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CONGRESSMAN BRAD ELLSWORTH

As the 8th District's Congressman, Brad Ellsworth is continuing his career-long commitment to put Hoosiers first. In Congress, he is a member of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition and is working to reduce waste, fraud and abuse of taxpayer dollars. He also sits on the Armed Services, Agriculture, and Small Business Committees.

Before coming to Congress, Brad spent 24-years in the Vanderburgh County Sheriff's office protecting the people of southwest Indiana. He was twice decorated for heroism in the line of duty and graduated from the FBI National Academy. In 1998, Brad was elected Vanderburgh County Sheriff, where he completed two terms. Brad was born and raised in southern Indiana. He grew up in Evansville; attending University of Southern Indiana and Indiana State University. Brad and his wife, Beth, reside in Evansville. Together they have a daughter, Andrea.

Today, following the signing of the Wall Street Reform bill which will help protect Hoosier investors from having their life savings, 401Ks, and college funds gambled away by a few unscrupulous Wall S... MORE

Today, as Hoosier businesses continue to climb out of this recession, Brad Ellsworth voted to provide tax relief for U.S Manufacturers to help them compete in the global economy: “For too long Ho... MORE

Featured Issue: Healthcare

Skyrocketing costs have forced many small businesses to either shift the growing cost of their insurance programs to their employees or eliminate their health plans altogether. The result: the majority of workers haven't seen any increase in their buying power in the last decade, since any additional compensation is quickly absorbed by their increasing health insurance premiums. Read More

Date Roll Bill Vote More Votes >
Dec 01 595 h res 1724 Yea
Dec 01 594 h res 1217 Aye
Dec 01 593 h j res 101 Yea
Dec 01 592 h res 1430 Aye
Dec 01 591 h res 1735 Aye
Dec 01 590 h con res 323 Yea
Dec 01 589 h res 1741 Yea
  • EVANSVILLE DISTRICT OFFICE
    101 NW Martin Luther King Jr Blvd Room 124 Evansville, IN 47708 T 812.465.6484 | F 812.422.4761
  • TERRE HAUTE DISTRICT OFFICE
    901 Wabash Avenue Suite 140 Terre Haute, IN 47807 T 812.232.0523 | F 812.232.0526
  • WASHINGTON, DC OFFICE
    513 Cannon House Office Bldg Washington, DC 20515 T 202.225.4636 | F 202.225.3284 Toll Free 866.567.0227
Straight Talk: Earmarks and the Federal Funding Process

Each year, I receive numerous requests for assistance obtaining federal funds from towns, cities, counties, universities, non-profit organizations and others throughout the 8th District. I am proud to represent these organizations and communities and to work for federal investment in many of their worthwhile projects.

I understand the public's dislike for the federal funding process. Washington had been operating under a cloak of secrecy for decades. Some members abused the funding process; violating the public's trust under cover of darkness with anonymous earmarks often inserted at the last minute and last stage of the process. It's no surprise that with zero public scrutiny, wasteful spending ballooned in past Congresses, costing taxpayers billions of dollars.

That's why one of the first votes I took in Congress was to enact sweeping reform to the federal funding process. All projects are reviewed by the Congressional Appropriations Committees and federal agencies before they are included in any funding bill. And as a result of these reforms, for the first time in history, taxpayers can see each project slated to receive federal tax dollars beside the name of the Member of Congress who requested the funding, before their consideration by the House.

Additional reforms have recently been implemented requiring members to post all project requests on their websites at the time of the request. And for-profit entities will be required to undergo a competitive bidding process to receive earmarked funds.

That's not to say the system is perfect. While we have made significant reforms, Congress has more work to do to reduce federal spending, and I will do what is in my power to help. However, Hoosiers play by the rules and pay their taxes, so it's only fair they receive some of the benefit of their tax dollars.

If federal investment is available and I'm not fighting for the 8th District's share, who will? Decisions would be left up to bureaucrats who don't even know where Loogootee or Brazil or Williamsport are. Therefore, I will continue to work for federal investment in worthwhile projects that bring jobs, provide economic development, and improve infrastructure in 8th District communities.

I understand the federal funding process can be confusing, so this page is designed to provide the information you need to better understand this complicated process. Here you can review 8th District projects submitted for federal funding, follow the federal funding process step-by-step, and learn about common myths in the federal funding process.


FY 2011 8th District Project Requests
Review the list of projects submitted to receive federal funding in fiscal year 2011 on behalf of 8th District towns, cities, counties, universities, non-profit organizations and others.

FY 2011 Defense Authorization Requests
Review the list of defense authorization priorities for fiscal year 2010

FY 2010 8th District Project Requests
Review the list of projects submitted to receive federal funding in fiscal year 2010 on behalf of 8th District towns, cities, counties, universities, non-profit organizations and others.

FY 2010 Defense Authorization Requests
Review the list of defense authorization priorities for fiscal year 2010.

Transportation (SAFETEA-LU) Authorization Requests
Review the list of transportation authorization priorities for the upcoming SAFETEA-LU legislation.

Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) Authorization Requests
Review the list of water infrastructure priorities for the upcoming WRDA legislation.

Approved 8th District Projects
Review 8th District projects that have been approved for federal funding in fiscal year 2009, as well as previous fiscal years.

STEP-BY-STEP: The Federal Funding Process
Confused about the federal funding process? Learn more about it, step-by-step.

Important Terms
This page helps translate Washington jargon into plain English.

FACT CHECK: Common Myths about Earmarks and the Federal Funding Process
This page dispels some of the common myths about earmarks and the federal funding process.

Project Request Resource Center
Submit your requests for FY 2011 Appropriations projects.