Home > Legislation > Funding Priorities

Funding Priorities in our Community

Since becoming a member of the House Appropriations Committee , I have oversight responsibilities for federal discretionary spending, as well as an increased role in the prioritization of federal spending. During my time in Congress, I have worked to bring critical federal dollars back to the District and ensure that the federal government is keeping up its end of the bargain in using your tax dollars. Below you find a comprehensive map of many of the projects I have brought back to the District over the years:

View Larger Map

For too long, the process of Congressional funding requests – sometimes known as "earmarks" – lacked transparency and accountability, leading some members of Congress to abuse it and the public trust. When we assumed the majority in 2007, Congressional Democrats instituted wide-ranging reforms, including ensuring that every American can easily determine which Member of Congress has submitted a request that receives funding.

When Republicans regained control of the House in 2010, they instituted an earmark ban, While I believe the reforms Democrats put in place were necessary, I disagree with the decision to eliminate all earmarks, as it has taken the Constitutionally delegated power of the purse away from Congress and given greater discretion over spending to the Executive Branch. A number of my Republican colleagues agree, noting that this policy has prevented those of us who represent communities around the nation and best know their needs from having a role in determining how the federal government can help address those needs.

Despite this earmark ban, I am still striving to address the needs of our community by supporting the federal programs that they rely upon for assistance through grants, loans, and other means.

Disclosure of Earmark Requests

FY2011