Here are the five most-requested earmarks of 2009:

Textiles Research. Eight Congressmen requested from $3.5 million to $20 million for research at the National Textile Center and/or the Textile Clothing Technology Corp.

National Guard Help. Seven Congressmen requested either $1.6 million or $2 million for family assistance centers for members of the N.C. National Guard.

Rural Business. Six Congressmen requested $750,000 for a business financing program at the N.C. Rural Economic Development Center.

Contaminated Food. Five Congressmen requested $300,000 for a database of contaminants in the state's food supply through the N.C. Department of Agriculture.

Water Audits. Five Congressmen requested $2 million for audits of water supply systems through the Rural Economic Development Center.

In all, 75 earmark requests had more than one sponsor, 25 had three or more, and nine had four or more.

An earmark from eight North Carolina Congressmen would fund two textile research consortiums.

The funds would go to the National Textile Center, a consortium of eight universities including N.C. State University which develops new materials and promotes textile research and education, and a Cary-based industry consortium, the Textile/Clothing Technology Corp.

Rep. Brad Miller sought $16.5 million for both groups; Rep. David Price, $16.5 million; Rep. Mel Watt, $16.5 million; Rep. G.K. Butterfield, $20 million; and Rep. Heath Shuler, $3.5 million.

Meantime, Rep. Bob Etheridge requested $13 million just for the National Textile Center, and Rep. Howard Coble sought $13 million for the National Textile Center and $3.5 million for the Textile/Clothing Technology Corp.

Rep. Larry Kissell also requested $3.5 million for the Textile/Clothing Technology Corp.

All stressed the economic benefits of the research.

"The research conducted through these two programs plays a major role in helping to enhance the competitiveness of an industry that is a primary supplier of employment to women and minority workers, with many of these jobs located in depressed areas," Butterfield wrote in his request.

Price also noted the benefit to women and minorities.

"These two research consortiums are critical components of the US textile industry’s ongoing effort to remain globally competitive," he wrote. "Their groundbreaking textile research helps offset job losses in the U.S. textile sector, which is a primarily supplier of employment to women and minority individuals, and prolong the vitality of the U.S. textile manufacturing base."

Correction: An earlier version of this post misstated Coble's earmarks and left out Kissell's earmark.

U.S. Rep. G.K. Butterfield sought $7.3 billion in earmarks.

The Wilson Democrat released his list of 98 requested appropriations for the federal budget on his Web site.

The largest request is $2 billion for Virginia-class submarines from the Northrop Grumman Corp. The smallest is $150,000 to upgrade lecture halls at Halifax Community College.

Other notable earmarks:

* Refueling overhauls for Navy aircraft carriers, $1.6 billion.

* Construction of new aircraft carriers, $807 million.

* Funding a National Textile Center at N.C. State University, $16.5 million. 

* Starting a rural businss incubator in Scotland Neck, $10 million. 

U.S. Rep. Howard Coble is seeking $93.8 million in earmarks.

The Greensboro Republican released his list of 30 requested appropriations for the federal budget on his Web site.

The largest request is for $13 million for the National Textile Center at N.C. State University. The smallest request is $25,000 for a job training program for people who have completed drug treatment.

Other notable earmarks:

* Research gallium nitride energy devices for military use, $7 million.

* Provide Stryker armor protection for soldiers serving overseas, $6.5 million.

* Extend the runway at Burlington Alamance County Regional Airport, $6.25 million.

* Purhcase ultra-lightweight camouflage systems, $6 million.

Update: An earmark was inadvertently left off the earlier tally. 

U.S. Rep. Mel Watt is seeking $179.7 million in earmarks.

The Charlotte Democrat released his list of 66 requested appropriations for the federal budget on his Web site.

The largest request is for $30 million to expand Charlotte's Lynx light rail system. The smallest is for $127,849 to research the use of Nigella sativa in treating and preventing breast cancer.

Other notable earmarks:

* Funding a National Textile Center at N.C. State University, $16.5 million.

* Research regenerative medicine for wounded soldiers, $10 million.

* Widen Interstate 85 in Davidson and Rowan counties, $10 million.

* Research cattails as an alternative biofuel source, $2.5 million.

U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler is seeking $81.5 million in earmarks.

The Waynesville Democrat released his list of 79 requested appropriations for the federal budget on his Web site.

The largest request is for $6 million for Swain County as part of the U.S. Department of Interior's payments over not building the North Shore Road. The smallest is $125,000 for the Macon County Sheriff's Office to build a firing range.

Other notable earmarks:

* Fund the National Textile Center at N.C. State University, $3.5 million.

* Build a water treatment plant in McDowell County, $3.5 million.

* Run a youth program through the N.C. National Guard, $1.7 million.

* Fund biology and chemistry programs at UNC-Asheville, $1 million. 

U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge is seeking $312.2 million in earmarks.

The Lillington Democrat released his list of 59 requested appropriations for the federal budget on his Web site.

The largest request is $88 million for barracks at Fort Bragg for returning soldiers. The smallest is $200,000 for veterans services in Cumberland County.

Other notable earmarks:

* Civics textbooks, school violence programs and educational exchanges, $35 million.

* Extending Murchison Road at Fort Bragg, $35 million.

* Hiring professionals for Teach for America, $25 million.

* Studying atmospheric effects on plants on the moon and Mars, $1 million.

Like other state Democrats, Etheridge also sought funding for a National Textile Center, Reading Is Fundamental, and a National Poultry Consortium.

U.S. Rep. David Price is seeking $264.6 million in earmarks.

The Chapel Hill Democrat released his list of 89 requested appropriations for the federal budget on his Web site. 

The largest request is $28 million for Reading is Fundamental, a Washington-based nonprofit that encourages children to read. The smallest is $75,000 for a prostate cancer initiative through the N.C. Institute of Minority Economic Development.

Other notable earmarks:

* The National Textile Center at N.C. State, $16.5 million. 

* Adding Rocky Fork to the Cherokee National Forest, $13.5 million.

* A virtual reality center on urban warfare and disaster response at UNC-Chapel Hill, $3.7 million.

* An internal wiki system for government intelligence sharing, $2 million.

* A beaver management program that was criticized by Sen. John McCain, $300,000.

In 2008, Price was the top member of the state's delegation for earmark requests, in part because he is the only member of the House Appropriations Committee, which allocates federal tax dollars. 

U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Dole and Richard Burr took credit today for helping secure $13 million for the National Textile Center in the 2008 Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. The bill passed the Senate this week.

The center is a research consortium of eight universities around the country, including N.C. State University, reports Jane Stancill.

The group develops new textiles and technologies, improves manufacturing methods and establishes industrial partnerships and research collaborations. It aims to lead changes to keep the U.S. textile industry globally competitive.

"I have seen first-hand the great work the center is doing at N.C. State," Dole said in a news release. "It is critical that we continue to promote research and development that supports our domestic textile industry."

The Senate version of the bill must be reconciled with the House version. A final bill then will have to be approved by both the House and Senate before it goes to President Bush for his signature.