Dear Friend:
The House Appropriations Committee recently announced that Members of Congress will have the opportunity to submit Community Project Funding requests (formerly known as “earmarks”) for the upcoming Fiscal Year 2024. Members of Congress know their districts best and this is a tremendous opportunity to identify specific funding needs for their local communities.
The new Republican House majority has made significant changes to Community Project Funding guidance including prohibiting Members of the House from requesting projects in the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS); Financial Services and General Government (FSGG); and Defense bills.
All materials required for the submission of a Community Project Funding request must be received by the McGovern office no later than March 17th. This deadline applies only to Community Project Funding requests. (Deadline for traditional programmatic and language requests is March 14th).
In the Guidebook prepared by my staff, you will find information specific to the submission guidelines for each Appropriations subcommittee and its relevant jurisdiction. I also want to highlight a few “big picture” things to keep in mind:
- Per House Appropriations Committee rules, Members of Congress can submit a maximum of 15 Community Project Funding requests across all subcommittees. Unfortunately, this means that our office will not be able to advance all requests that we receive.
- For the 15 projects that we do submit to the Appropriations Committee, there is no guarantee of funding.
- Members of Congress are required to post the 15 Community Project Funding requests on their congressional website and certify that neither they nor their immediate family have a financial interest in any of these requests.
- For-profit entities are forbidden from receiving Community Project Funding. Only state and local governments and verified 501(c)(3) organizations are eligible to receive funding.
- **NEW** Members of Congress are required to submit a written statement describing the “federal nexus” for each Community Project Funding request, showing that the purpose of the project is tied to a federal authorization law.
- **NEW** Memorials, museums, and commemoratives (i.e. projects named for an individual or entity) are not eligible for Community Project Funding.
- Community Project Funding is only available for one-year funding (FY2024) and cannot include multiyear funding.
- Congressman McGovern will NOT accept Community Project Funding requests from outside MA-02.
- Only Community Project Funding submissions received electronically will be considered. See the Guidebook for electronic forms.
- Per the Appropriations Committee, only projects with demonstrated community support will be considered. Examples include, but are not limited to:
- Letters of support from elected community leaders (e.g. mayors or other officials);
- Press articles highlighting the need for the requested Community Project Funding; Support from newspaper editorial boards.
- Projects listed on State intended use plans, community development plans, or other publicly available planning documents; or
- Resolutions pass by city councils or boards.
- Several Federal programs eligible for Community Project Funding requests require a State or local match for projects either by statute or according to longstanding policy. The Appropriations Committee will not waive these matching requirements for Community Project Funding requests. Note: This does not mean that matching funds must be in-hand prior to requesting a project, but that local officials must have a plan to meet such requirements in order for the project to be viable.
Please keep in mind that this guidance is subject to change. I look forward to working with you to advocate for the Second District as we continue to build a stronger, healthier, more prosperous Commonwealth for all.
Sincerely,
James P. McGovern
Member of Congress
