Appropriations Requests
Funding Priorities In Our Community, Enhancing Our Nation’s Capabilities
Many constituents are interested in appropriations requests, also known as “earmarks,” and how they work. The conscientious use of earmarked funds, or federal resources designated for local projects of high public importance, can have great benefits for the 11th Congressional District in Brooklyn, New York state, and our nation.
In the past, the earmark process lacked accountability and transparency, allowing some Members of Congress to abuse it and lose the public trust. Congressional Democrats have instituted extensive reforms, including ensuring all Americans have direct access to determining the funding requests Members of Congress support.
The requests my office makes seek to use taxpayer funds prudently, supporting organizations based in my Congressional District with projects improving the quality of life for district residents. The requests may support higher education, social services, natural resource preservation, renewable energy, and homeland security initiatives with local and national benefits.
The federal appropriations process is complicated and lengthy, involving 12 separate bills. To make this process as transparent as possible, I have listed on this website all earmarks I requested in the 111th Congress, organized by bill.
FY-2011 Appropriations Priorities
Click here for a pdf of my FY 2010 submitted requests
Click here for a pdf of my FY 2010 approved requests
Surface Transportation Project Requests
On behalf of New York’s 11th Congressional District, I have made the following requests for
funding in the surface transportation authorization bill (listed in alphabetical order):
- Design and Construction of Bus Rapid Transit Improvements on the Nostrand Avenue Corridor, Brooklyn, NY (multi-Member request) - $18,000,000
- Design and Construction of a Pedestrian Plaza and Transit Improvements at Newkirk Plaza, Brooklyn, NY - $3,200,000
- Design and Construct Safe Routes to School Projects in Brooklyn, NY - $3,000,000
- Design and install monitoring and enforcement systems utilizing ITS technologies; analyze commercial vehicle traffic at bridges connecting New Jersey and New York City for the purpose of planning, asset management, security and safety enforcement - $5,400,000
- Design and Reconstruction of Malbone Street and Clove Road, Brooklyn, NY - $4,000,000
- Installation of Pedestrian Ramps, Brooklyn, NY - $1,000,000
- Plan for Bridge Inspection and Maintenance Enhancements to New York City Owned Bridges, NY - $2,000,000
- Planning Study for Reconfiguration of Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn, NY - $960,000
- Reconstruct a portion of the BQE in Downtown Brooklyn, NY to improve highway safety and operation, correct infrastructure deficiencies and enhance community quality of life (multi-Member request)- $206,000,000
- Reconstruction of Court Street between Atlantic and Hamilton Avenues, Brooklyn, NY - $3,000,000
- Roadway improvements in Prospect Park-Lincoln Road, Brooklyn NY to construct an additional motorist lane as well as bicycle and pedestrian pathways - $4,447,922
- Study and implementation of congestion reduction measures on Church Avenue, Brooklyn, NY - $2,000,000