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In just one year, Democrats passed landmark reforms to make the earmark process more transparent and cut earmarks in half. We look forward to continuing to work with the President to shine a new light on earmarks, including the thousands of earmarks the Administration requests each year.
For six years, President Bush did nothing to curb earmarks and instead presided over an earmark explosion. During the Republican-led 109th Congress, earmarks soared to their highest levels. At the height of this unchecked and irresponsible spending spree, the President said nothing. In this Congress, Democrats reduced earmarks by nearly half and created a transparency never before known in the House appropriations process.
We have uncloaked the earmarks and enabled citizens to see where their money is going. The President is demanding that Congress ends congressional funding directives while his administration uses the process liberally to meet the needs of special interests. Simultaneously, the federal grants application process, which parallels "a congressional earmark", is so complex, convoluted, and competitive that many local stakeholders - city, county, and state governments, non-profits, and community advocates -- are frustrated and discouraged by the process.
It is true that some earmarks are excessive and unreasonable, but many more support meaningful programs and help local communities benefit from their federal tax contributions and/ or meet federal mandates. Unfortunately, many important Metropolitan Atlanta initiatives would never receive federal funding if the President has his way. This is not right. This is not fair. This is not just.
Examples of Atlanta Metro Area Funding Directives in The FY08 Appropriations Cycle:
City Safe Project, City of Atlanta, GA: $399,500
The City Safe Project targets youth and ex-offenders who live in a geographic area where resources are needed and large numbers of ex-offenders return on probation or parole in the City of Atlanta. There is also a focus on ex-offenders and their children, especially those in the Fulton County Juvenile Court. Finally, the project focuses on integrating state, community, and local resources to employ prevention and interdiction strategies.
Sewer System Evaluation Surveys, City of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA: $300,000
The City of Atlanta has undertaken the largest water and sewer renovation project in its history. The evaluation of Atlanta's sanitary sewer system involves the inspection and repair of 2,200 miles of sanitary sewers throughout the city, which affects cities downstream and throughout the region. This evaluation is necessary in order for Atlanta to comply with the two Federal Consent Decrees to address their problems. It will also prevent the entire burden from falling on Atlanta's low income rate payers.
Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District: $300,000
Local governments throughout the District's 16-county area (Bartow, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Fulton, Forsyth, Gwinnett, Hall, Henry, Paulding, Rockdale and Walton Counties, Georgia) are required to implement the District's three water resource plans in order to receive permits from GA EPD. Any federal funding received would be used to help local governments meet these requirements in the area of watershed management. It is estimated that more than $5 billion will be spent over the next 30 years to implement the plans.
Law Enforcement Technology Upgrade, East Point, GA: $ 446,000
The City of East Point seeks to install Mobile Data Terminals in its patrol vehicles. Mobile Data Terminals will be used to connect officers with systems being installed in fire trucks for onsite use at incidents. The project will put more information at the fingertips of both police and fire personnel while they are in the field without having to radio back to dispatch. The project will allow the response times and patrol service hours for sworn officers to meet and/or exceed federal standards. It will also allow the City's Police Department to use technology that is compatible with the City of Atlanta and Fulton County. That level of interoperability is consistent with federal standards implemented by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Beltline Draft Environmental Impact Statement and Preliminary Engineering, Atlanta, GA: $300,000
The BeltLine is an innovative project that will generate economic vitality, mobility alternatives, environmental sustainability and smart growth over the next 25 years. Requested funding will support the environmental impact assessment of the approved locally preferred alternative for the BeltLine project by initiating environmental work as required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and commencement of preliminary engineering for the BeltLine project. The largest and most comprehensive urban redevelopment project in the United States, the BeltLine transit component will serve 45 neighborhoods along 22 miles of transit service through Atlanta's urban core connecting to multiple existing MARTA stations and to the broader regional transit network.
St. Joseph's Hospital Mercy Care Services to Improve Quality of Care through Electronic Health Records, Atlanta, GA: $390,000
Funding for this project would be used towards developing electronic health records (EHRs) for the homeless and underserved communities in Atlanta served by Saint Joseph's Mercy Care Services. The national goal is to have an EHR for most Americans by 2012. The EHR will help reduce medical errors, reduce cost and significantly improve quality and integration of care especially for those with chronic diseases. In addition, there is a national emphasis on ending chronic homelessness. This project will have significant impact in both arenas.
Acquisition of MARTA Clean Fuel Buses, Atlanta, GA: $3,000,000
The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) is on target to complete a project to acquire a total of 55 new clean fuel technology buses in order to replace aging buses that have exceeded their useful life. MARTA is a single-purpose public authority authorized to plan, develop and operate a public mass transportation system serving the City of Atlanta and Fulton and DeKalb Counties. By making mass transit a more attractive commute option, the project will further national goals to reduce traffic congestion.
Environmental Infrastructure, Atlanta, GA: $1,500,000
The City of Atlanta has undertaken the largest water and sewer renovation project in its history. Excessive overflows from the combined sewer system, coupled with sanitary sewer overflows and leaks in the separated area, are seriously impacting the metropolitan Atlanta regional water quality. The proposed project would improve surface water quality by providing combined sewer capacity relief to capture more storm water and sewage flows and associated flood relief in several areas of the City.
Georgia, I-285 Transit Corridor Project, Atlanta, GA: $500,000
Congestion relief along I-285 in the Atlanta Region is among the more challenging transportation issues in the United States. The Atlanta Region is one of the most congested urban areas in the U.S., and it continues to grow at one of the faster rates of commercial and residential growth. A corridor study indicated the feasibility of a bus rapid transit or light rail transit project generally parallel to I-285 from US 41 on the west to the MARTA North rail line and the Perimeter employment area, and from there to the I-85 corridor on the east. Funds are needed in FY 2008 to assist in completing the environmental reviews and the preliminary engineering for the project.
Project Excell, Fulton County, GA: $97,000
Fulton County seeks to implement a new initiative that seeks to address one of SAMHSA's national priorities. This 5-year program would create a12-week "evidence-based best practice" intensive outpatient treatment program serving homeless males with a co-occurring substance and mental health disorders.
Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) Scholars Program, Atlanta, GA: $188,000
Spelman College's WISE program addresses a national need to increase the prevalence of under-represented racial minorities and women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines, while strengthening Spelman's capacity to continue to serve as a national conduit for the human resources needed to sustain the country's global economic competitiveness. The WISE program continues Spelman's important role in providing the nation with a skilled scientific workforce.
Georgia State University HIV/Prisoner Reentry Program, Atlanta, GA: $94,000
Georgia State University seeks to expand participation and collect data to assess the effectiveness of the pre-release and case management program in terms of outcomes such as HIV/AIDS related medical status of the released inmate, recidivism, health-related practices and behaviors, and community disease transmission. Additionally, they plan on adding a community component to the intervention, particularly for individuals at high risk of recidivism.
Morehouse College Project MARS Program, Atlanta, GA: $188,000
Morehouse College seeks to addresses the growing workforce crisis in science and technology as outlined by numerous reports. Project Mars would increase the number of matriculating students with scholarships to enroll in STEM disciplines at the College, create partnerships for undergraduate research projects with university scientists and NASA-funded initiatives, and increase the number of minorities in SPACE related industries. This initiative is consistent with the Administration's STEM and ACI education initiatives.
Other Metro Atlanta initiatives supported by the Congressman include:
Grady Health Systems, Atlanta, GA for electronic medical records upgrades: $326,000
Grady Health System has embarked on identifying and implementing a new Electronic Health Record (EHR) System which will replace its antiquated Information Technology Infrastructure. The system will be consolidated, standardized and available to hospital personnel and will utilize a unified database run on a single operating system which will allow immediate and universal access to complete information. Grady serves as the only Level I Trauma Center for a 100 mile radius surrounding Atlanta, operates one of two burn units in Georgia, runs the Georgia Poison Center, and provides other highly specialized services to greater Atlanta and beyond.
Morehouse University School of Medicine in Atlanta, GA for land acquisition and construction of the medical school campus: $300,000
MSM is a medical school that specializes in training minorities in primary care medicine and related health professions. Their research centers focus on disease and conditions that disproportionately affect African-Americans and other minorities. The centers include the National Center of Primary Care, the Cardiovascular Research Institute, the Neuroscience Institute, the NASA Space Medicine and Life Science Research Center, the Clinical Research Center, the Prevention Research Center, Research Center in Minority Institutions, and the Cooperative Reproductive Science Research Center. Unfortunately, there have been no critical improvements to the infrastructure in these buildings to support the modern day research equipment now in use by their faculty.
MARTA Clifton Corridor (Lindbergh-Emory), GA: $750,000
This project addresses the need for transit alternatives on the highly congested roads surrounding the Emory University/Hospital complex and the expanding Center for Disease Control and Prevention. This area attracts thousands of employees throughout the region without a direct connection to any fixed-guideway transit. Additionally, Homeland Security considerations for facilities of national significance introduce the need to evaluate transportation options to improve conveyances for access/evacuation. The project will: increase mobility options, reducing the need for travel by automobile; significantly mitigate traffic congestion; and increase transit ridership in the Atlanta Non-attainment Area.
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