About Earmarks and the Federal Funding Process

Each year, in order to fulfill its constitutional obligations, Congress must debate and pass legislation known as “appropriations bills” that keep our government running and continue services for the American people.  As you probably know, traditionally, part of that process allows individual members of the House of Representatives and Senate to request that a portion of the overall spending in those bills be directed to a specific purpose or project as approved by Congress and signed into law by the president.  That setting aside of funds is popularly known as “earmarking.”

I strongly support transparency and reform in the earmarking process.  Soon after coming to Congress in early 2007, I voted for a moratorium on all Fiscal Year 2007 earmarks and helped put in place strong new rules on earmarking.  Since those rules were put into place, the overall dollar amount of earmarks had been reduced 50 percent compared to when I was elected to Congress in 2006. 

During Fiscal Year 2011, Congress did not fund any earmarks, which means that none of my requests for the Second Congressional District were funded.  This Fiscal Year, the House of Representatives adopted a moratorium on earmarks for the upcoming 2012 appropriations bills; therefore I did not be make any requests.

Fiscal Year 2011 Requests
Review the list of 2nd District projects I submitted for House consideration to receive federal funding in Fiscal Year 2011.

Approved 2nd District Projects
Review 2nd District projects that have been approved for federal funding in previous fiscal years.

Transportation (SAFETEA-LU) Authorization Requests
Review the list of transportation authorization projects I requested through the Fiscal Year 2011 SAFETEA-LU legislation.

Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) Authorization Requests
Review the list of water infrastructure projects I requested through the Fiscal Year 2011 WRDA legislation.

I Value Your Input
I have tried to put in place a process that is transparent and fair, and if you have suggestions for how I can improve the Congressional appropriations process, I invite you to email me your thoughts at: http://donnelly.house.gov/contact/contact-us-form.shtml.