Earmarks: Commerce, Justice, Science

Child Advocacy Center
Purpose: for equipment and furnishings to support the expansion of the Child Advocacy Center in Lincoln, NE.
Amount Requested: $250,000
Pending Amount Earmarked: $250,000
Location: Lincoln, Nebraska
Recipient: Lincoln/Lancaster County Child Advocacy Center, Inc.
Taxpayer Interest: Child Advocacy Centers support the mission of the Department of Justice in conducting specialized forensic interviewing and medical evaluations of child victims of abuse at the local level for the purpose of pursuing successful criminal prosecutions and supporting victim’s rights.
Letter requesting the earmark:
• Lynn Ayers, Executive Director, Child Advocacy Center
Letters in support of the earmark:
• Amanda McGill, State Senator, District 26
• Karen Peppmuller
• Ray Stevens, Vice Chair, Lancaster County Board of Commissioners
• Gary Lacey, Lancaster County Attorney
• Doug Emery, Lincoln City Council
• Terry Wagner, Lancaster County Sheriff
• Julie Smith Hogancamp, Johnson County Attorney
• Thomas Smith, CEO, Smith-Hayes Financial Services Corporation
• Coleen Seng, Former Mayor of Lincoln
• Jim Gordon, Demars-Gordon-Olson-Zalewski
• Lisa Smith, Smith-Hayes Financial Services Corporation
• Alan Moore, Saline County Sheriff
• Sue Quambusch, President/CEO of A to Z Printing
• Ann Avery, Child Advocacy Center Board
• Renee Holscher, Home Real Estate
• David Miers, Manager, Counseling, and Program Development BryanLGH
• Wendy Elston, Seward County Attorney
• Kevin Stukenholtz, Saunders County Sheriff’s Office
• Mary Bills-Strand and James Strand
• Marc LeBaron, CEO, Lincoln Industries
• David Hansen, Project SAFE Director, UNL Dept. of Psychology
• Jeffrey David, MD, Lincoln Pediatric Group
• Kathryn LeBaron, CAC Capital Campaign Chair
• Stacie Bleicher, Capital City Pediatrics
• Linda Bauer, Jefferson County Attorney
• Timothy Sieh, York County Attorney
• Candy Henning, Broadcast Representative, Candy Henning, CRMC

Mental and Behavioral Health Services
Purpose: to facilitate mental health and behavioral health services to at-risk youth living in rural communities.
Amount Requested: $700,000
Pending Amount Earmarked: $700,000
Location: York, Nebraska
Recipient: Epworth Village
Taxpayer Interest: 89 of 93 counties in Nebraska are designated by the Department of Health and Human Services as Mental Health Professionals Shortage areas and 82 counties have no registered psychiatrist. This funding will enable mental and behavioral services for at-risk youth living in rural and currently underserved communities
Letter requesting the earmark:
• Tom McBride, President/CEO, Epworth Village
Letters in support of the earmark:
• Kathy Campbell, State Senator, District 25
• Greg Adams, State Senator, District 24
• Charles Harris, Mayor, City of York
• Roger Breed, Commissioner of Education
• Kathy Bigsby-Moore, Executive Director, Voices for Children
• Mike Lucas, Superintendent of Schools, York
• Scot Adams, Director, Division of Behavioral Health, Department of Health and Human Services
• C.G. Holthus, President & CEO of Cornerstone Bank in York
• Roy Dinsdale, pinnacle Bancorp, Inc, Palmer
• Candy Kennedy, Executive Director, Nebraska Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health
• Ann Brookshire Sherer-Simpson, Resident Bishop, Nebraska Area United Methodist Church
• James Blue, President & CEO, CEDARS

Home Visitation for At-Risk Mothers
Purpose: to provide critical home visitation services to young, at-risk mothers that will help keep the mother and child healthy and ultimately prevent intergeneration cycles of disadvantage.
Amount Requested: $565,000
Pending Amount Earmarked: $565,000
Location: Omaha, Nebraska
Recipient: Visiting Nurses Association
Taxpayer Interest: Adolescent parents and their children represent populations at increased risk for medical, psychological and developmental challenges. This program will assist soon-to-be new mothers with home visits and structured support systems to facilitate a healthy environment for the child and the mother.
Letter requesting the earmark:
• Jamie Summerfelt, President/CEO, Visiting Nurse Association
Letters in support of the earmark:
• Jessie Rasmussen, Vice President, Buffett Early Childhood Fund
• Karen Spencer-May, Ph.D, Supervisor, Family & Consumer Services, Omaha Public Schools Dept of Curriculum & Learning
• State Senator Gwen Howard, District 9

Expansion of Day School
Purpose: for expansion of Day School services and programs to serve more at risk juvenile youth and their families.
Amount Requested: $250,000
Pending Amount Earmarked: $250,000
Location: Boys Town, NE
Recipient: Boys Town
Taxpayer Interest: this funding would be used to provide support services for youth who are no longer able to attend public or alternative schools because of behavioral problems. This program helps these at-risk juveniles and their families successfully re-integrate into a formalized educational setting and remain out of the juvenile justice system.
Letter requesting the earmark:
• Father Steven E. Boes, National Executive Director, Boys Town
Letter in support of the earmark:
• Dr. Jane Stavem, Superintendent, Blair Community Schools

International Trade Scholars Program
Purpose: to develop and implement an International Trade Scholars Program at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to lead research, education and outreach in the fields of international trade and negotiation.
Amount Requested: $500,000
Pending Amount Earmarked: $500,000
Location: Lincoln, Nebraska
Recipient: University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Taxpayer Interest: training professionals in the area of international trade which is increasingly important as global trade continues to drive economies everywhere.
Letter requesting the earmark:
• JB Milliken, President of the University of Nebraska

Additionally, Senator Nelson asked the Appropriations subcommittee to support the following programmatic funding item:

National Environmental Satellite, Data & Information Service Operations, Research and Facilities – Regional Climate Centers

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Regional Climate Center program was established and authorized by Congress in the 1978 National Climate Program Act. Serving a 6 state region, the High Plains Regional Climate Center (HPCC) in Lincoln, Nebraska is one of 6 in the nation that carries out this program. The HPCC works closely with federal agencies to acquire and disseminate accurate, up-to-date climate data and information. The research and services completed at HPCC provides valuable input for climate-sensitive issues such as soil and water conservation, sustainable agriculture systems and natural resources and environmental management. Senator Nelson is supporting an appropriation of up to $6 million to fund the Regional Climate Centers nationwide.

Updated: October 2010