Fiscal Year 2010 Appropriations Process

Every year during the annual federal appropriations process, Members of Congress hear from communities about their specific needs.  Members of Congress have a responsibility to act on behalf of constituents and advocate for the use of taxpayer funds to promote the general welfare of a Congressional District or state.

Over the past two years there has been a concerted effort in Congress to add transparency and accountability to projects included in appropriations legislation.  There are good reasons to request direct funding for specific needs in the First Congressional District and elsewhere in Colorado, and I will seek targeted funding as the Fiscal Year 2010 appropriations process gets underway.  I will pursue a select few funding initiatives that create much needed jobs, make critical infrastructure improvements, and support the Colorado institutions that strengthen our state.

The deadline for my office to receive applications is March 23, 2009, at 6 p.m. MST.  An application will be available upon request through my office or by clicking here.

Preference will be given to:

All Members of the House of Representatives are required by the House Appropriations Committee to certify they have no financial interest in the requests they submit for the Committee’s consideration.  They must also post their requests on their official House website with the following information included:

Fiscal Year 2010 Appropriations Requests 

Departments of Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations

Denver Regional Transit District
1600 Blake Street
Denver, CO 80202

West Corridor, Denver Regional Transportation District, Denver, Colorado – The West Corridor Preferred Alternative is a 12.1 mile light rail line with 11 stations, extending from Denver Union Station on the eastern end, providing service west through Denver, Lakewood, Jefferson County and Golden, with a major Intermodal facility at the Denver Federal Center.  It is a component of RTD’s 12-year comprehensive transit service and facility expansion called FasTracks, 122 miles of rail and 18 miles of Bus Rapid Transit region-wide.  FasTracks was approved by voters in November 2004 and making these improvements in Denver’s transportation infrastructure will be a valuable use of taxpayer funds. ($100,000,000)

Denver Regional Transit District
1600 Blake Street
Denver, CO 80202

East Transit Corridor, Denver Regional Transportation District, Denver, Colorado – The East Corridor is a 22.7-mile commuter rail corridor extending from Denver Union Station on the western end, providing service east to Denver International Airport.  The East Corridor is projected to carry an average of 37,900 daily passengers by 2030.  It is a component of RTD’s 12-year comprehensive transit service and facility expansion called FasTracks, 122 miles of rail and 18 miles of Bus Rapid Transit region-wide.  This is valuable to taxpayers because it will be added to a 4/10 of 1 percent local sales tax initiative approved by voters in November 2004. ($95,000,000)

Denver Regional Transit District
1600 Blake Street
Denver, CO 80202

Gold Line Transit Corridor, Denver Regional Transportation District, Denver, Colorado – The Gold Line is a 10.8-mile commuter rail corridor extending from Denver Union Station on the southern end, extending north and west through Denver, Adams County, Arvada, and to an end-of-line in Wheat Ridge. The Gold Line is projected to carry an average of 16,800 daily riders by 2030.  It is a component of RTD’s 12-year comprehensive transit service and facility expansion called FasTracks, 122 miles of rail and 18 miles of Bus Rapid Transit region-wide.  FasTracks was approved by voters in November 2004 and making these improvements in Denver’s transportation infrastructure will be a valuable use of taxpayer funds. ($31,500,000)

Colorado Department of Transportation
4201 E. Arkansas Ave. #275
Denver, CO 80222

I-25 Bronco Arch Bridge Replacement – The safe circulation of both pedestrians and vehicles on and under the Bronco Arch Bridge is important to the Colorado Department of Transportation.  After a recent inspection of the bridge, it was clear the structure reached its service life and needs to be replaced.  The bridge was built in 1951 and supports more than 200,000 vehicles on it every day.  The Department recognizes the value this project will provide to taxpayers because of its location and importance to the local economy. ($3,300,000)

City and County of Denver
1437 Bannock Street
Denver, CO 80202-5390

I-70 Central Park Boulevard Stapleton Interchange – This project will provide direct access to the northern and southern sections of Stapleton, which are currently bisected by I-70.  The interchange will be a good use of taxpayer funds because it will ensure smooth access to the extensive retail areas (10 million square feet of office and 3 million square feet of retail) as well as the 12,000 homes and apartments that will ultimately be built at Stapleton and avoid long lines and congestion on the interstate created by vehicles using the existing interchanges to the East and West of Stapleton. ($2,000,000)

Denver International Airport
8500 Pena Blvd.
Denver, CO 80249

Additional West Airfield Aircraft De-icing Fluid (ADF) Retention Capacity-Pond 009 Fourth Cell – The 009 retention ponds collect runoff from the west airfield that contains low level concentrations of aircraft deicing fluid.  Making improvements to this pond is a less costly alternative for dealing with runoff than purchasing additional treatment capacity, and is therefore a valuable use of taxpayer funds.  This will help the airport to continue to be a leader in environmental stewardship and reduce the risk of over flow, and potential environmental and financial impacts. ($1,887,000)

Denver International Airport
8500 Pena Blvd.
Denver, CO 80249

Upgrade Airfield Runway and Taxiway Safety Areas and Shoulders – Because of increased traffic from larger aircraft, the airfield requires widening of runway shoulders from 25ft to 35ft. and taxiway safety areas from 171ft. to 214ft.  This is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because it will enable the airfield to meet FAA design group standards, permitting the airport to safely accommodate current and future air traffic and continue to serve as an integral part of the national air transportation system providing Colorado with international access and a vibrant economic engine. ($1,000,000)

Denver International Airport
8500 Pena Blvd.
Denver, CO 80249

West Airfield Taxiway Improvements – Similar to other parts of the airport, the increased traffic from larger aircraft and anticipated additional seasonal traffic require significant improvements to the shoulders and safety areas along west side of the airport.  The funds will be used for, but not limited to, construction of concrete pavement and removal of a corner of the west airfield lighting vault.  Making these investments to welcome additional air traffic an commerce to the region is valuable to taxpayers. ($6,386,000)

Denver International Airport
8500 Pena Blvd.
Denver, CO 80249

Implementation of FAA Compatible Electronic Airport Layout Plan (eALP) and Geographic Information System – The Federal Aviation Administration now requires airports to implement an electronic Airport Layout Plan and accompanying Geographic Information System for the airfield and obstructions on or near runway approaches starting in 2010.  Accompanying this is the shift in responsibility for aeronautical surveys and preliminary analysis from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Ocean Service to the individual airports as a cost savings measure to the FAA.  Helping the airport meet this standard is a valuable to taxpayers because it will improve efficiency at the airport and within the federal government. ($3,000,000)

City and County of Denver
1437 Bannock Street
Denver, CO 802020-5390

56th Avenue Improvements – This project continues the implementation of phased improvements along the 56th Avenue corridor from Quebec Street to Peña Boulevard.  The project will improve regional mobility, including access to Denver International Airport (DIA), Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge (US Fish and Wildlife Service and US Army), Martinez Army Reserve Center (United States Army Reserve), and United States Postal Service.  This is a good use of taxpayer funds because regional mobility and local access in the northeast quadrant of Denver are dependent on 56th Avenue as one of the few continuous east-west arterials in this area.  Between Interstate I-70 and 96th Avenue, 56th Avenue offers the only opportunity for the development of a regionally significant arterial.  In addition 56th Avenue is the designated emergency detour route for Interstate 70 to Denver International Airport. ($5,000,000)

Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies

Denver Hospital Authority
777 Bannock Street
Denver, CO 80204

Denver Health Adolescent Psychiatric Care Facility – Denver Health provides the only adolescent psychiatric care in the Denver area.  Construction of a new adolescent psychiatry unit in the Denver area is a good use of taxpayer funds because it will allow the hospital to better meet mandated care requirements and the emergency care needs of the downtown Denver area, while the translocations of four nearby hospitals increase the demand for beds and services at Denver Health.  ($5,000,000)

Metropolitan State College of Denver
P.O. Box 173362, Campus Box 1
Denver, CO 80217-3362

World Airport Flight Simulation Laboratory – Metropolitan State College of Denver is currently the 5th largest accredited collegiate aviation program in the world.  Aviation and Aerospace Science Department students at the college require training in regional jets and modernized flight control systems.  This equipment will provide value to taxpayers by enabling students to take advantage of opportunities for employment for pilots by regional airlines, meet demands within the Federal Aviation Administration to replaced thousands of retiring Air Traffic Controllers, and support the personnel needs at the Department of Homeland Security Transportation Security Administration for jobs at our Nation’s airports. ($1,350,000) 

City and County of Denver
1437 Bannock Street
Denver, CO 802020-5390

Green Jobs Training for Veterans –This program will help train returning veterans in the growing field of green jobs.  This is a good use of taxpayer funds because returning and recently discharged veterans have served our country and deserve an opportunity to improve their skill set through expanded education and employment opportunities.  Renewable energy, environmental safety, energy efficient technology and other green industries have great potential to drive economic growth.  This project is complementary to state and national objectives and, finally, will contribute to a sufficiently trained workforce to meet the demand.  It will be administered by the City of Denver’s Veterans Service Office, in partnership with multiple state and nonprofit agencies and community colleges in the Metro Denver Area. ($400,000)


City and County of Denver
1437 Bannock Street
Denver, CO 802020-5390

Denver Foster Care Mental Health Screening – This project will respond to a critical need for mental health screening, evaluation and treatment for children in foster care in Denver County.  A Child Health Passport and mental health information database will be created for Denver’s foster care children seen through the Medical Home.  The program will also provide increased preventive mental health care services for foster children.  The Department of Health and Human Services Center for Mental Health Services leads national efforts to improve prevention and mental health treatment services for all Americans.  It also helps States and localities improve and increase the quality and range of treatment, rehabilitation, and support services for people with mental health problems, their families, and communities.  This project is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because it will leverage federal resources and help expand these important services for Denver’s children. ($400,000)

Department of Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies 

City and County of Denver
1437 Bannock Street
Denver, CO 802020-5390

Neighborhood Weatherization Collaborative – Denver’s most recent greenhouse gas inventory found that 14% of the city’s emissions come from residential units.  This program will provide significant value to taxpayers by helping Coloradans with limited incomes improve the energy efficiency of their homes, leverage weatherization funding available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and save money on utility bills. ($1,500,000)

State of Colorado, Colorado Water Conservation Board 
1313 Sherman Street, Room 721
Denver, CO  80203

Chatfield, Cherry Creek and Bear Creek Reservoirs, Colorado, Omaha District, General Investigations Study – The Chatfield Reservoir Reallocation Project would create storage space for an additional 20,600 acre-feet of water in Chatfield Reservoir.  There is an agreement to share the water between multiple downstream and upstream users.  This funding will ensure U.S. Army Corps of Engineers resources continue to be fully available to the Omaha District Civil Works staff to complete the Feasibility Report (FR) and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the Chatfield Reallocation project, and is valuable to taxpayers because it will facilitate the completion of a study of this project to help stored water within Chatfield become available for water supply and other needs in a timely manner. ($310,000)

Departments of Commerce and Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations

City and County of Denver
1437 Bannock Street
Denver, CO 802020-5390

Denver COPLINK – COPLINK is designed to make queries by law enforcement personnel seeking information on possible suspects, locations, vehicles, organizations, and incident/crimes.  It sorts, analyzes, formats, and links information across multiple agencies’ records.  COPLINK synthesizes the information from multiple sources onto one screen for easy viewing and analysis that are quick and help increase officer efficiency.  This project allows multiple law enforcement jurisdictions in Colorado to share and retrieve common information needed to solve crimes and enforce the law.  This is a good use of taxpayer funds because COPLINK has statewide scope, will help coordinate information, and will enhance efforts to fight organized crime while reducing investigative time and other redundant activities among jurisdictions. ($500,000)