FY 2008 Defense Appropriations

Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter (ARH), United States Army--$550.6 million

This request is in support of the FY 2008 President’s Budget request for ARH.

CV-22 Osprey, United States Air Force--$872 million

This request is in support of the FY 2008 President’s Budget request for CV-22.

Horizon Extension Surveillance Systems (HESS), Raytheon Company, McKinney, Texas--$7.2 million

The HESS, a project within the Office of Naval Research, addresses short range Navy surveillance and engagement limitations by developing an organic elevated active radar system designed to support engagement of low flying cruise missiles and aircraft at significantly increased ranges. Navy surface combatant radars are horizon-limited against low flying aircraft and cruise missiles to ranges of 10 to 12 nautical miles. The HESS program will significantly improve combat system responsiveness and efficiency of our surface fleet by providing timely and accurate detection, tracking, and cueing of “over with the horizon” threats.

Institute for Science and Engineering Simulation (ISES), University of North Texas, Denton, Texas--$6 million

The Institute for Science and Engineering Simulation (ISES) has succeeded in combining a multi-disciplinary approach to perform computational modeling and composite testing at one site. The University of North Texas (UNT) has combined its premier material sciences program housed within the Center for Advanced Research and Technology (CART) with its nationally renowned Center for Advanced Scientific and Computational Modeling (CASCaM) to leverage previous Department of Defense funding to produce a unique, one-stop approach to the Air Force’s requirement. This request would continue important research used to reduce the risk of catastrophic failure in aircraft structural components as Air Force operational tempo continues at a high-level in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Kiowa Warrior, United States Army--$20.8 million

This request is in support of the FY 2008 President’s Budget request for Kiowa Warrior

MV-22 Osprey, United States Marine Corps--$2.17 billion

This request is in support of the FY 2008 President’s Budget request for MV-22.

UH-1Y/AH-1Z, United States Marine Corps--$522 million

This request is in support of the FY 2008 President’s Budget request for UH-1Y/AH-1Z.

Unmanned Force Augmentation System (UFAS), Geneva Aerospace, Carollton, Texas--$4.9 million

The funding would be used for continued research, development, and testing of the Unmanned Force Augmentation System, a program managed by the Naval Aviation Science and Technology Office. The UFAS technology is derived from the military operational need to make Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) more accessible to the warfighter. The UFAS technologies are designed to significantly reduce training and logistics cost for UAS while simultaneously increasing the system reliability and usability.

FY 2008 Labor, HHS, Education Appropriations

Cowboys of Color Museum, Fort Worth, Texas--$250,000

This request would assist the Cowboys of Color Museum as they work to catalog a unique and powerful segment of American History, preserve artifacts, and develop outreach programs for children in the community to learn about a rich and often unexplored part of history about the American West.

Digital Communications and Technology Improvements Initiative, Texas Wesleyan University, City of Fort Worth, Texas--$3.269 million

This request would assist Texas Wesleyan University in expanding connectivity between a growing number of learning centers in a high-growth area of North Texas and improve digital infrastructure at the Schollmaier Science and Technology Center. The funding would be utilized to upgrade the telecommunications environment to improve connectivity and features available to students and faculty independent of location, adding Internet2 to the main campus in support of collaborative science research opportunities, and augmenting the technology lab teaching/training spaces in West Library.

Early Childhood Development Program, City of Fort Worth--$900,000

This request will assist in the funding for neighborhood-based early childhood resource centers in Fort Worth. The funding would fund project managers and continuation of two pilot resource centers and provide start-up funding and annual operation funding for two new resource centers in two other neighborhoods.

Emergency Preparedness Pipeline Initiative, Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA), Town of Flower Mound, Texas--$1 million

HOSA’s Emergency Preparedness Pipeline Initiative (EPPI) is designed to expand the number of local HOSA chapters, partnering with community health care networks, and attract young people to the health professions. Increasing the number of students in HOSA will also improve local emergency response in the case auxiliary health professionals are needed to respond to a mass casualty incident or public health crisis. With additional emergency capacity in various communities across the country, more students will build a foundation of basic science knowledge as they enter the health care workforce or seek additional academic opportunities.

Federation of State Medical Boards, Euless, Texas--$325,000

The Federation of State Medical Boards will utilize this funding to collect and maintain contact information for all licensed physicians in this country in order to enable public health officials to contact physicians immediately and provide critical information in the event of a terrorist attack or a public health emergency. The Federation’s existing data elements include name, medical school, licensure status, disciplinary actions taken, and date and birth has been expanded to include business address, telephone, fax, and e-mail with the written understanding that this information will only be utilized in extraordinary circumstances.

Tarrant County Infant Mortality Task Force, Fort Worth, Texas--$50,000

The Tarrant County Infant Mortality Task Force is a broad-based, community coalition that is working to effectively address infant mortality. The funding would assist the Task Force in updating county data as it relates to infant mortality and increase education and outreach activities in areas of Tarrant County that have an extremely high rate of infant mortality.

FY 2008 Energy and Water Appropriations

Army Corps Fort Worth District - Central City Project, Fort Worth, Texas (Construction General)

Amount Requested: $10 million

The project would construct a bypass channel and appurtenant structures to control flood flows along the Clear Fork and West Fork of the Trinity River to provide ecosystem restoration and recreation facilities. The Final EIS was released in January 2006. Lack of optimal funding would result in significant delays to overall completion of the project, specifically the planning and design of the hydrologic components. FY2008 funds would be used to award final design contracts for the by-pass channel, Samuels Dam, Marine Creek, and three closure gates and to complete design of the hydraulic mitigation sites. Upon execution of a Project Cooperation Agreement, these funds will also be used to fully fund a construction contract for Ham Branch.

The Tentative Fiscal Year 2007 Work Plan Allocation includes $2 million for this project. The FY 2006 Energy and Water Appropriations bill included $7 million for the Central City project.

Army Corps Fort Worth District - Chambers Creek, Everman, TX

(Continuing Authority Program - Section 205)

Amount Requested: $100,000

The City of Everman has experience recurrent damages from overflows of the Chambers Creek. There is a long history of flooding in Everman which has damaged homes and businesses and destroyed livestock. Damages from future floods will only be greater as ongoing development the City of Everman grows in response to ongoing development surrounding Everman continues. The requested funds would be used to initiate a feasibility study for a Section 205 flood control project along Chambers Creek.

Army Corps Fort Worth District - Grapevine Lake, Texas

(Operations and Maintenance)

Amount Requested: $8.47 million

The requested funds would be used to repair erosion in downtown outlet channel; replace roofs on control tower and waterproof/seal structure; sandblast and repaint the service bridge; to remove woody vegetation, repair rip-rap and maintain slopes to include herbicide of riprap and fertilization of embankment; repair rip-rap on upstream embankment at outlet works; to modernize Murrell and Rockledge Parks; to improve and rehabilitate natural resources in upland wildlife management areas; to complete natural resources inventory; to protect prehistoric site in Murrell Park, and for boundary line monumentation and fencing. A lack of funding will result endanger the integrity of the dam and adversely impact the ability to operate the dam efficiently in order to provide flood protection to the cities of Coppell, Farmers Branch, and Dallas. The Administration supports this project.

The Tentative Fiscal Year 2007 Work Plan Allocation includes 2.454 million for this project. The FY 2006 Energy and Water Appropriations bill included $3.349 million for Grapevine Lake.

Army Corps Fort Worth District - Lewisville Dam, Texas

(Operations and Maintenance)

Amount Requested: $19.55 million

The requested funds for Lewisville Dam would be used for repairs of the spillway slopes, training wall, emergency spillway and embankment service road; to resurface embankment service road; to purchase land or construct shoreline erosion solutions; to modernize recreation facilities at Oakland and Westlake Parks; and to modernize Sycamore Bend and Hickory Creek Parks. Repairs of service gates and the spillway will stabilize the aging infrastructure integrity, ensure flood damage reduction and expected flood protection for downstream areas. Failure to fund these repairs will compromise the structural integrity of the dam and the ability to operate the dam to provide flood protection to the cities of Lewisville, Coppell, Farmers Branch, and Dallas. The Bush Administration supports this project.

The FY 2006 Energy and Water Appropriations bill included $4.290 million for Lewisville Dam and the Tentative Fiscal Year 2007 Work Plan Allocation for this project is $3.421 million.

Army Corps Fort Worth District - Lewisville Lake, Frisco, Texas

(Continuing Authority Program - Section 1135)

Amount Requested: $931,000

The recommended plan consists of the reforestation of approximately 57 acres to provide linkage among existing riparian and bottomland hardwood habitat, and the construction of a series of wetland cells comprising approximately 39 acres. The requested funds would be used to complete plans and specifications and execute the Project Cooperation Agreement. The total project cost would be shared between the Federal government and the city of Frisco, as the non-Federal sponsor. Per an agreement with the Corps, the city of Frisco would agree to waive credit or reimbursement for a total of $2,394,627 in lands, easements, rights-of-way, relocations, and disposal sites (LERRDs) above the 25 percent non-Federal cost share requirement for ecosystem restoration. The Bush Administration supports this project.

Army Corps Fort Worth District - Pecan Creek, Gainesville, TX

(Continuing Authority Program - Section 205)

Amount Requested: $4.020 million.

Pecan Creek in Gainesville has overrun its banks at least a half a dozen times the last fifty years and caused extensive damage. The Army Corps has estimated that if action is not taken to mitigate flooding from Pecan Creek, economic damages will average $783,300 per year. Flooding in 1981, for example, resulted in an estimated $19 million in damages, well above the Corps current estimate as described in their current analysis. As the Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex continues to expand to the north and Gainesville continues to grow, monetary damages incurred by a possible flood will only increase.

To ensure the availability of local funds, the citizens of Gainesville approved the issuance of $7 million in municipal bonds in February 2002. Immediately following the bond election, the City entered into a Section 205 contract with the Corps for the preliminary engineering and design phase of the project. The FY2008 request would completely fund the federal portion of construction costs through completion, removing this project from the Corps backlog. The Administration supports this project.

Army Corps Fort Worth District - Ray Roberts Lake, Texas

(Operations and Maintenance)

Amount Requested: $3.859 million

The requested funds would be used to motorize low flow butterfly valve; relocate sheer pin; to install sump pump for valve pit; to construct concrete lining for toe ditch; to repair and repaint service gate, frames, and liners; to repair slope failure and spillway approach channel, for management, compliance and utilization inspections; for routine scheduled recreation maintenance; for management of archaeological and cultural resources, for management and protection of natural resources, and to establish permanent boundary monumentation and repair fence. Repair of the approach slope, repair and upgrade of the low flow butterfly valve, maintenance of the service gates, and construction of the toe drain liner will stabilize the aging infrastructure integrity, ensure flood damage reduction and expected flood protection for downstream areas. The Bush Administration supports this project.

The Tentative Fiscal Year 2007 Work Plan Allocation includes $988,000 for this project. The FY 2006 Energy and Water Appropriations bill included $963,000 for Ray Roberts Lake.

Army Corps Fort Worth District - Riverside Oxbow, Trinity River, TX (Construction General)

Amount Requested: $2 million

The original West Fork channel of the Trinity River naturally formed an oxbow or loop; however, the oxbow was cut off from river flows when the channel was realigned for flood control purposes. This project will restore the environmental ecosystem of this section of the river by reestablishing low flows through the old oxbow, creating emergent wetlands, reforestation, and other conservation measures. This project furthers the flood damage reduction, water quality, environmental restoration, recreation, and other allied purposes authorized by Congress in 1989 in the original Upper Trinity River Feasibility Study authorization. Funds would be used to complete plans and specifications for this ecosystem restoration project and to award the first construction contract.

The FY2005 Consolidated Appropriations bill included a separate line item of $119,000 for this project under the Upper Trinity River Feasibility Study (General Investigation).

Army Corps Fort Worth District - Texas Water Allocation Assessment

(Operations and Maintenance)

Amount Requested: $1.4 million

This project will enable the Corps to assist Texas water regions in determining if existing water can be better allocated to support more balanced water use in light of future needs. Texas Water Allocation Assessment is intended to support the regional and state water planning process in Texas, particularly in regards to facilitating implementation of water strategies in the Texas State Water Plan, through immediate technical assistance, and/or through initiation of studies leading to possible implementation of cost-shared water resources projects.

The Fiscal Year 2008 funds would be used to perform hydrologic and hydraulic modeling, ground- and surface-water modeling, geomorphic analyses, instream flow analyses, reservoir system assessments, environmental assessments, hydrographic surveys and other studies needed to support the state water plan. This work would be accomplished by Fort Worth District in-house staff, other Districts in Southwestern Division, Texas Water Development Board, academia, and contractors. The Administration supports this project.

The Tentative FY 2007 Work Plan includes $660,000 for this project. The FY 2006 Energy and Water Appropriations bill included $1.44 million for the Texas Water Allocation Assessment.

Army Corps Fort Worth District - Upper Trinity River Basin, TX

(General Investigations)

Amount Requested: $1.9 million

Funds would be used to complete the Dallas Floodway Interim Feasibility Study (IFS); continue the Big Fossil Creek Watershed IFS; continue the Regional Resource Inventory; and, initiate a new IFS on the Irving Northwest Levee by developing existing conditions for ecologic, engineering, real estate, cultural, and hydrologic and hydraulic modeling. The completion of the Dallas Floodway IFS is integral to the city of Dallas’ plans and a delay in its completion will cause a delay in the implementation of the overall city plan for the achievement of environmental, recreational, mobility and economic opportunities for the neighborhoods bordering the Trinity River. The completion of the Big Fossil Watershed IFS is very important to the nine local governments in the watershed and their desire to address flood damage reduction solutions, while identifying associated water quality, ecosystem restoration and recreational opportunities. The non-Federal sponsor of this study is the North Central Texas Council of Governments. This project is consistent with Bush Administration policy.

The Tentative Fiscal Year 2007 Work Plan Allocation includes $1 million to continue the Dallas Floodway Interim Feasibility Study (IFS) and the Big Fossil Creek Watershed IFS. The FY 2006 Energy and Water Appropriations bill included $800,000 for the Upper Trinity River Basin.

Center for Advanced Scientific Computing and Modeling (CASCAM)

The University of North Texas, Denton, Texas

Amount Requested: $2.5 million

The University of North Texas (UNT) established the Center for Advanced Scientific Computing and Modeling (CASCaM) to address biological and environmental research problems of immediate national interest. UNT now requests federal funding as part of an ongoing four-year program to create a state-of-the-art facility for advanced scientific computing. Continued support will expand research for industry, energy and science-specific problems and develop a critically needed scientifically trained computational work force. Researchers trained in advanced scientific computing techniques can save U.S. industry and the government billions of dollars each year. CASCaM will provide on-site and distant research opportunities for science educators, academia, government and industry.

This project received $248,000 in the Fiscal Year 2005 Labor, HHS, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations bill, through the Department of Education.

FY 2008 Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations

Institute for Modeling & Policy Assessment of Complex Systems (IMPACS)

The University of North Texas, Denton, Texas

Amount requested: $2,500,000

IMPACS applies the expertise of environmental and social scientists, policy analysts, mathematicians and engineers to analyze potential consequences of high impact policy options. IMPACS assesses short- and long-term outcomes of environmental policy, land-use change, natural disasters and resource management decisions, as well as policy relevant social behavior and value analysis. Researchers use advanced computer simulation tools combining environmental monitoring technologies and geo-spatial technologies with multi-agent human behavior models. IMPACS reaches beyond traditional environmental impact study assessment by factoring models of human behavior with state-of-the-art science system models to represent the complex interplay between human and natural systems — and thus produces more sophisticated and informed policy analyses. Accounting for the human element as well as the science is an essential mission of IMPACS.

FY 2008 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations

Children’s Advocacy Center for Denton County, Child Safety Capital Improvement—$2,500,000

The Children’s Advocacy Center’s requests fits the agency’s purpose and goals by providing a child friendly facility where children and families can feel safe and comfortable. The new facility will provide more space for partner agencies to conduct successful joint investigations of child sexual abuse cases. The facility will be a place of dignity and one stop support where children and families can come. The increased demand for services by their clients and partner agencies necessitates the construction of the new building.

City of Denton, Denton Public Safety Training Facility —$4,500,000

The purpose of this project is to provide the new Denton Public Safety Training Facility with equipment and technology. The requested funding will help equip the facility, including fire simulation equipment, computerized firearm targeting systems, classroom-based virtual reality simulation equipment and administrative/classroom multimedia equipment.

FY 2008 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations

Alliance Airport, Runway Extension Project —$30,000,000

The Runway Extension Project at Alliance Airport in Denton County includes lengthening the runway to 11,000 feet and includes extension of a parallel taxiway, relocation of FM Road 156, relocation of Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) main line, and the extension of Eagle Parkway, at a total cost of $132 million in 2001 dollars. This project and funding request will allow for the runway extension to be carried out and allow for the entire west side of the Alliance Intermodal facility to be accessed in order to generate already proven economic growth benefits to the entire North Texas area. This project and funding request has local, regional, and national significance. The runway extension project, when completed, will provide a platform for cargo-laden aircraft to conduct international flight operations from Alliance Airport to destinations around the world. One safety note, this project which is part of the overall runway extension project, will allow for the runway to be lengthened allowing for the heaviest of aircraft on the hottest of Texas days to safely operate within their given margins.

Christian Community Action, Class D Pharmacy and Adult Health Center—$3,257,666

The Christian Community Action (CCA) requests funds to establish a Class D Pharmacy in their existing Adult Health Center. The funds will also be used to expand the Adult Health Center to include a medical office building and PediPlace Children’s Clinic. These funds will enable CCA to provide healthcare in an area dedicated for the prescription department, including an area suitable for confidential patient counseling, water supply and electrical supply, fixtures for the storage of medicine, equipment and supplies, and the personnel necessary to operate the pharmacy.

City of Denton, Denton Downtown Development Hickory Street Corridor—$1,556,505

The project calls for enhancements to Hickory Street from the Intermodal Transportation Center to the University of North Texas. It will improve Hickory Street from the Denton Intermodal Transportation Center east of the Downtown Square to the area adjacent to the University of North Texas. The project will spur downtown revitalization and improve connectivity between downtown, the University and neighborhoods in between.

City of Denton, Denton Municipal Airport Improvements—$990,000

The Denton Municipal Airport plays an important role in the regional economy, serving as a general aviation hub for North Texas. The City of Denton and the Texas Department of Transportation, Aviation, have made substantial capital improvements in the Denton Airport in the past five years and as a result considerable private development is being realized at this field. The City is requesting $990,000 in discretionary funding for tower and security enhancements at the Denton Airport. These improvements include radar equipment to facilitate flight safety as well as security fencing and controlled access points to increase airport security. Both projects are major components to the Airport Master Plan; address key areas FAA personnel have identified as weaknesses, and will further facilitate the current growth trends at the facility.

City of Fort Worth, Quiet Zone Railroad Safety Project—$2,500,000

Fort Worth is seeking funds to construct quiet zones at 15 railroad crossings in Tarrant County. The Union Pacific operates freight trains on this north-south line in the northern part of Tarrant County. Citizens are concerned with the safety issues and are exasperated with the train horn noise, and many are quite desperate in their plea seeking any relief from their governing agencies.

This region in the north Fort Worth area is one of the most rapidly growing segments of Tarrant County with dense residential development, and much more growth is underway and planned. Along this 9-mile stretch of railroad tracks are 15 railroad crossings, 26 trains per day, and within one-half mile of the tracks there are 22,000 residents who are subjected to the day and night train horn sounding. Because of the close spacing of each railroad crossing, a locomotive is required to sound its horn during 40 percent of its travel along this route; that is the train horn is sounded for nearly half to the train’s travel. For these reasons the citizen complaints are intense, and moreover, a quiet zone deployment that does not address every crossing would be ineffective.

The two primary benefits of this project are 1) increased rail crossing safety and 2) improved environmental qualities. There needs to be railroad crossing apparatus that prohibit vehicles from circumventing the lowered crossing gates and/or modernized crossing signals and quiet zone devices. This will result in increased safety and a much-appreciated environment with less train horn noise for the residential community.

Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA), Buses and Bus Facility Improvements—$5,230,000

The DCTA is a county transportation authority created by Texas House Bill 3323 in 2001, and the voters in Denton County approved the confirmation of the DCTA by 73% on November 5, 2002. Their mission is to provide safe, customer-focused, and efficient mobility solutions for Denton County, which is a rapidly growing metropolitan area of North Texas. The funding request will allow DCTA to accomplish the following goals: purchase eight new advanced-design low-emitting bus transit vehicles for fixed service routes in Denton County; construct bus operations and maintenance facility to reduce the operations costs of leased facilities; purchase on-board security camera and surveillance equipment; and purchase eleven mobile data terminals in paratransit vehicles to stabilize costs associated with growing paratransit demand. There is a 20% local match for this project.

Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA), Fixed Guideway Design and Engineering—$3,500,000

The DCTA must design, engineer, and complete the environmental impact study to facilitate their rail plans that will connect Denton County with the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) in Dallas County. This project was authorized for preliminary engineering in SAFETEA-LU. There is a 50% local match for this project.

Fort Worth Transportation Authority, Fleet Replacement and Expansions—$11,600,000

The Fort Worth Transportation Authority is seeking $11,600,000 to replace of the aging bus fleet and to expand the bus fleet to serve new park and ride lots in the service area. These funds would assist in replacing 30 buses and purchasing 5 expansion buses. This bus purchase will enable the entire bus fleet to be 100% wheel chair accessible. The replacement buses will be fueled with clean-burning compressed natural gas. The buses will also be installed with cameras for improved passenger and driver security. The buses will be purchased in FY 2008 and FY 2009.

Texas Wesleyan University, Rosedale Redevelopment Initiative—$4,155,000

The purpose of this initiative is to fully renovate and revitalize a three-block area in an extremely economically devastated area that surrounds Texas Wesleyan University. Texas Wesleyan University has developed a comprehensive revitalization plan that includes replacing the current buildings on Rosedale Avenue in Fort Worth with attractive commercial buildings and open spaces that will enhance the appearance and improve the safety of this three-block and the Texas Wesleyan community. The City of Fort Worth has designated this area of the city as a Neighborhood Empowerment Zone (NEZ) that signifies the city’s desire to encourage rehabilitation and economic growth.