McCollum Statement on Changes to the Community Project Funding Process

Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.), Ranking Member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, released the following statement on the majority's decision to exclude the Financial Services and General Government (FSGG); Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS); and Defense Subcommittees from the Community Project Funding process:

"As a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, I am disappointed by the majority's guidance on Community Project Funding (CPF) preventing Members from making requests within the Financial Services and General Government, Labor, Health and Human Services and Education, and Defense bills. The projects funded within these bills have a significant impact on the communities they serve. Now, by excluding these subcommittees, at least six of the 15 Community Projects successfully funded last year for Minnesota's Fourth District would not be eligible under the new guidelines—including projects boosting workforce development, supporting opportunities for our youth, revitalizing small businesses, and funding specialty health care services for children with complex medical needs, among others.

"Both Democrats and Republicans agreed to the CPF process for the last two fiscal years, and it worked well—even exceeding expectations. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed needs in our community that the federal government can work to address, and CPFs have allowed us to do just that. The Republicans' radical changes to the process severely limit federal opportunities to partner with local communities on how they feel tax dollars can be best appropriated.

"We should be building upon this success, not decreasing the availability of federal resources. The Appropriations Committee in the past has worked together on a bipartisan basis to get things done, including establishing the CPF process. It is disappointing that Democrats were not given the opportunity to provide input on the Republican majority's decision."

Background:

Eligibility information and other guidance to the Fiscal Year 2024 Community Project Funding submission process for MN-04 can be found here. The deadline to submit requests is 5:59pm ET on Wednesday, March 15, 2023.

Successful Community Projects in MN-04 that would no longer be eligible under the new rules:

FY 23
Gillette Children's Hospital Research Investigative Lab to help kids with critical care needs
Pipers to Professionals workforce development program
Penumbra Positive Racial Identity Development for Youth Program
Sanneh Foundation's Youth Workforce Development Project
Plaza del Sol revitalization to support local businesses
Neighborhood Development Center's Cybersecurity Information Center in partnership with Metro State University

FY 22
Finishing Trades Institute of the Upper Midwest's Apprenticeship Pathways program
St. Catherine University's Advancing Scientific Excellence Initiative
Neighborhood Development Center's Small Business Incubator Project
LISC-Twin Cities Creative Placemaking projects for cultural district revitalization

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