Porker Paul preaches night and day against spending. Says we need to cut it out. Yet this hypocrite is a huge Porker. If this is his track record, then spending cuts aren't as big too him as he says. Taking even one dollar of pork goes against everything Radical Paul says he stands for. How can a man like him attack others, when he request more pork than this entire GOP field! This guy eat bacon for breakfast, ham for lunch and hotdogs for dinner!
PORKER PAUL says, "Federal government read my lips NO NEW SPENDING, unless it's on my district, then please spend like a drunken sailor!!!
Porker Paul's Pet Project 2011
PORKER PAUL says, "Federal government read my lips NO NEW SPENDING, unless it's on my district, then please spend like a drunken sailor!!!
Ron Paul: DC Miser, Galveston Porkmeister | Mother Jones
On a gritty street in Galveston, Texas, a few blocks from the Gulf of Mexico, stands a prime example of the largesse of Republican Rep. Ron Paul. Workers here are putting the finishing touches on a new home, one of about 180 that will be built, at taxpayer's expense, for residents who lost their abodes to Hurricane Ike back in 2008.
The money for this project came from a federal Community Development Block Grant that the libertarian-leaning congressman helped direct to Galveston, the seat of Galveston County, and the most populous part of Paul's district. "Federal dollars are key," city spokeswoman Alicia Cahill tells me as a trailer arrives with boxes of new appliances. "Not only to help rebuild these homes, but also for so many infrastructure projects."
Thanks for the digs, America! Photos by Josh Harkinson
As a libertarian, Paul says he opposes federal disaster relief, but one of Paul's staffers told me that his office has shepherded hundreds of FEMA claims, ensured the reconstruction of the county's seawall, and won federal funding for an extensive beach nourishment project. Indeed, between 1999 and 2009 (the most recent year available), federal spending in Galveston County quadrupled to more than $4 billion. In 2009, the county received $14,707 per resident, topping average per capita federal spending in 46 of the 50 states. Paul earmarked some $60 million for projects in and around the city that year.
These local projects illustrate a central irony of Ron Paul's career: Even as the 12-term congressman has become the Cassandra of governmental overreach, he has enabled a deepening dependence on the federal government at home. Paul, who last week announced that he will retire at the end of 2012, will on one hand be remembered as "Dr. No," the politician who always voted "nay" on new spending, and on the other, as "a politician like all the rest," as Galveston GOP precinct chair Josh Daniels described him to me last week, noting that Paul's Janus-faced approach to federal spending "just doesn't sit well with me."
For better or worse, Paul has always cauterized his anti-government views with old-fashioned cronyism. Knowing that most appropriations bills will pass despite his nay vote, he often loads them with earmarks. In this way, he has managed to please both small-government conservatives and pork-loving constituents. From 2008 through 2010, Paul won nearly $125 million in earmarks, most of them for spending in his district
Porker Paul's Pet Project 2011
Is Ron Paul the GOP Face of Pork? | The Pink Flamingo
Hey big spender . Yea, were having fun yet! You ought to see his FY2011 Earmarks! This is a direct copy/past from his Congressional site:
Funding Requests FY2011
Project Name: Cedar Bayou, Texas Channel
Recipient: Army Corps of Engineers
Recipient Street Address: Galveston District, PO Box 1229
Recipient City: Galveston
Recipient State: TX
Recipient Zip Code: 77553-1229
Requested Amount: $500,000
Explanation of request, including purpose and why it is a valuable use of taxpayer funds: The project seeks to widen and deepen Cedar Bayou barge channel
Project Name: Channel to Victoria, Texas
Recipient: Army Corps of Engineers
Recipient Street Address: Galveston District, PO Box 1229
Recipient City: Galveston
Recipient State: TX
Recipient Zip Code: 77553-1229
Requested Amount: $10,344,000
Explanation of request, including purpose and why it is a valuable use of taxpayer funds: Continuing O & M dredging and maintenance for Channel to Victoria, dredge disposal sites and archaelogical sites
Project Name: City of Fulshear Wastewater Treatment Plant Expansion
Recipient: City of Fulshear
Recipient Street Address: 30603 FM 1093
Recipient City: Fulshear
Recipient State: TX
Recipient Zip Code: 77441
Requested Amount: $1,462,000
Explanation of request, including purpose and why it is a valuable use of taxpayer funds: Expand Wastewaster Treatment Plant to 400,000 GPD
Project Name: City of Fulshear Water and Sanitary Extension
Recipient: City of Fulshear
Recipient Street Address: 30603 FM 1093, Fulshear
Recipient City: Fulshear
Recipient State: TX
Recipient Zip Code: 77441
Requested Amount: $765,000
Explanation of request, including purpose and why it is a valuable use of taxpayer funds: Construct water and sewer system along FM 359.
Project Name: City of Galveston Seawall Transit/Pedestrian Access and Beautification Program
Recipient: City of Galveston
Recipient Street Address: PO Box 779
Recipient City: Galveston
Recipient State: TX
Recipient Zip Code: 77553-0779
Requested Amount: $4,000,000
Explanation of request, including purpose and why it is a valuable use of taxpayer funds: The project will construct transit shelters combined with visitor information stations, repair deteriorating sidewalks and ramps for wheelchair access and install landscaping around transit stops along Seawall Boulevard. The Galveston Seawall is a national register landmark and improving the adjacent infrastructure for transit will improve the communitys mobility, aesthetics and air quality
Project Name: City of League City Streetscape
Recipient: City of League City
Recipient Street Address: 305 E. Main Street
Recipient City: League City
Recipient State: TX
Recipient Zip Code: 77573
Requested Amount: $1,000,000
Explanation of request, including purpose and why it is a valuable use of taxpayer funds: Installation of pedestrian enhancements to improve pedestrian access to transit. Includes sidewalks, ADA ramps, wayfinding signage,pedestrian lighting, bike racks, and other transit amenities such as benches and trash receptacles.
Project Name: Coastal Texas Ecosystem Protection and Restoration, Texas
Recipient: Army Corps of Engineers
Recipient Street Address: Galveston District, PO Box 1229
Recipient City: Galveston
Recipient State: TX
Recipient Zip Code: 77553-1229
Requested Amount: $800,000
Explanation of request, including purpose and why it is a valuable use of taxpayer funds: The COASTAL TEXAS ECOSYSTEM PROTECTION AND RESTORATION PROGRAM is to reduce coastal erosion, improve the maintenance of navigation channels, better use dredged material as a resource, assess ecological resources, prepare one or more sediment budgets and plans to manage sediment, develop plans or proposals for the sustainability of coastal communities, assess the impact of sea level rise on coastal resources, prepare plans and projects that will promote responsible coastal stewardship
Project Name: Community-Based Job Training Program
Recipient: Spotted Blu Horse
Recipient Street Address: 15902 Hwy 3, #1822
Recipient City: Webster
Recipient State: TX
Recipient Zip Code: 77598
Requested Amount: $11,677,622
Explanation of request, including purpose and why it is a valuable use of taxpayer funds: The goal of this program is to create various job skills that will equip high school dropouts and adults with no high school diploma with diverse vocational job skills needed to compete. This is critical because one in five students in this district dropped out of high school, according to 2007-08 released data. Such limited credentials to function in todays complex technological workplace can compromise the productivity and set economy years behind our competitors. It becomes imperative to equip this group with: Technical Knowledge; Relevant Experience; Applied Skills.
Project Name: Conversion of the Texas Maritime Academy Training Ship
Recipient: Texas Maritime Academy
Recipient Street Address: PO Box 1675 Galveston TX 77553
Recipient City: Galveston
Recipient State: TX
Recipient Zip Code: 77553
Requested Amount: $19,500,000
Explanation of request, including purpose and why it is a valuable use of taxpayer funds: Texas Maritime Academy is seeking appropriated funding to help convert its newly-acquired training vessel. The vessel conversion a U.S. Government-owned ship on loan to the Academy is necessary to provide the Academy with a much-needed training vessel, which will prepare cadets for careers in the maritime industry, while providing the Federal government with a mission-ready vessel that may be used in national emergencies. TMA is the only State Maritime Academy without a training ship.
Project Name: Energy Resiliency Program
Recipient: Port of Galveston
Recipient Street Address: P.O. Box 328
Recipient City: Galveston
Recipient State: TX
Recipient Zip Code: 77553
Requested Amount: $3,000,000
Explanation of request, including purpose and why it is a valuable use of taxpayer funds: The Energy Resiliency Program was created in response to the Department of Homeland Security and FEMA requirements, established after Hurricane Ike, for the Port of Galveston to maintain essential operations throughout natural or induced power interruptions. The Program is envisioned as a grid connected, distributed energy system that will provide long-term, secure power to critical operations at the terminal, including an Emergency Command Center, in the event of prolonged power outages.
Project Name: FM 646 Widening Project Between I-45 and SH 3
Recipient: Galveston County
Recipient Street Address: 722 Moody, Galveston
Recipient City: Galveston
Recipient State: TX
Recipient Zip Code: 77550
Requested Amount: $8,100,000
Explanation of request, including purpose and why it is a valuable use of taxpayer funds: The FM 646 segment between I-45 and SH 3, for which we are seeking Federal funding via the FY11 Appropriations process, will widen FM 646 from 2 to 4 divided lanes in League City, Galveston County, Texas. This road experiences severe congestion in a rapidly growing area of Galveston County and serves a new and expanding commercial center in Victory Lakes Development, Tuscan Lakes, Mar Bella and the new Clear Creek ISD Education Center. The total cost of this individual segment is $16,200,000.
Project Name: Freeport Harbor
Recipient: Army Corps of Engineers
Recipient Street Address: Galveston District, PO Box 1229
Recipient City: Galveston
Recipient State: TX
Recipient Zip Code: 77553-1229
Requested Amount: $10,912,000
Explanation of request, including purpose and why it is a valuable use of taxpayer funds: The project will provide maintenance dredging of stretches of Freeport Harbor
Project Name: Galveston Harbor Deepening Project O&M
Recipient: Army Corps of Engineers
Recipient Street Address: Galveston District, PO Box 1229
Recipient City: Galveston
Recipient State: TX
Recipient Zip Code: 77553-1229
Requested Amount: $8,440,000
Explanation of request, including purpose and why it is a valuable use of taxpayer funds: routine maintenance dredging of Galveston Harbor and Galveston Entrance Channel to 45 ft. depth as currently authorized
Project Name: Galveston-Houston Commuter Rail Preliminary Engineering Phase
Recipient: City of Galveston
Recipient Street Address: PO Box 779
Recipient City: Galveston
Recipient State: TX
Recipient Zip Code: 77553-0779
Requested Amount: $8,000,000
Explanation of request, including purpose and why it is a valuable use of taxpayer funds: Project will advance the Galveston-Houston Commuter Rail Corridor Project into Preliminary Engineering (PE) Phase and Environmental Analysis (EA) of the 51-mile rail corridor between Galveston and Houston. In addition to the extensive efforts for PE and EA, this project will include public involvement, geo-technical studies and initial steps of property acquisition.
Project Name: Green Facility Initiative
Recipient: Brazosport College
Recipient Street Address: 500 College Drive
Recipient City: Lake Jackson
Recipient State: TX
Recipient Zip Code: 77566
Requested Amount: $350,000
Explanation of request, including purpose and why it is a valuable use of taxpayer funds: Update Brazosport College energy management system.
Project Name: Gulf Coast Center Multi Service Transit Center
Recipient: Gulf Coast Center
Recipient Street Address: 123 Rosenberg, Suite 6
Recipient City: Galveston
Recipient State: TX
Recipient Zip Code: 77550
Requested Amount: $5,000,000
Explanation of request, including purpose and why it is a valuable use of taxpayer funds: This funding request is for a new multi-service center for Gulf Coast Center (GCC) to support its expanding transit options. GCCs transit service, Connect Transit, provides both demand-response and fixed-route services within both Brazoria and Galveston Counties
Project Name: Gulf States Vibrio vulnificus (V.v.) Consumer Education Program Funding
Recipient: Gulf States Vibrio vulnificus Consumer Education Program
Recipient Street Address: Judy Jamison, Executive Director, 5401 West Kennedy Blvd.
Recipient City: Tampa
Recipient State: FL
Recipient Zip Code: 33609
Requested Amount: $1,000,000
Explanation of request, including purpose and why it is a valuable use of taxpayer funds: The Gulf and South Atlantic Fisheries Foundation, Inc. is a private, regional, nonprofit research and development organization with a general membership and Board of Trustees representing a wide spectrum of the commercial fishing industry throughout the southeast. Through the Foundation, the commercial seafood and fishing industry can collectively identify industry needs, and address those needs through appropriate research and other activities.
Project Name: Historic Downtown Redevelopment Project
Recipient: City of Baytown, Texas
Recipient Street Address: Baytown City Hall
Recipient City: Baytown
Recipient State: TX
Recipient Zip Code: 77522
Requested Amount: $2,500,000
Explanation of request, including purpose and why it is a valuable use of taxpayer funds: The Historic Downtown Redevelopment project will transform and modernize Texas Avenue by redeveloping downtown into a premier destination for residents and visitors to live, work, and play. This project will support economic growth by creating a pedestrian friendly area with landscaped sidewalks and medians. The project also includes new benches, trash receptacles, bike racks and decorative street lighting.
Project Name: Invasive Species Management Program
Recipient: Jerry L Cook, Associate Vice President Sam Houston State University
Recipient Street Address: 803 Avenue I
Recipient City: Huntsville
Recipient State: TX
Recipient Zip Code: 77341
Requested Amount: $1,200,000
Explanation of request, including purpose and why it is a valuable use of taxpayer funds: The project will establish a collaboration to study and develop a comprehensive management plan for an invasive ant species that is having major economic effects in Texas, and is spreading to other parts of the southeastern United States.
Project Name: Kendleton Wastwater Treatment Plant
Recipient: City of Kendleton
Recipient Street Address: 430 FM 2919
Recipient City: Kendleton
Recipient State: TX
Recipient Zip Code: 77451
Requested Amount: $500,000
Explanation of request, including purpose and why it is a valuable use of taxpayer funds: Kendleton population 617 Steel Packaged Plant 150,000 gallons/day Able to serve 1,500 persons Cost $500,000
Project Name: Low-income working families Day Care Program
Recipient: Growing Minds Learning Academy
Recipient Street Address: 401 Drake Lake
Recipient City: League City
Recipient State: TX
Recipient Zip Code: 77573
Requested Amount: $1,212,422
Explanation of request, including purpose and why it is a valuable use of taxpayer funds: Productive working environment can be an asset to maximize productivity. Working parents, especially low-income working parents are big factor to this equation, yet their productivity, are compromised by their daycare needs. We are aware of this situation and plans to provide affordable day care to working low-income parents to help businesses to maximize productivity without compromising their childcare needs. Cost is making it very difficult for one parent to stay home while the other go to work.
Project Name: Manned Space Flight Education Foundation, Inc.
Recipient: Richard E. Allen, Jr., President, Space Center Houston
Recipient Street Address: 1601 NASA Parkway
Recipient City: Houston
Recipient State: TX
Recipient Zip Code: 77058
Requested Amount: $500,000
Explanation of request, including purpose and why it is a valuable use of taxpayer funds: Virtual Space Community (VSC) is a partnership led by Space Center Houston, in coordination with NASA and many partner science centers across the United States. Space Center Houston has developed the Virtual Space Community to create a nationwide science outreach that is systemic and extends beyond the formal classroom. Within the community, Space Center Houston delivers space-themed interactive distance learning programming using state of the art video conferencing technology.
Project Name: Matagorda Ship Channel Operations & Maintenance
Recipient: Army Corps of Engineers
Recipient Street Address: Galveston District, PO Box 1229
Recipient City: Galveston
Recipient State: TX
Recipient Zip Code: 77553-1229
Requested Amount: $18,126,000
Explanation of request, including purpose and why it is a valuable use of taxpayer funds: Project provides a 25 mile deep channel extending from the Gulf of Mexico through the jettied entrance, across Matagorda Peninsula to the Point Comfort Turning Basin. The project also provides shallow draft channels of: Channel to Port Lavaca and Channel to Harbor of Refuge via the Matagorda Ship Channel.To provide deep draft commercial navigation outputs; maintenance of the project to authorized dimensions for safe and efficient commercial navigation.
Project Name: Middle Brazos Feasibility Study Central/Lower Brazos River Basin
Recipient: Army Corps of Engineers
Recipient Street Address: Galveston District, PO Box 1229
Recipient City: Galveston
Recipient State: TX
Recipient Zip Code: 77553-1229
Requested Amount: $800,000
Explanation of request, including purpose and why it is a valuable use of taxpayer funds: The saltwater barrier to be located in the Brazos River is one component component of the feasibility study. A Project Management Plan has been developed which identifies the cost of a full feasibility study at over $4 million. The purpose of continued funding is to conduct the feasibility study, which will evaluate site location, benefits, impacts, and costs of constructing a salt water barrier in the lower Brazos River basin.
Project Name: Nursing Simulation Training Center
Recipient: Brazosport College
Recipient Street Address: 500 College Drive
Recipient City: Lake Jackson
Recipient State: TX
Recipient Zip Code: 77566
Requested Amount: $450,000
Explanation of request, including purpose and why it is a valuable use of taxpayer funds: Nursing Simulation Training Center
Project Name: O&M Dredging of Palacios Channel under GIWW
Recipient: Army Corps of Engineers
Recipient Street Address: Galveston District, PO Box 1229
Recipient City: Galveston
Recipient State: TX
Recipient Zip Code: 77553-1229
Requested Amount: $2,624,000
Explanation of request, including purpose and why it is a valuable use of taxpayer funds: Routine (3-yr) maintenance dredging of the Channel from the Port of Palacios to the Gulf Intercoastal Waterway is critical to Port industries, including one of the major fisheries and seafood distribution points in the U.S., tugboat & barge manufacturing and shipyards that service TxDOT ferries and larger Gulf vessels. Also, a lack of maintenance dredging could impact a Port marine transportation project for cargo dock and terminal that is nearing the construction stage.
Project Name: Port Freeport Harbor, Texas
Recipient: Army Corps of Engineers
Recipient Street Address: Galveston District, PO Box 1229
Recipient City: Galveston
Recipient State: TX
Recipient Zip Code: 77553-1229
Requested Amount: $500,000
Explanation of request, including purpose and why it is a valuable use of taxpayer funds: The project is a continuation for PED funds for the study to widen and deepen Freeport Harbor, Texas
Project Name: Port of Galveston Transit Terminal Parking
Recipient: City of Galveston
Recipient Street Address: PO Box 779
Recipient City: Galveston
Recipient State: TX
Recipient Zip Code: 77553-0779
Requested Amount: $5,000,000
Explanation of request, including purpose and why it is a valuable use of taxpayer funds: Construction of a terminal/parking facility on Harborside between 25th and 28th Streets. The facility will be located on a 918 feet by 150 feet vacant property owned by the City. There is also a small patch of paved surface parking at the northwest corner. The proposed terminal/parking facility will be located at the center of this property, with ground floor being 30,000 square feet of retail, bus staging area, bus terminal, and baggage facility, with additional floors for 800 parking spaces.
Project Name: Reconnaissance Study of Brazoria County, Texas Coastline
Recipient: Army Corps of Engineers
Recipient Street Address: Galveston District, PO Box 1229
Recipient City: Galveston
Recipient State: TX
Recipient Zip Code: 77553-1229
Requested Amount: $100,000
Explanation of request, including purpose and why it is a valuable use of taxpayer funds: Recon Study of Brazoria County Coastline
Project Name: Rollover Pass Recreational Fishing Piers
Recipient: Texas General Land Office
Recipient Street Address: P. O. Box 12873
Recipient City: Austin
Recipient State: TX
Recipient Zip Code: 78711-2873
Requested Amount: $8,000,000
Explanation of request, including purpose and why it is a valuable use of taxpayer funds: The Texas General Land Office (GLO) is seeking funding to construct two ADA/TAS compliant fishing piers to replace piers lost due to Hurricane Ike. One pier would provide access to Rollover Bay and East Bay behind Bolivar Peninsula, while the other pier would extend into the Gulf of Mexico. These piers will provide enhanced recreational fishing access, especially for persons with disabilities. The GLO is requesting $8 million for construction of the two piers.
Project Name: San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge
Recipient: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Recipient Street Address: Texas Mid-Coast Complex, USFWS, Route 1
Recipient City: Brazoria
Recipient State: TX
Recipient Zip Code: 77422
Requested Amount: $5,000,000
Explanation of request, including purpose and why it is a valuable use of taxpayer funds: The requested $5.0 million in FY2011 FWS Land Acquisition funding for San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge will enable the FWS to acquire a key tract the Osceola Plantation property within the Austins Woods/Columbia Bottomlands Hardwoods Focus Area of the Refuge. The acquisition of the Osceola Plantation property will provide added public benefits in the form of compatible recreational uses, educational opportunities, and additional research opportunities.
Project Name: Skilled Technician Program
Recipient: Brazosport College
Recipient Street Address: 500 College Drive
Recipient City: Lake Jackson
Recipient State: TX
Recipient Zip Code: 77566
Requested Amount: $350,000
Explanation of request, including purpose and why it is a valuable use of taxpayer funds: Skilled Technician Program.
Project Name: Space Alliance Technology Outreach Program
Recipient: Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership
Recipient Street Address: P.O. Box 58724
Recipient City: Houston
Recipient State: TX
Recipient Zip Code: 77258
Requested Amount: $1,000,000
Explanation of request, including purpose and why it is a valuable use of taxpayer funds: The mission of SATOP is to transfer the knowledge and technology of the U.S. Space Program to small businesses. The program does so by providing up to 40 hours of free technical assistance to small companies located across the nation, helping them solve engineering and technical challenges that ultimately increase their odds of succeeding. SATOP utilizes the vast technical resources of U.S. Space Programs contractors, NASA centers, universities and colleges.
Project Name: Sure B.E.T. (Business and Education Together)
Recipient: Victoria Business and Education Coalition
Recipient Street Address: 5606 N. Navarro, Suite 200R
Recipient City: Victoria
Recipient State: TX
Recipient Zip Code: 77904
Requested Amount: $490,000
Explanation of request, including purpose and why it is a valuable use of taxpayer funds: Performance at Victoria ISD is deemed unacceptable by TEA. To enhance efforts to reduce unemployment by making students job ready, and to combat the dropout rate while increasing educational attainment, business and education leaders developed Sure B.E.T. a finalist for the 07 U.S. Community Service Award and the 08 Governors Volunteer Award. The program helps students in the Goliad and Victoria ISDs seeking to continue and expand service, impacting more students in both districts.
Project Name: Telehealth Resource / Learning Center
Recipient: University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston
Recipient Street Address: 301 University Boulevard
Recipient City: Galveston
Recipient State: TX
Recipient Zip Code: 77555-0103
Requested Amount: $975,000
Explanation of request, including purpose and why it is a valuable use of taxpayer funds: The Telehealth Resource/Learning Center, housed within the UTMB Center for Telehealth Research and Policy, will assist other programs with the following objectives: providing technical assistance for new telehealth programs through consultation and distance education, facilitating knowledge, updates, and news in technology relating to healthcare delivery, fostering collaborations for research in telehealth, and providing input and assistance with activities relating to policy development.
Project Name: Texas City and Vicinity, TX
Recipient: Corps of Engineers
Recipient Street Address: Galveston District, PO Box 1229
Recipient City: Galveston
Recipient State: TX
Recipient Zip Code: 77553-1229
Requested Amount: $150,000
Explanation of request, including purpose and why it is a valuable use of taxpayer funds: Funding for a Reconnaissance study under the Section 216 authority of the Corps to study Texas City hurricane protection levee which protects more than 50,000 people, more than $7.5 billion in property, and roughly 10 percent of the nations oil refining capacity.
Project Name: Texas City Channel Operations and Maintenance
Recipient: Port of Texas City (funding goes directly to Army Corps of Engineers)
Recipient Street Address: Army Corps of Engineers, PO Box 1229
Recipient City: Galveston
Recipient State: TX
Recipient Zip Code: 77553-1229
Requested Amount: $2,436,000
Explanation of request, including purpose and why it is a valuable use of taxpayer funds: Operations and Maintenance (O&M) to maintain Texas City Channel (Main Channel, Main Turning Basin, Industrial Canal Turning Basin) at Authorized Channel Dimensions (Depth and Bottom Width).
Project Name: The Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training Program (ALERRT)
Recipient: Texas State University
Recipient Street Address: 601 University Dr.
Recipient City: San Marcos
Recipient State: TX
Recipient Zip Code: 78666
Requested Amount: $1,496,500
Explanation of request, including purpose and why it is a valuable use of taxpayer funds: Funding will be used to train law enforcement officers, including officers from League City Police Department, to respond and deal with an active shooter situation.
Project Name: Trails and Sidewalks Connectivity Initiative
Recipient: City of Baytown, Texas
Recipient Street Address: Baytown City Hall, 2401 Market Street
Recipient City: Baytown
Recipient State: TX
Recipient Zip Code: 77522
Requested Amount: $4,000,000
Explanation of request, including purpose and why it is a valuable use of taxpayer funds: The Trails and Sidewalks Connectivity Initiative would assist with environmental stewardship through the development of sustainable design to reduce energy usage, reduce pollution and improve and expand our current infrastructure by providing an interconnected system of bike trails, walking trails, and sidewalks to maximize citizen mobility between neighborhoods, parks, schools, shopping, employment centers, and recreational points of interest.
Project Name: UH-Victoria Forensic DNA Testing Laboratory
Recipient: University of Houston Victoria
Recipient Street Address: 3007 North Ben Wilson Victoria, Texas 77901
Recipient City: Victoria
Recipient State: TX
Recipient Zip Code: 77901
Requested Amount: $1,998,000
Explanation of request, including purpose and why it is a valuable use of taxpayer funds: A forensic DNA Testing Laboratory at the University of Houston-Victoria (UHV) will help alleviate the DNA testing backlog. With programs in the biological sciences, with a core in DNA molecular genetics and graduate concentrations in forensics and bioinformatics, UHV is ideally positioned to assist government crime labs in serving the public in a timely manner, in reducing regional and state backlogs for DNA testing and criminal cases, and in assuring that justice will be served.
Project Name: Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Improvement Project
Recipient: City of Baytown, Texas
Recipient Street Address: Baytown City Hall, 2401 Market Street
Recipient City: Baytown
Recipient State: TX
Recipient Zip Code: 77522
Requested Amount: $2,835,000
Explanation of request, including purpose and why it is a valuable use of taxpayer funds: The City of Baytown seeks assistance to provide standby power for a wastewater treatment facility serving thousands and also improve the functionality of the wastewater plant by raising several critical structures out of the 100-year floodplain, helping to reduce the potential contamination to the Galveston Bay during power outages and extreme flooding events. Funding will help the City comply with increased federal and state regulations, maintain its condition and reliability, and save costs .
