weather conditions. (Biotic refers to living stressors, such as fungi or insects, while abiotic refers to non-living stressors, such as intense sunlight, wind or flooding) Research done in this program has a direct impact on growers throughout the region, and provides for the profitable and sustainable production of potatoes. Washington state is the second largest producer of potatoes in the U.S., producing 23 percent of all domestic potatoes. The potato industry in Washington state directly and indirectly generates over $3.4 billion annually and creates over 20,000 jobs.
Potato Research
Washington State University
P.O. Box 643140
Pullman, WA
$1.8 million for research to develop and commercialize new potato varieties that benefit all segments of the Northwest potato industry. These funds are critical for sustaining the potato industry and providing a healthy, inexpensive food supply for American consumers. New potato varieties help improve quality, bring increased yield, and require less fertilizer and pesticide, increasing profitability and lessening environmental impact. Washington is the second largest producer of potatoes in the U.S., producing 23 percent of all U.S. potatoes. The potato industry directly and indirectly generates over $3.4 billion throughout the Washington economy annually and creates over 20,000 jobs in the state.
Small Fruits Initiative – Plant Improvement
Northwest Center for Small Fruits Research
4845 B SW Dresden Ave
Corvallis, OR
$2.57 million for research into eliminating fruit diseases that plague small fruit crops in the Northwest, including berries and grapes. Washington State leads the nation in red raspberry production. In 2007, Washington raised 55 million pounds of red raspberries valued at $27.9 million. Funding for this center is crucial for raspberry production and other small fruit industries.
Washington Agricultural Competitiveness
Washington State University
P.O. Box 643140
Pullman, WA
$1 million to identify and expand international trade opportunities and domestic marketing opportunities for Washington state agricultural products. Washington state's $42 billion food and agriculture industry employs 160,000 people and contributes 13% percent to the state's economy. More than $14.8 billion in food and agricultural products were exported through Washington ports last year, the third largest total in the U.S. Exporting Washington agricultural goods to foreign nations and marketing our products in new domestic markets will support this important industry and create new jobs across the state.
Commerce, Justice, Science
Border Policy Research Institute (BPRI) at Western Washington University
Northern Border Policy Research
516 High Street
Bellingham, WA
$500,000 to fund practical research focused on augmenting U.S.-Canada Trade without Compromising Border Security. Canada and the United States form the largest bilateral trading relationship in the world, with daily two-way trade surpassing $1.6 billion. The northern border is the gateway through which this massive volume of goods must flow. It is an essential federal priority to ensure the border enhances security while not impeding commerce. Using the requested funds, the BPRI will conduct research and will produce evidence-based reports and policy tools that inform business, governments, and other stakeholders charged with improving border management processes.
Multi-Jurisdictional Criminal Justice Data Integration Project
Whatcom County
311 Grand Avenue
Bellingham, WA
$350,000 to expand and improve information sharing between Whatcom County law enforcement agencies, state and federal agencies, Canadian and U.S. border authorities, Alaska Law Enforcement, Law Enforcement Information Exchange, State Regional and Federal Enterprise Retrieval System (SRFERS) and Automated Regional Justice Information System (ARJIS) through the Whatcom Exchange Network (WENET)
in preparation for the 2010 Winter Olympics. The WENET data integration program will provide law enforcement agencies with real-time data on criminal offenders, strengthening their ability to coordinate and communicate with each other and protect our community.
Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative (NSMCI)
Northwest Straits Commission
10441 Bayview Edison Rd
Mount Vernon, WA
$2.7 million to restore and protect the northwest region of Puget Sound which supports marine species and habitats that contribute directly to the economic vitality of Washington state and the country through fisheries, tourism and recreation, marine transportation, and commerce. Funding would support research, stewardship, and restoration efforts, and help remove derelict fishing nets from the marine waters of Puget Sound to protect commercially and ecologically valuable species, like salmon, rockfish, Dungeness crab, seabirds, and marine mammals.
Snohomish Regional Drug Task Force
3000 Rockefeller Avenue, M/S 606
Everett, WA
$70,900 to provide Snohomish County law enforcement officers with concealed cameras and vehicle trackers, critical tools to conduct drug trafficking investigations. The cameras allow for covert surveillance of drug trafficking organizations where more conventional methods have failed, enabling law enforcement to bust trafficking rings and prosecute drug dealers.
Whatcom County Rapid Border Prosecution Initiative
Whatcom County
311 Grand Avenue
Bellingham, WA
$500,000 to help the Rapid Border Prosecution Project, established in 2005, make the local criminal justice system more efficient by purchasing specialized software to interface with the existing criminal justice database. As a result, judges and professional law enforcement personnel will have more immediate access to vital information regarding offenders in the criminal justice system, which will greatly reduce the backlog of border-related prosecutions. Whatcom County bears a heavy burden processing and prosecuting cases that result from border-related crime, costing the county $2.1 million annually.
Washington State Methamphetamine Initiative
Pierce County Alliance
510 Tacoma Avenue South
Tacoma, WA
$2 million to continue a statewide, multi-disciplinary effort entailing law enforcement, specialized drug treatment and prevention components, and professional training to combat methamphetamine use in Washington state. Specific program efforts include pro-active methamphetamine lab investigations, treatment programs designed to address methamphetamine where it impacts families, and the mobilization of Meth Action Teams (MATs) to undertake local education and prevention efforts.
Defense
Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile Derivative Program
Alliant TechSystems (ATK)
21301 Burbank Blvd Suite 100
Woodland Hills, CA
$1.9 million to develop an advanced missile capable of destroying enemy air defenses more effectively than existing technology. The AARGM will be placed on Navy planes based at NAS Whidbey, protecting the lives of the sailors stationed there.
Advanced Ground EW & Signals Intelligence System
Agilent Technologies
1615 75th Street
Everett, WA
$7 million to develop advanced Electronic Warfare systems to protect soldiers from improvised explosive devises (IEDs) and other threats. Electronic Warfare is the battle to ensure that our weapons which rely on radio frequencies can operate effectively, and to deny terrorists and other enemies the ability to use their weapons which rely on radio frequencies. These weapons range from the simple to the sophisticated, and include air defense radars which help enemies identify and destroy U.S. planes, and improvised explosive devises (IEDs) which have led to significant U.S. casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Advanced Reconfigurable Containers
Ultimate Survival Technologies
14428 167th Ave SE
Monroe, WA
$1.7 million to purchase light, durable, and versatile shipping containers for the Air Force. These containers will reduce the weight of Air Force freight shipments and allow warfighters in the field more options for moving their equipment in hostile environment.
Department of Defense Impact Aid
Department of Defense Education Agency
4040 North Fairfax Drive, Webb Bldg
Arlington, VA
$60 million for Department of Defense Impact Aid to support school districts which serve military families, including those in the 2nd Congressional district. This funding is needed to help school districts near military bases provide a quality education to all students, including those from military families. Families living on federal land are exempt from local property taxes, an important source of income for school districts.
Electronic Warfare Technology, Doctrine, and Tactics Development
Electronic Warfare Associates
3760 N Charles Porter Avenue
Oak Harbor, WA
$4 million to help Naval officers based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island improve their Electronic Warfare capabilities. Electronic Warfare is the battle to ensure that our weapons which rely on radio frequencies can operate effectively, and to deny terrorists and other enemies the ability to use their weapons which rely on radio frequencies. These weapons range from the simple to the sophisticated, and include air defense radars which help enemies identify and destroy U.S. planes, and improvised explosive devises (IEDs) which have led to significant U.S. casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan. This funding will allow the Navy to continue to benefit from the expertise of civilian trainers and military retirees as they develop new electronic warfare techniques.
Improved Stealth and Lower Cost Operations for US Naval Ships Using High Strength Netting
Diamond Nets, Inc.
1064 East Pole Road
Everson, WA
$6 million to develop high-strength deck-edge netting to protect sailors on Navy ships. The netting currently used by the Navy wears out quickly due to corrosion from salt water, heat from jet engines, and UV rays.
Navy Advanced Information Technology (AIT) Logistics Modernization Initiative
Intermec Technologies Corporation
6001 36th Avenue West
Everett, WA
$6 million to help modernize the Navy’s supply chain management system at Navy supply facilities, which store and track materiel. Applying Intermec’s handheld computer technology to the Navy supply chain will increase efficiency, reduce costs and allow the Navy to track valuable supplies more accurately.
Domestic Operations Response Equipment
Washington Military Department
Building 1, Camp Murray
Camp Murray, WA
$2.3 million for the Washington National Guard to purchase command and control equipment, including a vehicle and emergency shelter, to improve responses to domestic emergencies.
Western Regional Counterdrug Training Center
Washington Military Department
Building 1, Camp Murray
Camp Murray, WA
$2.5 million to establish a Regional Counterdrug Training Center in Washington state. This Center will help train federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement officials in drug interdiction so they can continue to keep our communities safe from methamphetamine and other dangerous drugs.
Energy and Water
Columbia River Channel Improvement Project
Seattle Corps of Engineers
4735 East Marginal Way South
Seattle, WA
$25 million to deepen the federal navigation channel from the Mouth of the Columbia River to the Portland/Vancouver area by three feet to allow ships calling on Columbia River ports to load more cargo, which will yield transportation cost savings for U.S. exporters.
Elliott Bay Seawall
Seattle Corps of Engineers
4735 East Marginal Way South
Seattle, WA
$1.4 million to allow for a feasibility study of the Elliott Bay Seawall. The purpose of the study is to document the problems and opportunities associated with the seawall, and formulate plans to address them.
Minor Realignment of the Lower Settling Basin, Snohomish River Federal Navigation Channel
Seattle Corps of Engineers
4735 East Marginal Way South
Seattle, WA
$1 million for the design and construction of a minor realignment of the lower (downstream) settling basin in the Snohomish River to increase the reliability of commercial and recreational navigational access in the federal channel. Maintaining adequate navigational depth in the Snohomish River is critical for the safe movement of over 1 million tons of waterborne commerce annually, and to continuing operational effectiveness of Naval Station Everett.
Puget Sound and Adjacent Waters Restoration
Seattle Corps of Engineers
4735 East Marginal Way South
Seattle, WA
$2 million for restoration and preservation projects identified by the Puget Sound Nearshore Marine Habitat Restoration project. Two of these projects are in my district: the Snohomish River Estuary Project to restore nearly 825 acres of estuary and enhance salmon recovery and the Nooksack River Fish Passage project to provide 26 miles of additional salmon habitat on the middle fork of the Nooksack River.
Puget Sound Nearshore Marine Habitat Study
Seattle Corps of Engineers
4735 East Marginal Way South
Seattle, WA
$1.6 million to identify the most cost-effective habitat restoration projects in the nearshore, estuary and marine areas of the Puget Sound Basin, including my district. The revitalization of nearshore habitat is critical for salmon recovery efforts.
Skagit River General Investigation Study
Seattle Corps of Engineers
4735 East Marginal Way South
Seattle, WA
$1.3 million for the Skagit General Investigation (GI) study to analyze various flood control projects in order to protect citizens and infrastructure impacted from a 100-year flood event of the Skagit River. Over the past 15 years, the Skagit River has flooded nearly every other year at a cost of tens of millions of dollars. This funding request advances the GI study and will complete the Plan Formulation report including a levee analysis study, the development and analysis of alternatives through the preliminary design stage and draft NEPA documents.
Interior and Environment
City of Blaine Wastewater Conveyance and Pumping System
City of Blaine
344 H Street
Blaine, WA
$1 million to design and construct a new wastewater conveyance and pumping system for the western portion of Blaine (Semiahmoo) to redirect flows to the new Lighthouse Point Water Reclamation Facility, which will eliminate sewage overflows into Drayton Harbor and allow the outdated Semiahmoo Treatment Plant to be demolished. This project will help ensure clean drinking water for residents of Blaine and the Semiahmoo community and help clean up Drayton Harbor.
Grizzly Bear Preservation in the North Cascades
US Fish and Wildlife Service
1849 C St NW
Washington, DC
$1 million for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to conduct an Environmental Impact Statement on Grizzly Bear populations in the North Cascades. This funding will help the Fish and Wildlife Service determine how best to preserve this endangered species.
Mitchell Hill Land Acquisition
National Parks Service
1849 C St NW
Washington, DC
$6 million for the National Parks Service to purchase 320 acres of Washington State Department of Natural Resources land near Mitchell Hill. This funding will protect this land from development and enhance recreational opportunities for visitors to San Juan Island National Historical Park.
Water Main Replacement Project
Startup Water District
PO Box 114
Startup, WA
$2 million for the engineering and construction of the water main replacement project to replace Startup's water mains, which are at the end of their useful life and are leeching asbestos into the drinking water.
Wastewater Treatment Facility Upgrade
City of Sultan
PO Box 1199
Sultan, Washington
$1.3 million for design, equipment purchase, and permit requirements for the wastewater treatment facility upgrade, which will support increased population growth and improve the water quality of the Skykomish River.
Wild Sky Wilderness Protection
U.S. Forest Service
201 14th Street SW
Washington, DC
$3.3 million for the Forest Service to purchase and protect privately-held land within the Mount-Baker Snoqualmie National Forest, adjacent to the Wild Sky Wilderness area. This acquisition will help preserve vital endangered species habitat and recreational opportunities in and around the Wild Sky Wilderness area which could be threatened by development.
Labor, Health and Human Services
Behavioral Health Center at Skagit Valley Hospital
Skagit Valley Hospital
1415 East Kincaid
Mount Vernon, WA
$750,000 to complete construction and purchase equipment for a new Behavioral Health Center at Skagit Valley Hospital to serve the acute mental health needs of the Skagit County community. The current facility is not adequate to meet the local need for mental health care services and does not have the capacity to provide necessary treatment options.
Providence Regional Medical Center Everett Emergency Department Expansion
Providence Regional Medical Center Everett
1321 Colby Avenue
Everett, WA
$1 million to help expand Providence Everett’s emergency department, providing a larger emergency facility to meet the growing needs of Snohomish County's underserved population.
Mount Vernon School District Life Safety Improvements
Mt. Vernon School District
124 East Lawrence Street
Mount Vernon, WA
$750,000 to protect kids in the case of a fire or natural disaster by installing fire sprinklers throughout the Mount Vernon High School gymnasium and bringing the school in compliance with seismic safety standards by making structural modifications to the walls and roof.
St. Joseph's Hospital Emergency Preparedness
St. Joseph's Hospital/Peace Health
2901 Squalicum Parkway
Bellingham, WA
$1 million to enhance emergency power, water and air supplies as well as to increase hospital security capabilities, to ensure the viability of the only major hospital in Whatcom County in the case of a disaster or mass casualty event.
Military Construction
Small Craft Launch
Naval Station Everett
2000 West Marine View Dr
Everett, WA
$2.62 million to construct a small boat launch at Naval Station Everett. Currently, Navy and Coast Guard personnel must tow the boats to a public marina when they need to launch them for security reasons or to respond to an environmental spill. This wastes time and fuel and hurts fleet readiness.
Transportation, Housing and Urban Development
Anderson Laventure Extension Project
Skagit County
1800 Continental Place
Mount Vernon, WA
$2.5 million to construct a new arterial roadway connecting South Laventure Road, an existing north-south arterial in eastern Mount Vernon, to the Anderson Road freeway interchange. This will ease congestion on Interstate-5 and provide an alternative route in the rapidly developing areas of eastern Mount Vernon.
Birdsey Minkler Civic Center
Town of Lyman
8405 S. Main Street
Lyman, WA
$500,000 to help the Town of Lyman acquire the historic Minkler Mansion and convert it to a town hall and community service delivery center, which provides services for low-income families including the Women, Infant and Children (WIC) program, maternity support services, legal assistance, energy assistance, medical assistance, literacy support, and a teen clinic.
Broadway Bridge Replacement Project
City of Everett
3200 Cedar Street
Everett, WA
$3.3 million to begin construction of a new bridge to replace the 97 year old Broadway Bridge. Last year, the City of Everett discovered that the Broadway Bridge is structurally deficient. It must be replaced as soon as possible because the span is a critical access point joining the region’s primary transportation corridors to Everett’s Central Business District, the Port of Everett and Naval Station Everett. The bridge also crosses the BNSF rail mainline, so a collapse would have a significant impact to the region’s rail infrastructure and economy.
Chuckanut Park and Ride Facility
Skagit Transit
600 County Shop Lane
Burlington, WA
$3.2 million to construct the Chuckanut Park and Ride Facility, which will offer an additional 350 parking spaces and provide connections to three regional transit providers. Currently all of Skagit Transit’s park and rides are being used to their maximum capacities and demand for more parking spaces is extremely high.
Dawson Place Child Advocacy Center
Snohomish County
3000 Rockefeller Avenue
Everett, WA
$1 million to help Dawson Place acquire property to provide a permanent home for its work providing services to sexually and physically abused children and their families and caregivers.
116th Street NE Interchange Improvements Project
The Tulalip Tribes
8802 27th Ave NE
Tulalip, WA
$2 million to make major improvements to the Interstate 5/ 116th Street NE interchange in Marysville to improve traffic flow, enhance driver safety and support increased economic development and economic growth in North Snohomish County.
New Ferry Vessel Propulsion Systems
Washington State Department of Transportation
310 Maple Park Ave SE
Olympia, WA
$2 million to help Washington State Ferries, which serves 25 million riders annually, purchase propulsion systems and generators for new passenger-auto ferries to accommodate increased ridership and meet public need.
Northwest Center of Environmental, Fisheries, and Aquaculture Sciences
City of Bellingham
210 Lottie Street
Bellingham, WA
$1 million to help Bellingham Technical College (BTC) construct a new facility for their Fisheries Technology Program which trains technicians to restore, expand and sustain habitat and wild salmon runs and aquaculture (seafood cultivation) in Puget Sound. The current building has severe structural problems which make any renovation impossible, and federal funding would help BTC construct a new facility located on City of Bellingham land.
Slater Road Flood Elevation Project
Lummi Nation
2616 Kwina Road
Bellingham, WA
$3 million to elevate approximately 1,900 feet of existing roadway and construct a 389 foot long bridge in a section of Slater Road that is vulnerable to flooding. Frequent and sustained flooding severely limits access to the areas and communities served by Slater Road, including the Lummi Indian Reservation, the Conoco Phillips Cherry Point Refinery and unincorporated areas of Whatcom County.
US 2 Corridor Safety Improvements
Washington State Department of Transportation
310 Maple Park Ave SE
Olympia, WA
$2 million to construct safety improvement projects on the U.S. Highway 2 corridor between Snohomish and Skykomish, a dangerous stretch of highway where there have been over 50 fatal accidents since 1999.
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