Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2009
Floor Speech
CONSOLIDATED SECURITY, DISASTER ASSISTANCE, AND CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2009 -- (House of Representatives - September 24, 2008)
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Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Speaker, in accordance witt House earmark reforms, I would like to place in the Record a listing of the congressionally-directed projects I have requested in my home State of Idaho that are contained in the report of H.R. 2638, the Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2009 Appropriations Bill.
I'd like to take just a few minutes to describe why I support these projects and why they are valuable to the Nation and its taxpayers.
The report contains $4,000,000 in the NPPD Infrastructure Protection and Information Security account for the Power and Cyber Systems Protection, Analysis, and Testing Program at the Idaho National Laboratory. The program would conduct vulnerability analysis, testing, and protection of power and cyber connected systems for the Department of Homeland Security, utilizing the unique resources available at the Idaho National Laboratory, such as the electric grid, SCADA and control systems, cyber and communication test beds, and the explosives test range. The proposed work entails collaboration with leading universities and other National Laboratories to leverage ongoing research at these institutions and advance the state-of-the-art in building resilience into infrastructure systems. The funding would be used to obtain full-scale systems in sectors of interest to DHS for testing of vulnerabilities, identification of protection strategies, and evaluation of resilient designs; partner with universities and National Laboratories to develop resilient control systems; and establish a program that develops new protection schemes. The INL is uniquely placed to carry out this program, which would leverage its ongoing work in this area sponsored by DoD, DHS, and Intelligence Agencies and its established relationships with industry, universities, and National Laboratories. This request is consistent with the intended purpose of this account.
The entity to receive funding for this project is the Idaho National Laboratory, located at 2525 North Freemont St., Idaho Falls, Idaho 83415.
The report contains $1,600,000 in the Defense Production Act Purchases account for the Read Out Integrated Circuit (ROIC) Manufacturing Improvement. The United States Air Force and the Missile Defense Agency have been investigating ways to improve manufacturing capabilities and improve cryogenic and radiation performance of these circuits. The thermal imagers of the future will operate in harsh environmental conditions for longer periods of time and will have increased resolution (through increased pixel count) over the detectors of today. Maintaining a domestic source of this technology as well as working to enhance the manufacturing capabilities of this critical technology are equally as important as increasing the yield. Funds for this project will be used to establish a long-term, known U.S. source; improve yields both by the manufacturer and by the vendors who use the contractor as a manufacturing source; decrease the cycle time required in manufacturing ROICs and a reduction of design cycle time by ROIC designers; and provide a roadmap to meet the future needs of the ROIC designers. When the program is completed, ROICs will be available with twice the number of pixels for less money than the ROIC currently costs. This request is consistent with the intended purpose of this account.
The entity to receive funding for this project is ON Semiconductor, located at 2300 Buckskin Rd., Pocatello, Idaho 83201.
The report contains $1,600,000 in the Medical Advanced Technology account for the Integrated Patient Quality Program. To directly enhance the patient-provider encounter, the Integrated Patient Quality Program will identify the degree to which physicians utilize consumer content integrated into the DoD Electronic Medical Record (AHLTA) and provide after-visit summaries to patients, and identify the impact this critical medical information has on patients' health and their ability to make informed decisions. This phase of the project will build upon the requirements' definition and technical feasibility study performed within FY08 funding that developed a functional and technical road map, and successfully tested the Integrated Patient Quality concept in a development environment. Additionally, the Integrated Patient Quality Program will explore content delivery options outside of the patient-provider face-to-face interaction to include: secure provider/patient e-mail, online laboratory results, pre-visit/test preparation, surgical decision support, and disease management to at-risk patients. This request is consistent with the intended purpose of this account.
The entity to receive funding for this project is Healthwise, Incorporated, located at 2601 N. Bogus Basin Road, Boise, Idaho 83702.
The report contains $2,000,000 in the Support Systems Development account for the Accelerator-Driven Non-Destructive Testing. The Idaho Accelerator Center (lAC) proposes to continue development of penetrating and nondestructive testing (NDT) techniques utilizing new techniques in positron annihilation spectroscopy with accelerator-based gamma-beams, and the use of monochromatic x-ray beams that are produced by colliding high-power laser beams with high-energy electron beams. Both of these core technologies have been under development at the lAC for several years and have matured to the point that serious in-field commercialization is possible. This request is consistent with the intended purpose of this account.
The entity to receive funding for this project is Idaho State University, located at 921 South 8th Avenue, Pocatello, Idaho 83209.
The report contains $1,440,000 in the Electronics Technology account for the 3-D Technology for Advanced Sensor Systems Project. The military has a need for new three-dimensional (3-D) packaging of electronic systems, particularly sensor systems for portable applications. The team of Boise State University and RTI International has developed 3-D processing techniques on silicon and LTCC platforms, including technologies for die- and wafer-scale bonding and 3-D interconnects. These funds will allow them to apply these techniques to create 3-D integration and packaging solutions applicable to a general category of high performance sensor systems. These funds will be used to support summer salaries for faculty, and provide salaries for research staff, post-doctoral associates, graduate and undergraduate students. Research supplies, capital equipment, and travel will be funded as required to support the objectives of the project. This request is
consistent with the intended purpose of this account.
The entity to receive funding for this project is Boise State University, located at 1910 University Drive, Boise, Idaho 83725-1135.
The report contains $1,200,000 in the Critical Infrastructure Protection account for the Electric Grid Reliability/Assurance project. The effort will operationalize advanced electric grid modeling simulation and analysis capability that links disparate critical infrastructure sector models that run simultaneously and dynamically to share information providing greater understanding of critical infrastructure status before, during or after a destructive event. Funds will be used for the enhanced development of electric grid modeling, simulation and testing capabilities at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL). Incorporation of both real-time and distributed system modeling capabilities will provide expanded capabilities for analysis of systems critical to DoD. These efforts will provide DoD an enhanced capability to simulate, prove and make recommendations for techniques to sustain mission operations via continued power generation when power from the electric utilities is no longer present. This request is consistent with the intended purpose of this account.
The entity to receive funding for this project is Idaho National Laboratory, located at P.O. Box 1625, Idaho Falls, Idaho 83415.
The report contains $1,200,000 in the Advanced Electronics Technologies for the Hybrid Power Generation System. Research has resulted in a breakthrough technology using compressed magnetic fields which can generate power. The continued research, development, testing and validation of the technology should result in mission extension for dismounted soldiers and considerable savings by reducing the reliance on disposable batteries. Approximately $57,000 is being spent per soldier, per year on batteries alone in theatre. This technology will not only reduce Federal spending needed for such batteries, but will considerably reduce related military logistics costs, reduce the amount of hazardous waste disposal costs (for the toxic substances used in battery materials), and will reduce the man/machine interface by reducing the 20-30 lbs of extra batteries soldiers are currendy required to carry for extended missions. This request is consistent with the intended purpose of this account.
The entity to receive funding for this project is M2E Power, Inc., located at 875 W. McGregor Court, Suite 150 Boise, Idaho 83705.
The report contains $3,200,000 in the Chemical and Biological Defense Program Account for the Vacuum Sampling Pathogen Collection and Concentration project. Production and commercialization potential of the recently completed basic wet-vacuum pathogen collection system will be further enhanced through completion and integration of current prototype-stage ``sister'' technologies. The combined systems will provide safer, more accurate and faster sample collection and processing capabilities with GPS-RFID sample site documentation and sample identification, plus handling, transport and lab traceability. Current outsourced production activities will be centralized through expanded in-house production facilities for more stringent cost, QC and delivery schedule management and control. Integrated technology systems will improve safety, accuracy and standardization of bio-agent detection methods for our soldiers and civilian end users. This request is consistent with the intended purpose of this account.
The entity to receive funding for this project is Microbial-Vac Systems, Inc., located at 160 Bridon
Way, Jerome, Idaho 83338.
The report contains $3,200,000 in the Advanced Spacecraft Technology account for the Ultra Low Power Electronics. Ultra-Low Power (ULP) Electronics is an Air Force Research Lab-sponsored initiative working in collaboration with industry to develop electronics that require less power and provide increased efficiency. A key challenge for DoD electronics applications is the reduction of power consumption in the Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS)--the technology platform used for advanced integrated circuits. Funding in 2009 will develop a high OPS/Watt ULP platform solution for DoD designers of electronic systems and demonstrate a base technology that can be rapidly scaled to meet general ULP industry requirements for portable electronics. The project is an iterative, multi-lot, fabrication research and development effort that includes design tool and model development necessary to deploy the new technology. A viable scaling method for reducing electronic voltage requirements and the associated ULP products will define an alternative CMOS scaling roadmap specific to portable technology. This program will establish a new technical approach and industrial capability for U.S. electronics. This request is consistent with the intended purpose of this account.
The entity to receive funding for this project is American Semiconductor, Inc., located at 3100 S. Vista Ave., Ste 230 Boise, Idaho 83705.
The report contains $800,000 in the New Design Ssn Account for the Highly Corrosive-Resistant Alloy Joining for Nuclear Applications. This funding will be used to develop and test novel prototype design-for-manufacturing methods, flexible automated welding and inspection technology for application in submarine nuclear reactor propulsion systems. The research will result in new joining techniques to shape highly corrosive-resistant alloys to meet the requirements of underwater power generation and radiation containment. This request is consistent with the intended purpose of this account.
The entity to receive funding for this project is Premier Technology, located at 1858 W. Bridge Street, Blackfoot, Idaho 83221.
The report contains $1,800,000 in the Air Force Military Construction Account for the Mountain Home AFB Logistics Readiness Center. The Existing Logistic Supply is a condemned 53-year-old wooden structure beyond economical repair. The building had to be evacuated and now 60% of base supply functions operate from temporary spaces across base, creating significant delays in troop/equipment mobilization. This negatively impacts the Wing's ability to demolish and relocate from other substandard facilities on base. When funded, the Logistics Readiness Center will provide command and control for all materials in-bound and outbound, including freight processing, packing, crating, pallet buildup shop, and provide bulk and bin storage. The facility will also support secure storage and an armory and will include administrative areas. This request is consistent with the intended purpose of this account.
The entity to receive funding for this project is the 366th Wing, Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, located at 366 Gunfighter Avenue, Ste. 107, Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho 83648.
I appreciate the opportunity to provide a list of Congressionally-directed projects in my district and an explanation of my support for them.
(1) $4 million for the Power and Cyber Systems Protection, Analysis, and Testing Program; Idaho National Laboratory.
(2) $1,600,000 for the Read Out Integrated Circuit (ROIC) Manufacturing Improvement; ON Semiconductor.
(3) $1,600,000 for the Integrated Patient Quality Program; Healthwise Incorporated.
(4) $2,000,000 for the Accelerator-Driven Non-Destructive Testing; Idaho State University.
(5) $1,440,000 for the 3-D Technology for Advanced Sensor Systems; Boise State University.
(6) $1,200,000 for the Electric Grid Reliability/Assurance; Idaho National Laboratory.
(7) $1,200,000 for the Hybrid Power Generation System; M2E Power Inc.
(8) $3,200,000 for the Vacuum Sampling Pathogen Collection and Concentration; Microbial-Vac Systems, Inc.
(9) $3,200,000 for the Ultra Low Power Electronics; American Semiconductor.
(10) $800,000 for the Highly Corrosive-Resistant Alloy Joining for Nuclear Applications; Premier Technology.
(11) $1,800,000 in the Air Force Military Construction Account for the Mountain Home AFB Logistics Readiness Center; Mountain Home Air Force Base.
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