Constituent Services

Since I first ran for office, I have been a leading advocate for small, more effective government. On this webpage, you will find all of the requests for funding that I have made – all in the spirit of limited and transparent government.
My support for legitimate earmarks in no way compromises my principles on fiscal responsibility. Earmarks have a valuable role to play for smaller states, such as Nevada, to compensate for insufficient federal funding.
However, I recognize that not all earmarks are created equal.  Too often we hear the egregious examples, the $1.79 million for “swine odor” research is one that was in the most recent spending bill. With Congress spending money at break-neck speeds, it is my obligation to bring to light the waste and demand accountability for reckless earmarks.  
 
The unfortunate reality is that earmarks are routinely used as vote-buying cash.  Is it just a coincidence that so many Senators rail against federal spending but so many vote for historic spending increases?  This slippery slope is what piles on more and more spending and results in the outrageous spending that angers so many Americans.
 
I’m proud to say that my requests are public, available on my website and do not buy my vote.  It has always been my policy to only request funding that I can fully defend on the floor of the United State Senate.  I hope you find this information useful and transparent.
FY 2010 Funding Requests
 
Defense
Hawthorne Army Depot
Hawthorne, Nevada
Vehicle Maintenance Shop - $5,300,000
This request is to rebuild the Vehicle Maintenance Shop to support the mission of the Hawthorne Army Depot.  These facilities were first built in 1943 and are now 55 years old.  Extensive modifications are required to bring the sludge basin and acid spill basin into compliance with current EPA regulations.
 
Fallon Naval Air Station
Fallon, Nevada
Warrior Physical Training Facility - $11,450,000
This request funds the construction of a combined gymnasium/fitness center facility.  Maintenance of the current facilities is not cost effective as the current facilities are extremely old, inadequate, and geographically separated from base housing.
 
Naval Air National Guard – Reno Tahoe International Airport
Reno, Nevada
Fire Station Replacement - $10,800,000
Construction of the new fire station will alleviate the concerns regarding the current fire station, which has become inadequate in size and insufficient in space in order to properly support the fire protection and crash/rescue requirements for the 152d Airlift Wing. 
Nevada Air National Guard
Clark County, Nevada 
Additions and Alterations for Clark County - $2,000,000
This project is proposed to design an Addition/Alteration of the Clark County Armory to create new unit administration areas.  It is critical to construct new facilities and expand current facilities to meet NVARNG growth.  The Clark County Armory is experiencing an influx of new units and increased equipment storage requirements.  The 1864th Transportation Company has recently relocated from Henderson to the Clark County Armory and with it brings additional trucks and trailers that need to be accommodated.
Advanced Interactive Systems
Las Vegas, Nevada
Small Arms Training Ranges - $2,000,000
This request is for the procurement of modular shooting ranges that incorporate real life simulations to train Special Operations Forces (SOF).  This system provides maximum fidelity for mission training and rehearsal, allowing the SOF warfighters to get judgmental training with real-time feedback that could save lives and increase mission effectiveness.
 
Hawthorne Army Depot
Hawthorne, Nevada
MLRS Disposal System – $2,500,000
The Contained Burn Facility at the Hawthorne Army Depot will provide a single location for the demilitarization of the complete Multi-Launch Rocket System weapon saving taxpayer dollars and reducing risk to civilian communities by eliminating the requirement for indefinite storage or transporting these weapons across the country.

Rocky Research
Boulder City, Nevada
Novel Endothermic Armor Material for Insensitive Munitions Protection of Tactical Missiles and Tubes - $2,500,000
This is an endothermic armor material that serves two functions simultaneously.  It offers superior traditional armor protection against various ammunition threat levels by being over 20% lighter than Kevlar at identical threat protection.  In addition, the material is designed to contain refrigerant which can be released on demand and at preset temperatures thereby providing self-cooling and preventing the propagation of fire and heat-induced self-.ignitions.
 
MC-21
Carson City, Nevada
Affordable Light-Weight MMC Armor -$2,500,000
MC-21 metal matrix composites (MMCs) offer a solution to the military’s needs by providing a light and inexpensive armor material that provides good ballistic performance.
 
Nevada Cancer Institute
Las Vegas, Nevada
Enhancing Wound Healing, Tissue Regeneration, and Biomarker Discovery - $2,000,000
With the high injury rate among soldiers in the war (15 injured for every one killed), development of therapies that prevent tissue injury and enhance wound healing will have a significant impact on the public health of U.S. veterans.
 
Airborne Tactical Advantage Company
Fallon, Nevada
EL/M-2032 Radar Upgrade to Navy Adversary Aircraft - $2,000,000
This radar upgrade procurement and installation would help better test and train our Navy fighter crews. The program will consist of the EL/M-2032 radar, installation, training, support equipment, and logistics necessary for sustained operation in support of U.S. Navy adversary training.
 
Night Operations Systems
Reno, Nevada
U.S. Army Acquisition of NOS-45A Tactical/Crew Serve Weapon Illumination Systems - $1,500,000
The procurement of NOS-45A Tactical/Crew Serve Weapon Illumination Systems would improve soldier safety as well as enhance effectiveness of the service’s night operations. NOS-45A systems illuminate targets beyond 1,000 meters, and are compact, lightweight, and can be handheld or mounted on all U.S. Army crew-served weapon and vehicle platforms.
 
Justice
National Judicial College
Reno, Nevada
Judicial Education and Scholarships for Judges - $1,500,000
The National Judicial College (NJC) is entering its 46th year of providing judicial education and professional development for our nation’s judiciary as well as for judges from other countries.  Funds would be used to provide judicial education to judges from general and limited jurisdiction courts from all states, tribal courts, administrative law, and military courts.
 
National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges
Reno, Nevada
Judicial Training, Research and Technical Assistance Projects - $3,000,000
The project provides judges/professionals with state-of-the-art training, technical assistance, publications, research, and statistics in juvenile delinquency, child abuse and neglect, and family law matters - helping to improve system effectiveness for children and families involved in the court system.
 
National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges
Reno, Nevada
Child Abuse Training for Judicial Personnel and Practitioners under Violence Against Women Act - $4,000,000
The Child Abuse Training Project focuses on improving court practice in child abuse and neglect cases by providing judicial leaders and stakeholders a way to find better outcomes for children and families in the court system.  The project provides individual jurisdictions and states with hands-on training, technical assistance, and evaluation.  The project Model Courts improve the child protection system by serving as “laboratories” for meaningful systems change in case processing and disseminating that information nationwide.
Water
Truckee Meadows Flood Management Project -- $15,000,000
The Truckee Meadows Nevada project will provide flood damage reduction, eco-system restoration and recreation along the Truckee River from Reno to Pyramid Lake.
Rural Nevada Program -- $20 million 
The Water Resources Development Act of 1999 and 2007, Section 595, provides for design and construction assistance for water supply, wastewater treatment, environmental restoration, and surface water protection in rural Nevada.  
Tahoe Basin Restoration -- $5,000,000 
The principal purpose of this authority is to provide planning, design, and construction assistance for environmental restoration, resource protection, and development projects in the implementation of local, state, federal, and private watershed restoration effort in the Lake Tahoe basin.  
Systems Conveyance and Operations Program (SCOP) -- $10 million 
Clark County, Nevada
The need for a new effluent collection system is driven by the increase in growth and excessive effluent in the Las Vegas Wash and effluent mixing in Lake Mead, a drinking water source for millions of Americans in the West.  The project will maximize wetlands growth and protection and will protect water quality and recreation in Lake Mead, a federal reservoir.  The project will insure adequate wastewater conveyances for the entire Las Vegas Valley. 
Las Vegas Wash Improvement Project -- $2.75 million 
Clark County, Nevada
This program provides for the development and implementation of projects for the restoration, habitat enhancement, and water quality improvement of the Las Vegas Wash, which feeds into Lake Mead.  Over the past five years, there have been a number of significant accomplishments completed for this program.  These include the completion of 9 of the 22 required erosion control structures, over 3 miles of bank stabilization, archaeological surveys, and revegetation and invasive species management on 70 of the 140 acres required for mitigation. 
Interior
 
Fernley Wastewater Treatment Plant, Mechanical Dewatering System -- $2,000,000
Fernley, NV
This project will replace the current tank-based solids handling method with the construction of mechanical dewatering facilities. This facility’s microfiltration design for arsenic removal includes solids handling storage tanks. Rehabilitation for mechanical dewatering of the residuals handing would allow the City of Fernley to provide its residents with higher quality and safer water for the long term. This project also falls in line with the mission of the EPA by protecting and safeguarding Fernley residents’ health and environment.
 
Carson City Marlette Hobart Watering System -- $1,500,000
Carson City, NV
Funding is needed to make water infrastructure improvements to the Marlette Hobart Water System. This entire reach of the system is quite old with sections that, in the past, have been exposed along its alignment. Much of this pipeline system suffers from decay due to age and damage from heavy equipment operations during the Waterfall Fire of 2004 and current water system construction and is in need of immediate replacement.

Project Title: Tahoe Basin Vessel Inspection Station- $8,000
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Lake Tahoe, California and Nevada

The requested funding will be used to conduct water vessel inspection and decontamination at stations located away from boat and vessel ramps at Lake Tahoe.   The Tahoe Basin is under threat of Quagga and zebra mussel infestations because of its high-use by recreational boaters.  An infestation could have devastating impacts on the regional economy, including recreation, tourism, property values, and other infrastructure equaling approximately $22 million a year.  If introduced, Quagga and zebra mussels could destroy the region’s fisheries, alter the food web and ecosystem, jeopardize the public drinking supply, and ruin the shoreline and public access points. 

Transportation

 
Southern Nevada Beltway Interchanges - $4,000,000
Southern Nevada
The Las Vegas Beltway/Airport Connector Interchange  project consists of high-speed directional ramps connecting the southern segment of the I-215 to the airport connector, which provides direct high-speed access to McCarran International Airport. The US 95/Las Vegas Beltway Interchange is a system-to-system interchange connecting the Las Vegas Beltway to the US Highway 95 freeway with the associated mainline improvements to accommodate flyover ramps.
 
I-15 Corridor Improvements – $3,000,000
Southern Nevada
This project will widen I-15 from Stateline to Sloan extending lanes from Tropicana Avenue to Sahara Avenue from eight to fourteen lanes, for example. The NEPA process for a mega-project, commonly referred to as Project Neon, is underway.  Project Neon will widen I-15 from 8 to 14 lanes from the Spaghetti Bowl to Sahara Avenue and will replace the existing interchange at Charleston Boulevard with a new Single Point Urban Interchange.  It will also construct a new interchange at Alta Drive and will connect Industrial Road.
 
I-395 Corridor Improvements - $3,000,000
Northern Nevada
The project will begin to address some of the basic problems in the US 395 corridor, including corridor and interchange improvements to mitigate traffic congestion.
 
State Route 160, Blue Diamond Highway -- $3,000,000
Las Vegas to Pahrump, Nevada
This corridor has experienced tremendous growth in the past decade, and the subsequent increase in automobile traffic and demand for left turnouts has resulted in extremely congested and hazardous conditions. The existing two-lane road is in the process of being widened to six lanes (three lanes in each direction). Additionally, as safety improvements, a median barrier is proposed to be installed and traffic signals at key arterial intersections will provide protected left turn signal phasing for automobile traffic making left turns.
 
Pyramid Highway -- $3,000,000
Sparks, Nevada
The project will address some of the basic problems in the Pyramid Highway (SR 445) corridor, which is the primary major arterial serving the explosive growth in the northeast Reno-Sparks metropolitan area. The work will undertake project development and environmental studies for improvements to increase capacity and reduce congestion within the corridor. Another project element encompasses the design and construction of initial high-priority facilities, including an interchange to address the current gridlock in the area of the intersection of Pyramid Highway and McCarran Boulevard.
 
ACE Boulder Highway Rapid Transit Project - $1,500,000
Clark County, Nevada
The Boulder Highway Bus Rapid Transit project will be comprised of a Bus Rapid Transit system operating along a 17-mile corridor with exclusive transit lanes, vehicles, stations, transit signal priority technology, passenger shelters, off-board fare collection, and civil infrastructure.  The specific segment, including terminus points is Boulder Highway from the Central City Intermodal Transportation Terminal to Horizon Drive in Henderson, Nevada.
 
Washoe County Bus Rapid Transit - $1,000,000
Washoe County, Nevada
The initial phase of the Washoe County Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) includes the purchase of right-of-way, traffic signal pre-emption, queue jumping at intersections, off-board fare collection, fast loading at enhanced bus stops, and additional park-and-ride facilities. This will be the first stage of bus rapid transit in the heavily traveled Virginia Street corridor linking the UNR campus, downtown Reno, the convention center, and the Meadowood mall. The second phase of the project will include sleek, rail-like BRT vehicles and dedicated lanes for BRT operation.
 
Reno-Tahoe Airport Approach Surveillance Radar (ASR-11) - $1,000,000
Reno, Nevada
The radar equipment at the Reno-Tahoe airport is operating with outdated technology.  This request would improve operational safety for aircraft operating in and around the Reno-Tahoe airport. 
 
Opportunity Village - $1,000,000
Henderson, Nevada
Founded in 1954, Opportunity Village seeks to improve the lives of people with intellectual disabilities. It has grown to become Nevada’s largest private, not-for-profit community rehabilitation program, serving more than 3,000 people annually through vocational training, community job placement, advocacy, and social recreation programs. Funding is needed for expansion of facilities at the Walters Family Campus in Henderson, Nevada. 
 
Health and Education
 
Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health -- $1,000,000
Las Vegas, NV
Earlier this year, the Lou Ruvo Institute announced a new partnership with the world-renowned Cleveland Clinic.  Together, they aim to become a national resource for the most current research and scientific information for the treatment of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's diseases, as well as focusing on prevention, early detection, and education.  The Institute will consist of approximately 50,000 square feet and will include 13 examination rooms, offices for healthcare practitioners and researchers, a “Museum of the Mind,” and a community auditorium. The Institute will also serve as the headquarters of the Keep Memory Alive Foundation, the Las Vegas Alzheimer’s Association, and the Las Vegas Parkinson’s Disease Association. 
 
University of NV School of Medicine, Institute for Neuro-Immune Disease - $500,000
Sparks, Nevada
The University of Nevada School of Medicine, Institute for Neuro-Immune Disease- Whittemore Peterson Institute is a comprehensive outpatient medical center and translational research center, dedicated to patient care, basic research, education and drug development for a spectrum of neuro-immune diseases including Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, atypical multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia and Gulf War Illness. They plan to add other neuro-inflammatory diseases, such as autism, to their clinical practice. 
 
Davidson Academy of Nevada
Reno, Nevada - $500,000
The Davidson Academy of Nevada is a free public school for profoundly gifted middle and high school students.   The mission of The Davidson Academy is to provide young people an advanced educational opportunity matched to their abilities, strengths, and interests.
 
Sierra Nevada College, The Tahoe Center for Environmental Services
Lake Tahoe, Nevada - $500,000
The Tahoe Center for Environmental Sciences is a unique partnership between public and private institutions of higher education in Nevada and California (Sierra Nevada College/UC Davis).  It provides a center for scientific research in the understanding of alpine lakes and the preservation of the environmental quality of such important resources. The facility provides an opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students to associate with and study under some of the leading scientists in the fields of environmental science and environmental policy. Funding will be used to expand science and research programs.
 
The National Community in Schools Program – $5,000,000
Communities In Schools (CIS) is the nation’s largest dropout prevention organization.  CIS is active across the country with 200 local affiliates serving over one million kids in 3200 school in 27 states including Nevada.  CIS works with students at greatest risk of dropping out.  CIS identifies and mobilizes existing community resources and fosters cooperative partnerships that benefit students and families.  This national program will reach more students, expand services and provide greater training and technical assistance to the individual sites in Nevada through this expenditure.

 
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