My Funded Projects
Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen Requests Federal Funding for Local Transportation Projects
Miami-Dade College Institute for Intermodal Transportation
Requesting Entity: Miami-Dade College
Amount Requested: $16,000,000
Funding will be used to implement a University Transportation Center focused on expanding and diversifying the transportation workforce and providing capacity building programs to transportation professionals. Through the establishment of an Institute for Intermodal Transportation, this Center will focus on improving the capacity and capability of the region’s workforce to meet the challenges of the increasingly complex passenger and freight systems.
Ludlam Trail Bicycle and Pedestrian Walkway Construction
Requesting Entity: Miami-Dade County
Amount Requested: $20,000,000
Funding for this project will establish a bicycle and pedestrian corridor with connections to South Miami Elementary, Middle and High Schools, the Dadeland North Metrorail Station and various commercial areas.
Port of Miami Intermodal Freight Facility
Requesting Entity: Miami-Dade County
Amount Requested: $10,000,000
The Freight Intermodal Facility will provide interstate and rail access for container goods conveying through the Port of Miami. Additionally, the facility will relieve congestion, improve regional air quality and enhance transportation safety by facilitating freight movement in a central industrial location for efficient distribution throughout the nation.
South Bayshore Drive Reconstruction Project
Requesting Entity: City of Miami
Amount Requested: $15,000,000
The South Bayshore Drive reconstruction project from McFarlane Road to U.S. Route 1 will include new drainage to enhance water quality, landscaping improvements for aesthetics, dedicated bicycle facilities, lighting, new pavement and updated signage and pavement markings for increased safety and mobility.
Cutler Bay Traffic Circles
Requesting Entity: Town of Cutler Bay
Amount Requested: $2,400,000
Funding for this project will go towards the construction of traffic circles in Cutler Bay. A study of 24 intersections conducted for the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, entitled “Crash Reductions Following Installation of Roundabouts in the United States”, concluded that roundabouts reduced collisions of all types by 39%, reduced injury collisions by 79%, as well as reduced fatal and incapacitation collisions by about 90%. This is due to the fact that roundabouts force vehicles to travel at slower speeds, and provide fewer conflict points and collision angles for motorists and pedestrians.
Beach Area
Bicycle and Pedestrian Trail Network in Miami Beach
Requesting Entity: City of Miami Beach
Amount Requested: $12,000,000
The project will provide bicycle and pedestrian connections throughout Miami Beach to businesses, residential areas, schools, parks, and beaches to promote alternative transportation via bicycling or walking. Miami Beach is a dense urban environment, with the highest housing density in the United States, following New York City. Effective alternative modes of transportation are crucial to the continued economic success of area.
Roadway improvements to 16th Street in Miami Beach
Requesting Entity: City of Miami Beach
Amount Requested: $2,000,000
16th Street provides a major connection between Alton Road and Collins Avenue, both of which are arterial roadways and heavily used by tourists and visitors of Miami Beach. The project proposes to narrow travel lanes to reduce motorized vehicular speeds, construct additional crosswalks, increase sidewalk width, and establish bike lanes, all of which will improve safety for vehicles, bicyclists, and pedestrians.
Florida Keys
Monroe County Bridge Rehabilitation and Repair Projects
Requesting Entity: Monroe County
Amount Requested: $3,633,800
Funding will go towards the rehabilitation of the following bridges: No Name Key Bridge, Similar Sound Bridge, and Tom’s Harbor Channel Bridge. Each of these bridges is classified as structurally deficient; repairs and rehabilitation are required to maintain safety of the road network.
Key West Bus Facility Construction
Requesting Entity: City of Key West
Amount Requested: $6,000,000
This facility will serve as the home base to 45-55 employees who will be providing public transit and job access commute services from Key West to Marathon, daily. It will act as an interceptor to tour buses making day trips from Dade County and beyond to Monroe County, with visitor shuttle services into the old town /historic district of Key West.
Marathon Road Improvements
Requesting Entity: City of Marathon
Amount Requested: $4,886,305
The City will improve safety and access to Sombrero Beach Road by extending the length of the previously-completed road project from Avenida Premiceria to Corte Del Brisas, including parking, stormwater management, and safety features including elevated crosswalks and roundabout.
Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen requested funding for the following local governments/organizations in the Fiscal Year 2010 Appropriations Bills
| Recipient | Location | Project Name | Appropriations Bill | Amount Requested | Federal Funding Toward This Project Would |
| Bal Harbour Village | 655 96th Street, Bal Harbour, FL 33154 | Bal Harbour Bus Shelter Replacement | Transportation, Housing & Urban Development | $100,000 | This would be a good use of taxpayer funds because replacement of the Village’s current bus shelters will provide more adequate facilities for those public transportation patrons who are waiting during times of wind, rain, and excessive heat. |
| Barry University | 11300 NE 2nd Ave, Miami Shores, FL 33161-6695 | Institute for Community and Economic Development | Financial Services | $300,000 | This is a good use of taxpayer funds because it will expand Barry University’s Entrepreneurial Institute which provides intensive business and leadership development training to local residents. |
| Barry University | 11300 NE 2nd Ave, Miami Shores, FL 33161-6695 | Institute for Collaborative Sciences Research | Labor, Health & Human Services | $2,600,000 | Continue the expansion and renovation of Barry University’s science teaching and research facilities. This project would be a good use of taxpayer’s funds to address the nation’s shortage of scientists and healthcare professionals. |
| Borinquen Health Care Center | 3601 Federal Highway, Miami, FL 33137 | Borinquen Health Care Center Energy Efficient Technologies | Energy & Water | $250,000 | This would be a good use of taxpayer funds because the construction of an integrated roof-mounted, hurricane resident solar power system, would decrease the facility’s power needs by 6%. |
| Camillus House | 336 N.W. Fifth Street, Miami, Florida 33128 | Construction of New Behavioral Health Facility for the Homeless | Labor, Health & Human Services | $3,633,000 | Allow Camillus to expand its main center of operations located in downtown Miami, and build a new behavioral health facility for the homeless. This project would be a good use of taxpayer’s funds to provide more health care and social services to the poor and homeless in Miami-Dade County. |
| City of Homestead | 790 N. Homestead Boulevard, Homestead, Florida 33030 | City Hall Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Certification | Energy & Water | $1,000,000 | This would be a good use of taxpayer funds because the City of Homestead would construct a new, energy efficient, environmentally-friendly City Hall, which would include a new Emergency Operations Center. |
| City of Key West | 525 Angela Street, Key West, FL 33040 | Transit Facility and Bus Passenger Access Lane Construction along US 1 | Transportation, Housing & Urban Development | $11,000,000 | This would be a good use of taxpayer funds because construction of a new transit facility to house the City’s bus fleet, as well as a dedicated bus access lane, will reduce traffic disruption. |
| City of Key West | 525 Angela Street, Key West, FL 33040 | Truman Waterfront Property Rehabilitation | Transportation, Housing & Urban Development | $500,000 | This would be a good use of taxpayer funds because construction of new roadways, recreation areas, and visitor facilities on the Truman Waterfront Property will reduce traffic disruption in Key West. |
| City of Key West | 525 Angela Street, Key West, FL 33040 | T-Pier Replacement | Transportation, Housing & Urban Development | $500,000 | This would be a good use of taxpayer funds because replacement of the T-Pier will help handle the increased load capacities of today’s larger cruise ships. |
| City of Key West | 525 Angela Street, Key West, FL 33040 | Extension of Ferry Terminal Pier | Transportation, Housing & Urban Development | $832,000 | This would be a good use of taxpayer funds because the extended ferry terminal pier will allow the facility to increase its capacity. |
| City of Marathon | 9805 Overseas Highway, Marathon, FL 33050 | Road Improvements: Little Venice II & Sombrero Beach Road | Transportation, Housing & Urban Development | $1,500,000 | This would be a good use of taxpayer funds because the installation of an asphalt overlay, new road material and storm water mitigation structures from 95th to 117th streets, as well as an extension of Sombrero Beach Road will improve the roads and transporation systems of Marathon. |
| City of Miami | 3500 Pan American Drive, Miami, Florida 33133 | Police Department Crime Scene Investigation Mobile Evidence Processing Lab | Commerce, Justice, Science | $250,000 | Upgrade photography and other evidence processing equipment utilized by the City of Miami Police Department. This is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because it would serve the best interests of our community by having the technology necessary to operate and asisst for long term stays at crucial and demanding crime scenes. It would also be available to assist other local, state and federal law enforcement agencies. |
| City of Miami | 3500 Pan American Drive, Miami, Florida 33133 | Stormwater Project | Homeland Security | $1,250,000 | Implement storm water drainage projects throughout the City of Miami to mitigate flood conditions to reduce flood damage and increase public safety. This would be a good use of taxpayer money because this project will significantly mitigate flood conditions caused by local storms and will result in a reduction of flood damage and an increase in public safety for the City of Miami. |
| City of Miami | 3500 Pan American Drive Miami, FL 33133 | Small Business Energy Efficient Façade Program | Financial Services | $1,500,000 | This is a good use of taxpayer funds because the resulting upgrades to the exteriors of qualified small businesses in commercial corridors in Miami will reduce the operating costs of those businesses as well as make South Florida more environmentally friendly. |
| City of Miami Beach | 1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, Florida 33139 | After School Program | Commerce, Justice, Science | $1,450,000 | Provide After-School and summer programs, in Miami Beach Schools, aimed at gang and drug prevention. This would be a valuable use of taxpayer funds because the participants involved in the Teen Club are less likely to entertain outside and detrimental participation in other unsupervised activities, including involvement in gangs and/or drugs. |
| City of Miami Beach | 1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, Florida 33139 | Atlantic Greenway Corridor | Transportation, Housing & Urban Development | $4,500,000 | This would be a good use of taxpayer funds because the establishment of an alternative transportation network comprised of a citywide system of continuous off-road bicycle/pedestrian trails will improve traffic conditions in Miami Beach and make the area more environmentally-friendly. |
| City of North Bay Village | 1666 Kennedy Causeway, Suite 700, North Bay Village, FL 33141 | North Bay Village Waste Water Force Main Project | Interior & Environment | $2,500,000 | This is a good use of taxpayer funds because the City of North Bay Village’s aging wastewater infrastructure is in need of improvement |
| Florida Inland Navigation District | 1314 Marcinski Road, Jupiter, FL 33477 | Intracoastal Waterway, Jacksonville to Miami, FL | Energy & Water | $5,900,000 | This would be a good use of taxpayer funds because continued dredging of the Intracoastal Waterway at Matanzas Inlet in St. John’s County and in the vicinity of St. Augustine, would facilitate port access by large ships. |
| Florida International University | 11200 SW 8th St. Miami, FL 33199 | FIU-Mass Scale Biosensor Threat Diagnostic for In-Theater Defense Utilization | Defense | $4,000,000 | Fund an FIU/ U.S. Army project to develop devices that can monitor a soldier’s exposure to chemical contaminants. This would be a good use of taxpayer money because the project will develop portable devices that can better equip military and civilian first responders to monitor a variety of unknown or unspecified toxic chemicals, biological, and radiological agents. |
| Florida Keys | 9805 Overseas Highway, Marathon, FL 33050 | Florida Keys Water Quality Improvement Project | Energy & Water | $20,000,000 | This would be a good use of taxpayer funds because moving forward with the initiative outlined in The Florida Keys Water Quality Improvements Act would preserve the fragile marine ecosystem in the Florida Keys. |
| Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority | 1100 Kennedy Drive, Key West, FL 33041 | Reverse Osmosis Water Treatment Plant | Energy & Water | $5,000,000 | This would be a good use of taxpayer funds because construction of a new reverse osmosis treatment facility would provide six million gallons per day of drinking water to the Florida Keys while protecting the environmental integrity of the Everglades. |
| Florida Keys Community College | 5901 College Road, Key West, FL 33040 | Grouper Aquaculture and Fishery Enhancement Project | Commerce, Justice, Science | $350,000 | Establish protocols for protecting and sustaining several grouper species of concern endangered by over-fishing, habitat loss, pollution and other environmental effects. This project is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because it will create a sustainable program that will support critical marine environemnts and ecosystems, strenghten educational opportunities and protect and sustain the workforce of regional economies. |
| Florida Keys Community College | 5901 College Road, Key West, FL 33040 | Instrumented Underwater Training Systems (IUTS) | Defense | $2,800,000 | Provide an advance in-water maritime security training program for the Department of Defense. This would be a good use of taxpayer money because it provides mission critical training to Navy divers and other Service customers responsible for securing service assets and maritime domains. |
| Florida Keys Community College | 5901 College Road, Key West, FL 33040 | Recompression Chamber Upgrade to Provide Emergency Medical Services | Labor, Health & Human Services | $200,000 | Upgrade existing non-medical grade training recompression chambers to a medical grade facility to provide immediate emergency care to patients with dive-related injuries. This project would be a good use of taxpayer’s funds because it would provide for a medical care capability not currently available to residents and visitors to the Lower Keys. As the number of local and visiting divers in Key West continues to grow, the availability of an emergency recompression chamber in the Lower Keys is a necessary public health capability required to support the resident and visitor diving community. |
| Girl Scouts of the USA | 420 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10018 | VIVA: An Adult Volunteer Hispanic Outreach Program | Commerce, Justice, Science | $450,000 | Establish an outreach program designed to build a strong Girl Scout volunteer base of adults who understand the needs and concerns of the Hispanic community in South Florida. It is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because citites across America are becoming increasingly multiethnic and the Girl Scouts are adapting to effectively serve girls from all backgrounds. Continued funding will help Girl Scouts to increase Latina/Hispanic volunteer members by 5 percent and Latina/Hispanic girl members by 3 percent. |
| Guidance Clinic of the Middle Keys | 3000 41st Street Ocean, Marathon, Florida 33050 | Modernization of the Crisis Stabilization Unit | Labor, Health & Human Services | $860,000 | Modernize the center’s emergency mental health service facility. This project would be a good use of taxpayer’s funds because providing substance abuse and mental health services in the Florida Keys is critical and this upgrade would allow the center to continue its operations. |
| Helen B. Bentley Family Health Care Center | 3090 SW 37TH Avenue, Miami, Florida 33133 | Security Equipment Upgrades | Commerce, Justice, Science | $1,260,000 | Improve the center’s security monitoring equipment, to ensure the safety of all patients. It is a value use of taxapayer funds because the center represents the only viable alternative for health care for the many medically underserved residents within the service area and the only comprehensive primary care provider who offers sliding fee scale discounts to those eligible patients. The Center works closely with the community and service delivery network to strengthen this safety net to ensure access for the target populations. It is also a federally designated manpower shortage area; there are very few doctors (primary health) who practice in the area; those that do, are non-Medicaid practices. |
| Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters | 260 N.E. 17 Terrace, Suite 200, Miami, Florida 33132 | Health and Literacy Project for Low Income Children and Families | Labor, Health & Human Services | $1,000,000 | Establish a program to provide low-income families with the information and educational materials they need to make informed health decisions. This project would be a good use of taxpayer’s funds because offering clinics, doctors, and dentists to uninsured children and training caregivers in preventative healthcare reduces strain on emergency rooms while keeping kids healthy. |
| Homestead Air Reserve Base | 20950 Coral Sea Blvd, Bldg 360, Homestead ARB, FL 33039-1299 | Community Activity Center/Troop Feeding Facility | Military Construction | $6,300,000 | This is a good use of taxpayer funds because the construction of a new, more efficient, facility will accommodate the increased number of troops due to BRAC plus-up and additional tenant units assigned to the base. This will benefit the brave men and women who put themselves in harm's way for the sake of our nation. |
| Homestead Air Reserve Base | 20950 Coral Sea Blvd, Bldg 360, Homestead ARB, FL 33039-1299 | Entry Control Complex | Military Construction | $6,700,000 | This is a good use of taxpayer funds because the resulting new entry control complex will increase the Antiterrorist/Force Protection of personnel and equipment within the base. |
| Homestead Air Reserve Base | 20950 Coral Sea Blvd, Bldg 360, Homestead ARB, FL 33039-1299 | Aircraft Maintenance Hangar | Military Construction | $6,458,000 | This is a good use of taxpayer funds because Homestead Air Reserve Base urgently needs aircraft maintenance hanger space to accommodate additional aircraft and maintenance personnel. |
| Jackson Health System | 1611 NW 12th Avenue, Miami, FL 33136 | Hurricane Mitigation/Structural Reinforcement Initiative | Homeland Security | $6,000,000 | Make the appropriate upgrades to allow the Jackson Memorial Hospital, an emergency evacuation shelter, to withstand a category 5 hurricane. This would be a good use of taxpayer money because the current structure would not be able to withstand a high category hurricane. Given the demands placed on the county's sole trauma center, it is imperitive that the building is structurally safe. |
| Jackson Health System | Miami, FL | Information Technology Infrastructure | Labor, Health & Human Services | $5,000,000 | Upgrade Jackson Memorial Hospital’s information technology infrastructure to ensure continuity of the busiest emergency rooms in the nation. This project would be a good use of taxpayer’s funds because Jackson Health System is the primary safety net provider in Miami-Dade County and funds will improve patient outcomes and ensure the most efficient treatment. |
| Miami Beach Community Health Center | 11645 Biscayne Boulevard, Suite 207, North Miami, Florida 33181 | Health Center Equipment Upgrades | Labor, Health & Human Services | $640,000 | Expand the Center’s service capabilities with regards to pediatric and HIV/AIDS medical care. This project would be a good use of taxpayer’s funds by lowering healthcare costs, and assisting workers hurt by the economy. |
| Miami Children's Hospital | 3100 S.W. 62nd Ave Miami, FL 33155 | Traumatic Brain Injury Research | Defense | $3,000,000 | Construct effective diagnoses and treatments of combat-related traumatic brain injuries, thus improving soldier survivability. This would be a good use of taxpayer money because the project will allow wounded soldiers to have less significant lasting health effects following a traumatic brain injury, which will subsequently improve health outcomes and reduce rehabilitation time. |
| Miami Children's Museum | 980 MacArthur Causeway, Miami, FL 33132 | Going Green Energy Initiative | Energy & Water | $1,300,000 | This would be a good use of taxpayer funds because the project would assist the museum in preserving natural resources by using environmentally advanced, sustainable, and renewable and/or recyclable materials and systems in the building. |
| Miami Science Museum | 3280 S. Miami Avenue, Miami, FL 33129 | Renewable Energy Research Project | Energy & Water | $1,500,000 | This would be a good use of taxpayer funds because the creation of a larger, state-of-the art facility would integrate energy efficient and renewable energy technologies into its design and day-to-day operation. |
| Miami-Dade College | 300 NE 2nd Ave, Suite 1402, Miami, FL 33132 | Institute for Intermodal Transportation | Financial Services | $1,000,000 | This is a good use of taxpayer funds because it will establish an Institute of Intermodal Transportation to provide workforce training to address the occupational needs of Miami-Dade County’s growing transportation industry. The workers who graduate from this institute will be able to add value to the transportation industry and make our community more efficient and prosperous. |
| Miami-Dade College | 950 N.W. 20th Street, Miami, Florida 33127 | Nursing/Health Science Simulation Laboratory | Labor, Health & Human Services | $500,000 | Improve and expand the nursing program by upgrading equipment that uses digital technology and training faculty in new health fields. This project would be a good use of taxpayer’s funds to address the critical shortage of nurses by allowing Miami Dade College to expand their successful nursing program. |
| Miami-Dade County | 111 NW 1st Street Suite 1032, Miami, FL 33128 | Interoperability | Commerce, Justice, Science | $4,000,000 | Purchase software and radios to improve public safety radio communications between neighboring public safety agencies. This project would be a valuable use of taxpayer funds because it would facilitate better communication and coordination among first responders in Miami-Dade County. Therefore, residents of Miami-Dade County will be more secure and have a higher quality of life. |
| Miami-Dade County | 111 NW 1st St., Suite 1032, Miami, FL 33128 | Beach Erosion Restoration | Energy & Water | $8,250,000 | This would be a good use of taxpayer funds because the placement of approximately 1.1 million cubic yards of sand along eroded portions of Miami-Dade County’s beach areas would restore areas of the beach which have eroded. |
| Miami-Dade County | 111 NW 1st St., Suite 1032, Miami, FL 33128 | Miami River Dredging | Energy & Water | $11,000,000 | This would be a good use of taxpayer funds because dredging the Miami River would ensure the environmental integrity of Biscayne Bay. |
| Miami-Dade County | 111 NW 1st St., Suite 1032, Miami, FL 33128 | Miami Harbor Channel Dredging | Energy & Water | $2,700,000 | This would be a good use of taxpayer funds because assisting the engineering and design phase of the Miami Harbor dredging project, once completed, would significantly increase business at the Port of Miami. |
| Miami-Dade County | 111 NW 1 Street Suite 1032, Miami, FL 33128 | County Greenways/Bicycle Trails | Transportation, Housing & Urban Development | $1,000,000 | This would be a good use of taxpayer funds because the construction of over 40 miles of bicycle trails will provide recreational access to Biscayne National Park, Cutler Bay, Black Creek, Snake Creek Trail and several of Florida’s coastal habitats. |
| Monroe County | 1100 Simonton Street, Suite 205, Key West, FL 33040 | Emergency Operations Center | Homeland Security | $3,000,000 | Construct a centrally-located Emergency Operations Center in the Florida Keys. This would be a good use of taxpayer money because the current EOC facility does not meet federal guidelines, endangering the lives of emergency management staff who remain in the County during an event such as a hurricane. |
| Monroe County | 1100 Simonton St, Suite 205, Key West, FL 33040 | Wastewater Infrastructure Improvements | Interior & Environment | $10,000,000 | This is a good use of taxpayer funds because the project will bring Monroe County’s wastewater management systems up to compliance with the Advanced Wastewater Treatment Standards under the Clean Water Act. |
| Monroe County | 1100 Simonton St, Suite 205, Key West, FL 33040 | Bridge Repair Project | Transportation, Housing & Urban Development | $2,000,000 | This would be a good use of taxpayer funds because the repair of several aging bridges in Monroe County will improve traffic conditions throughout the County. |
| Naval Air Station Key West | 29350 Coral Sea Blvd, Bldg 232, Homestead ARB, FL 33039-1299 | Air Station Property Acquisition | Military Construction | $6,000,000 | This is a good use of taxpayer funds because the Naval Air Station will acquire property or property rights in critical noise areas to ensure continued operational integrity of the station while addressing the noise concerns of the local community. |
| Ohel Children's Home & Family Services | 4233 Sheridan Road, Miami Beach, FL 33140 | At-Risk Youth and Child Abuse Prevention Program | Commerce, Justice, Science | $360,000 | Support a program that engages at-risk youth in elementary and high schools to enhance their social and emotional functioning, as well as prevent and treat risky behaviors, including those that often lead to addictions and violence. This program is a valuable use of taxpayer funds in that it prevents "at-risk" behaviors from spiraling into juvenile delinquency. furthermore, the program benefits the Federal government by putting at-risk kids back on a successful track and thus saving significant Federal expenditures by keeping them out of the juvenile justice system. |
| Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) | 2000 L Street NW Suite 406, Washington, DC 20036 | National Hotline Services for Rape Victims | Commerce, Justice, Science | $3,000,000 | Support a National Sexual Assault Online Hotline, which helps victims of sexual violence to retain access to the services needed for a full recovery, and RAINN’s Nationwide Education and Outreach Programs. It is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because these services have helped over one million victims of sexual assault from aorund the country since 1994. It is critical that these services continue to receive funding so that victims of sexual violence retain access tot he services vitally needed for a fully recovery. |
| St. Thomas University | 16401 NW 37 Avenue, Miami Gardens, Florida 33054 | Human Trafficking Initiative | Commerce, Justice, Science | $500,000 | Provide essential educational and training services to law enforcement, immigration services, and government employees directly involved with service providing to trafficking victims. This would be a valuable use of taxpayer funds because it is a high priority of the U.S. Department of Justice to pursue and prosecute human traffickers. There is a need for competent infomration on this phenomenon and effective training in th eidentification of victims, prosecution of traffickers and the provision of assistance to victims in immigration matters as well as their ultimate restoration of physical and mental health. |
| St. Thomas University | 16401 NW 37th Avenue Miami Gardens, FL | Minority Student Neuroscience Research Consortium to Study Spinal Cord Injury | Defense | $1,500,000 | Develop treatments for Spinal Cord Injury repair and functional recovery for injured veterans. This would be a good use of taxpayer money because it will train minority science students in research procedures. In 2001, minority students were awarded only 5.7% of doctoral degrees in math and science, according to a National Science Foundation report. |
| St. Thomas University | 16401 NW 37 Avenue, Miami Gardens, Florida 33054 | Science and Computer Advancement Center for Elementary Education | Labor, Health & Human Services | $500,000 | Offer a professional development program to advance the teaching of science and technology in elementary schools in Miami-Dade County. This project would be a good use of taxpayer’s funds to increase elementary grade education in science and computer science to correct the reduction of these programs over the years. |
| STIDD Systems | 86 Coco Plum Dr. Marathon, FL | Transformer Technology for Combat Submersibles (TTCS) | Defense | $9,300,000 | Enable U.S. Special Operations Command to evaluate a combat submersible boat with increased payload capacity. This would be a good use of taxpayer money because the request will help fill the current shallow water capability gap for Naval Special Warfare. |
| The ARISE Foundation | 824 US Highway 1 Suite 240, North Palm Beach, FL 33408 | ARISE Life-Management Skills Intervention/Re-entry Program for High Risk Youth | Commerce, Justice, Science | $1,000,000 | Provide Florida Juvenile Justice Staff on a state-wide basis with in depth training and specialized ARISE Life Management Skills lessons to conduct guided discussions with incarcerated high-risk youth. This request is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because over 156,618 hours of Life-Skills lessons have been taught at this facility. A recent study by Professor Mark A. Cohen of Vanderbilt University found that the cost of one offender with at least six police contacts from childhood to age 32 totals $3,172,998. In other words, saving one child serves taxpayers more than 3 million. By comparison, the ARISE program costs $1.70 per hour per youth. |
| United Way of Miami-Dade | 3250 S.W. 3rd Avenue, Miami, Florida 33129 | United Way Center for Excellence in Early Education | Labor, Health & Human Services | $500,000 | Improve quality of early care and education, parental training, provide professional development training for students and professionals, and provide instruction for best practices in early care and education. This project would be a good use of taxpayer’s funds because 30% of children in Miami-Dade County begin school significantly behind their peers. By addressing the need for high-quality early care and education programs, we can ensure that children are ready to begin schooling. |
| University of Florida Tropical Research and Education Center | University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611 | Research & Education to Address the Redbay Ambrosia Beetle Threat to the U.S. Avocado Industry | Agriculture | $1,303,920 | This is a good use of taxpayer funds because it will address a disease in the Southeastern United States (Laurel Wilt) which kills avocado plants. This disease is currently 100 miles north of Florida’s largest avocado crop, and the avocado industry is crucial to the prosperity of South Florida. |
| University of Miami | 1252 Memorial Drive Coral Gables, FL 33146 | Center for Ophthalmic Innovation | Defense | $3,000,000 | Fund research to lessen the morbidity of traumatic eye injuries in military operations as well as to explore ways to assist in visual restoration of the injured personnel. This would be a good use of taxpayer money because the program would help bring eye care to the underserved of south Florida. |
| University of Miami | 1252 Memorial Drive, Ashe Administration Building, Room 247, Coral Gables, FL 33146 | Center for Hemispheric Policy | State & Foreign Operations | $1,500,000 | This is a good use of taxpayer funds because the funding will assemble a task force to research U.S.-Mexico boarder relations, alternative energy developments and the impact of the global economic crisis on Latin American countries. |
Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen requested funding for the following local military installations/organizations in the Fiscal Year 2010 Defense Authorization bill:
Construction of a Community Activity Center/Troop Feeding Facility on Homestead Air Reserve Base
Location: Homestead, Florida
Amount Requested: $6,300,000
Homestead Air Reserve Base is home to the 482nd Fighter Wing and countless visiting squadrons. The existing troop feeding facility and activities center was constructed in 1956 and is incapable of additional expansion. A new, more efficient, facility is needed in order to accommodate the increased number of troops due to BRAC plus-up and additional tenant units assigned to the base. Further, Homestead ARB is slated to gain an additional 200+ active duty personnel under the Total Force Integration (TFI) Initiative within the next few years.
Construction of an Aircraft Maintenance Hangar on Homestead Air Reserve Base
Location: Homestead, Florida
Amount Requested: $6,458,000
Homestead Air Reserve Base is in urgent need of an aircraft maintenance hangar to accommodate 9 additional aircraft and 200+ maintenance personnel assigned as a result of the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process. Existing facilities are not adequate to support enhanced maintenance requirements associated with the increased number of assigned aircraft. Specifically, the installation requires six additional enclosed aircraft parking spaces in order to complete scheduled and unscheduled maintenance necessary to ensure aircraft mission availability. Construction of this hangar will ensure maintenance activity can be completed safely, efficiently, and as required to meet mission requirements.
Entrance Security Enhancements on Homestead Air Reserve Base
Location: Homestead, Florida
Amount Requested: $6,700,000
Funding would provide a new entry control complex that increases the Antiterrorist/Force Protection of Air Force personnel and equipment within Homestead Air Reserve Base. With the current, and projected future, mission growth at the installation (including Customs Service and Special Operations Command activities), the base provides a high visibility target for potential attacks. A modern, properly configured, efficient, properly located entry control complex is required to meet force protection standards and reduce the installation's vulnerability to terrorist activity.
Naval Air Station Key West Property Acquisition
Location: Key West, Florida
Amount Requested: $6,000,000
These funds would be used to acquire real property or property rights (including possible easements, leaseholds or fee simple purchase) in critical noise and safety impact zones surrounding the Naval Air Station. Since the closure of the Navy’s training facilities in Vieques, Puerto Rico, Naval Air Station Key West has become an even more important base for the training and operational readiness of Navy, Marine, Air Force, Army, National Guard, Coast Guard and allied pilots. This funding would help to ensure the continued operational integrity of the Naval Air Station while also helping to mitigate potential safety and noise concerns of the local community caused by the increased utilization of the Naval Air Station in the post 9/11 security environment.
Special Operations Combat Submersible Technology Development
Requesting Entity: STIDD Systems, Inc.
Location: Marathon, Florida
Amount Requested: $9,300,000
Funding for this request would enable U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) to evaluate a combat submersible boat with increased payload capacity. This technology demonstration craft would be manufactured by STIDD Systems, a private company, with testing and training facilities in Marathon, Florida. Funding for this project would bring much-needed, well paying jobs to the Florida Keys.
Miami Office
4960 SW 72 Avenue, Suite 208
Miami, Florida 33155
Telephone: 305-668-2285
Fax: 305-668-5970
Washington, DC Office
2470 Rayburn H.O.B.
Washington, DC 20515-0918
Telephone: 202-225-3931
Fax: 202-225-5620
Miami Beach Office
Lourdes Ruiz
Telephone: 305-934-9441
Monroe County Office
Kim Sovia-Crandon
Telephone: 305-304-7789