Appropriations Requests

Earmark Requests

Every year Congress considers several appropriations measures that provide funding for the operations of the federal government. The process begins when the President submits his budget request to Congress and ends when he signs the appropriations measures into law and disburses funds to federal agencies.

 » Learn more about the federal budget process. (PDF)

 » Learn more about the congressional appropriations process. (PDF)

One way for me to ensure that Northwest Indiana receives needed federal assistance is by requesting that the Appropriations Committee designate funds to specific eligible projects, commonly known as earmarks. Generally, these earmarks are financed through funds already budgeted for under general programs and do not result in an increase in federal spending. The primary distinction is that I have the opportunity to make sure your dollars are spent in Northwest Indiana.

Each year, local governments, organizations, and businesses from across Northwest Indiana, the state, and the nation contact my office seeking federal assistance for scores of programs totaling hundreds of millions of dollars. As you can imagine, given the number of requests made, I am not able to successfully advocate for each one.

I work hard with my staff to review all of the funding requests that I receive and then advocate in support of the programs and projects that represent the highest and best use of taxpayer dollars-projects in the local and national interests that can be implemented quickly and are most likely to qualify for assistance. These are difficult times and our communities need to see as many of our hard-earned tax dollars as possible returned to Northwest Indiana to support worthwhile projects that put people to work and improve the quality of life for all our citizens.

In an effort to be even more transparent, I am posting all of the fiscal year 2011 earmark requests my office submitted to the Appropriations Committee for your review and scrutiny. There is no guarantee that these requests will be funded in full, or even funded at all, but I will do my best to ensure that Northwest Indiana gets the federal support it needs and deserves.


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