{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-announces-senate-passage-of-appropriations-package-with-over-40-million-for-maryland-infrastructure-rural-development-military-construction-projects", "Van Hollen Announces Senate Passage of Appropriations Package with Over $40 Million for Maryland Infrastructure, Rural Development, Military Construction Projects", "2023-11-14", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced the Senate\u2019s passage of $41,921,000 in direct federal investments for community-led projects throughout Maryland as part of a package of three fiscal year 2024 government funding bills. These funds, included at the Senator\u2019s request, support a wide array of projects to improve public transit, trail networks, roads, affordable housing, and more; boost development in rural communities; and invest in Maryland military installations and veterans, among other critical priorities for the state.\n\nThe package, which the Senator voted to pass earlier this month, is comprised of the FY24 funding bills for Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD); Agriculture, Rural Development, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA); and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs. While passing the Senate is an important step forward, these funds are not finalized until the appropriations bills are reconciled with the House of Representatives and signed by the President.\n\n\u201cTargeted federal investments in key community initiatives go a long way toward expanding opportunity and improving crucial services in our state. With these funds, we can help modernize local infrastructure, spur economic growth, strengthen our military facilities and veterans\u2019 services, and more. I\u2019ll keep working to get these federal investments across the finish line and deliver them to our partners across Maryland,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen, a member of the Appropriations Committee.\n\nProjects funded through the THUD funding legislation:\n\nProject Name: Baltimore Franklin-Mulberry Corridor - Reconnecting Communities\n\nApplicant: Baltimore City\n\nProject Location: Baltimore City\n\nAmount Included: $500,000\n\nDescription: Funds will be used to support public engagement and outreach to develop community-led plans to enhance transportation connectivity and access for the neighborhoods in West Baltimore impacted by the Highway to Nowhere.\n\nProject Name: Benedictine Residential Facility\n\nApplicant: Benedictine School for Exceptional Children\n\nProject Location: Caroline County\n\nAmount Included: $1,800,000\n\nDescription: The Benedictine School is a multi-functional, year-round education and residential center serving more than 150 children and adults with severe intellectual disabilities. Funds will renovate the outdated living areas and health facilities to better suit the needs of students and their families.\n\nProject Name: BRIDGES Community Family Life Center and Food Pantry\n\nApplicant: BRIDGES Community Development Corporation\n\nProject Location: Baltimore City\n\nAmount Included: $990,000\n\nDescription: Funds will support construction of a facility in the Pimlico/Arlington/Hilltop neighborhood with a commercial kitchen and food pantry, afterschool tutoring, and job training to serve local families.\n\nProject Name: Cambridge Neighborhood - Camper Street\n\nApplicant: Habitat for Humanity Choptank\n\nProject Location: Dorchester County\n\nAmount Included: $450,000\n\nDescription: Funds will be used to prepare sites in Ward 3 of Cambridge for the construction of safe, affordable, and energy efficient homes to help low-income families achieve sustainable homeownership.\n\nProject Name: Greater Baltimore Urban League / Orchard Street Church\n\nApplicant: Greater Baltimore Urban League, Inc.\n\nAmount Included: $3,500,000\n\nDescription: Funds will be used to restore the Historic Orchard Street Church, the city's oldest standing structure, as a headquarters and outreach center for the Greater Baltimore Urban League. It will also house a new community clinic in collaboration with Morgan State University's new medical school.\n\nProject Name: Harmer's Town Art Center\n\nApplicant: Harmer's Town Art Center, Inc.\n\nProject Location: Harford County\n\nAmount Included: $3,351,000\n\nDescription: Funds will support the rehabilitation of a vacant commercial building to serve as a regional art facility, creativity incubator, and economic driver in Havre de Grace. The building will include low-cost artist studio space and makerspaces and will draw visitors with galleries, classes, and shops.\n\nProject Name: Historic Druid Hill Y Family Center Renovation\n\nApplicant: YMCA of Central Maryland, Inc.\n\nProject Location: Baltimore City\n\nAmount Included: $1,238,000\n\nDescription: The Y in Druid Hill, built in 1916, provides critical services to the community. Funds will be used to replace the roof, renovate transitional housing and locker rooms, and upgrade the pool area, while protecting the historic structure and ensuring the sustainability of a key community resource.\n\nProject Name: Last Mile Park\n\nApplicant: American Communities Trust, Inc.\n\nProject Location: Baltimore City\n\nAmount Included: $904,000 (will support one underpass)\n\nDescription: Funds will support the development of a park looping around a series of Amtrak overpasses that will provide a safe and inviting connection between the new Eager Park development near Johns Hopkins and the underserved community north of the tracks, bringing economic benefit to both communities.\n\nProject Name: Mace's Lane Community Center, Inc.\n\nProject Name: Mace's Lane Community Center\n\nProject Location: Dorchester County\n\nAmount Included: $1,000,000\n\nDescription: Funds will be used for the final phase of the renovation of the historic Mace's Lane School into a museum and community center that will house a Boys & Girls Club, youth sports, education and cultural programs, community meeting space, and senior services.\n\nProject Name: NAACP Baltimore Headquarters Proposal\n\nApplicant: Baltimore NAACP\n\nProject Location: Baltimore City\n\nAmount Included: $500,000\n\nDescription: Funds will be used to upgrade and expand the Baltimore NAACP headquarters so it can increase its services, including fresh produce distribution, free and reduced-cost office space for small women- and minority-owned businesses, and youth programs.\n\nProject Name: North Bethesda Metro Station Northern Entrance\n\nApplicant: Montgomery County\n\nProject Location: Montgomery County\n\nAmount Included: $5,000,000\n\nDescription: Funds will support planning and preliminary engineering for a new north entrance to the North Bethesda Metro Station. The new entrance will serve existing and planned transit-oriented development in the Pike District and improve access for residents and commuters.\n\nProject Name: Open Works Baltimore \u2013 West Side Expansion\n\nApplicant: Open Works, Inc.\n\nProject Location: Baltimore City\n\nAmount Included: $2,000,000\n\nDescription: Funds will be used to open an Open Works makerspace in West Baltimore that will provide high-tech tools, industrial co-working space, technical education programs for all ages, workforce development training, entrepreneurship support, and contract manufacturing for startups and community projects.\n\nProject Name: Patapsco Pedestrian/Bicycle Bridge - Phase 1\n\nApplicant: State of Maryland\n\nProject Location: Baltimore City and Baltimore County\n\nAmount Included: $5,000,000\n\nDescription: Funds will be used to construct a bicycle and pedestrian bridge connecting the Patapsco Avenue Light Rail Station and Bus Hub with the north side of Patapsco Avenue, improving connectivity to the Cherry Hill neighborhood for residents and commuters.\n\nProject Name: Phase 2 Bunkhouse Renovation\n\nApplicant: The Pearlstone Center\n\nProject Location: Baltimore County\n\nAmount Included: $1,558,000\n\nDescription: The Pearlstone Center is an outdoor education center that includes an organic farm and gardens and hosts students and workforce development training for green jobs. Fund will renovate bunkhouses and build a new bathhouse to support an overnight summer camp for low-income children.\n\nProject Name: Popes Creek Waterfront Phase II\n\nApplicant: Charles County Government\n\nProject Location: Charles County\n\nAmount Included: $200,000\n\nDescription: Funds will support the Popes Creek Waterfront and Rail Trail, an accessible water access point with a boardwalk and pier that connects to a trail through an abandoned rail corridor. This will be the county's first project to provide direct water access for recreation and fishing to all residents.\n\nProject Name: Reconnecting West Frederick Planning Project\n\nApplicant: City of Frederick\n\nProject Location: Frederick County\n\nAmount Included: $380,000\n\nDescription: Funds will be used to create preliminary plans for the reconfiguration of the West Patrick Street/US 15 Interchange, in order to improve equitable access to downtown for disadvantaged communities. The city aims to connect these communities so residents can safely access amenities and services.\n\nProject Name: Road to Freedom Trail\n\nApplicant: Northeast Towson Improvement Association, Inc.\n\nProject Location: Baltimore County\n\nAmount Included: $500,000\n\nDescription: Funds will be used for planning, design, and engineering for the Road to Freedom Trail, a cycling and pedestrian trail connecting 13 sites of historical significance from the Hampton National Historic Site to the Carver Community Center, increasing access for residents and visitors.\n\nProject Name: Rural Community Revitalization through Affordable Housing\n\nApplicant: Kent Attainable Housing, Inc.\n\nProject Location: Kent County\n\nAmount Included: $810,000\n\nDescription: Funds will support the construction of affordable homes for families in Chestertown and Butlertown. In addition to constructing housing units for first-time homebuyers, the program provides financial literacy and support services to help residents budget and establish good credit.\n\nProject Name: Southern Maryland Rapid Transit (SMRT)\n\nApplicant: Charles County Government\n\nProject Location: Charles County\n\nAmount Included: $5,000,000\n\nDescription: Funds will support a high-capacity transit service to alleviate one of the most congested commutes in the country, ignite job growth in target development areas in Southern Maryland, and reduce emissions.\n\nAdditional priorities secured by the Senators in the FY24 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies funding bill include:\n\nDepartment of Transportation: The bill provides $28.433 billion in funding for the Department of Transportation\u2014which includes significant new resources to ensure the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is able to maintain the safest, most efficient, and most complex air traffic control system in the world, the safety of our rail network, and capital investments to improve the state of good repair for our transit systems.\n\nRAISE Grants: The bill maintains critical funding for the RAISE Grant program to continue investing in transportation infrastructure projects that have a significant local or regional impact.\n\nFAA Staffing and Modernization: The bill provides $20.279 billion for the FAA, an increase of $1.255 billion over fiscal year 2023. This includes:\n\n$12.741 billion for FAA operations, which will allow the FAA to continue its air traffic controller hiring surge by adding 1,800 new controllers, improve the condition and reliability of critical IT and telecommunications legacy systems, such as the NOTAM system, continue to improve aircraft certification as required by the Aircraft Certification, Safety, and Accountability Act, and accelerate the deployment of new entrants into the national airspace.\n\nA historic $3.429 billion for FAA facilities and equipment which will accelerate NextGen modernization. This includes $65.2 million for the critical Terminal Flight Data Manager and $69.95 million for DataComm programs, which will improve the efficiency of air traffic control and lead to fewer flight delays. The bill also includes $33.2 million for airport ground surveillance, $340.8 million for telecommunications infrastructure, and $29.35 million for long-term improvements to the critical NOTAM system.\n\n$3.851 billion for Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grants, including $501 million for supplemental AIP grants that can help reduce emissions at airports, build airport infrastructure necessary to support unleaded fuels and sustainable aviation fuels, build resiliency at airports confronting climate change and worsening natural disasters, and support aircraft noise compatibility planning and programs.\n\nHighways and Bridges: The bill provides $60.096 billion for Federal-aid Highways, consistent with the IIJA-authorized level of spending from the Highway Trust Fund, with an additional $2.047 billion for Highway Infrastructure Programs. This includes $45 million for the Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program, $150 million for PROTECT Grants, $1.145 billion for bridges, $100 million for the Appalachian Development Highway System, $20 million for Scenic Byways, and other critical programs.\n\nRail Safety: A total of $3.4 billion is provided for the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). This includes $2.45 billion for Amtrak to sustain operations, maintain a state of good repair, and safely get passengers to their destinations.\n\nTo address the rail safety deficiencies identified in the East Palestine, Ohio train derailment, the bill provides a $32 million increase for FRA\u2019s safety and operations budget\u2014meeting the budget request level for rail safety inspectors and research.\n\nThe bill also directs specific research requirements for: (1) wayside detection technology, operational alert thresholds, and rail carrier response protocols to inform and verify the technologies capabilities and establish industry-wide standards; and (2) long-train operational safety to evaluate equipment safety standards for brake systems and wheel performance to inform the development of continuous component monitoring.\n\nThe bill also increases funding for the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration\u2019s (PHMSA) emergency preparedness grants to $46.825 million and requires the agency to conduct research to improve the survivability of placards identifying hazardous materials on trains.\n\nWMATA Safety: The bill provides $150 million in capital and safety improvement funding for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), which manages the DMV-area Metro and bus system. It directs WMATA to establish and build a culture of safety throughout the organization, including a culture that fosters rigorous adherence to safety rules and procedures as a matter of routine.\n\nTransit Infrastructure: The bill provides $16.865 billion for the Federal Transit Administration\u2014including $2.45 billion for Capital Investment Grants, a $240 million increase over fiscal year 2023, to continue investing in America\u2019s transit infrastructure. It also includes $365.8 in budget authority\u2014$184 million above fiscal year 2023\u2014for Transit Investment Grants. This includes $161.8 million for Buses and Bus Facilities, $50 million for the Low- and No-emissions program; $45 million for areas of persistent poverty; and $43 million for urban and rural ferry programs.\n\nMaritime Administration: The bill provides $1.2 billion for the Maritime Administration, $308 million above fiscal year 2023. This includes:\n\n$195.5 million for the United States Merchant Marine Academy, of which $70 million is for capital improvement projects, fully meeting the President\u2019s budget request to train the next generation of mariners;\n\n$131 million for State Maritime Academies, of which $91.8 million is for the National Security Multi-Mission Vessel program;\n\n$103 million for the Title XI program to fund new loan guarantee applications in the pipeline;\n\n$213 million for the Port Infrastructure Development Program; and\n\n$448 million to fund the Defense vessel programs at their authorized levels, including:\n\n$318 million for the Maritime Security Program;\n\n$10 million for the Cable Security Fleet program; and\n\n$120 million for the Tanker Security Fleet program.\n\nExpands Access to Transportation Infrastructure for Rural Communities and Tribes: The bill includes flexibilities in the federal share for certain transit projects and provides $25 million to supplement the Rural and Tribal Infrastructure Advancement Pilot Program to deliver financial, legal, technical, and project development assistance in an effort to improve Tribal access to transportation infrastructure programs at the Department of Transportation.\n\nDepartment of Housing and Urban Development (HUD): The bill provides $70.06 billion in funding for the Department of Housing and Urban Development\u2013to maintain all existing rental assistance while increasing efforts to reduce homelessness, connect people to both housing and health care, and remove barriers to housing opportunities and development, including unnecessary administrative burdens.\n\nReduces Homelessness and Improves Connections to Health Care: The bill provides $3.9 billion for Homeless Assistance Grants, a $275 million increase above the fiscal year 2023 enacted level. In addition to sustaining investments for existing projects, homeless youth, and survivors of domestic violence, the bill provides:\n\n$100 million for permanent supportive housing, a $25 million increase over fiscal year 2023;\n\n$31 million for capacity-building grants and direct technical assistance to communities that are leveraging other funds, like Medicaid, to connect individuals experiencing homelessness to housing-related services and behavioral healthcare; and\n\n$25 million for an inflationary adjustment for supportive service projects so that providers can hire and retain qualified personnel.\n\nLastly, the bill allows HUD to complete funds on a biennial basis, which will free up valuable staff time and resources to focus on service delivery rather than paperwork.\n\nIncreases the Supply of Affordable Housing: As communities across the nation continue to face a shortage of affordable homes, the bill makes critical investments to increase the supply of housing so that Americans can keep a roof over their head. The bill includes:\n\n$1.5 billion to sustain robust funding for the HOME Investment Partnership Program, the primary federal tool of state and local governments that produces affordable rental and owner-occupied housing. This level will lead to the construction of nearly 10,000 new rental and homebuyer units. The House bill slashes funding for this program down to $500 million, the lowest funding level since the program\u2019s inception three decades ago.\n\n$100 million for the second year of the \u201cYes In My Back Yard\u201d grant program\u2014a $15 million increase over fiscal year 2023. A significant contributor to the lack of housing supply and production is state and local zoning and land use laws and regulations that limit the number of units that can be built. These restrictions on development are driving up housing costs. While some communities have made progress in removing barriers to affordable housing production to keep up with market demand, the federal government should play a supporting role to strengthen these efforts and help jurisdictions increase their housing stock and lower housing costs.\n\n$4.3 billion for the Community Development Block Grant formula program and Economic Development Initiatives that address a variety of local community development and affordable housing needs.\n\nPreserves and Strengthens Investments in Rental Assistance Programs: The bill maintains critical support for HUD rental assistance programs, which assist nearly 5 million vulnerable households\u2014more than half of whom are elderly or people with disabilities. This includes:\n\n$31.7 billion for tenant-based Section 8 vouchers, a $1.5 billion increase above fiscal year 2023, which includes funding to make 4,000 new incremental vouchers available to youth aging out of foster care and veterans at risk of or experiencing homelessness.\n\n$15.79 billion for the project-based rental assistance program to renew housing contracts, of which $32.9 million is for rent adjustments to certain properties with health, safety, or operational deficiencies to improve property conditions for tenants.\n\n$8.9 billion to operate and address the capital needs of public housing, a $361 million increase above fiscal year 2023.\n\nIncreases Alignment and Flexibilities for Affordable Housing Programs: The thicket of statutory, regulatory, and procedural requirements for federal housing programs can undermine program results, lead to wasteful duplication, and require excessive time and resources from grantees.\n\nTo reduce the number of duplicative property inspections that occur when a project is funded by multiple federal housing programs, the bill supports efforts to improve inspection standards while also ensuring coordination across federal housing programs.\n\nTo more effectively use available housing choice vouchers in difficult rental markets, the bill authorizes a new pilot to allow up to 8 public housing authorities to use housing assistance payments for leasing-related expenses, like security and utility deposits.\n\nTo improve the speed and effectiveness of vouchers serving youth aging out of foster care, the bill streamlines the award process and authorizes the Secretary to waive certain requirements that are consistent obstacles to successful leasing.\n\nProjects funded through the Agriculture, Rural Development, and FDA funding legislation:\n\nProject Name: Adkins Arboretum Site Improvements\n\nApplicant: Adkins Arboretum\n\nProject Location: Caroline County\n\nAmount Included: $260,000\n\nDescription: The Adkins Arboretum's collection of 400 acres of native plants from the Mid-Atlantic Coastal region serves as a model of conservation and a place for visitors, including school groups, to enjoy trails and the outdoors. Funding will update amenities to better serve visitors.\n\nProject Name: BAAM Academic Center\n\nApplicant: Building African American Minds, Inc.\n\nProject Location: Talbot County\n\nAmount Included: $525,000\n\nDescription: Building African American Minds provides youth mentoring and services to Black students in Talbot County. Funds will be used to complete an academic center that will house staff offices and programs, including student afterschool and summer programs and career/workforce development.\n\nProject Name: Bloomington Fire Company Building Expansion\n\nApplicant: Bloomington Fire Company\n\nProject Location: Garrett County\n\nAmount Included: $150,000\n\nDescription: Funds will expand the fire station with extra space to store trucks and service equipment and expand and move lockers in order to serve the Bloomington community and surrounding areas more efficiently. The new structure will also offer a shelter for the community in the event of natural disaster.\n\nProject Name: Garrett County Utilities Infrastructure Equipment\n\nApplicant: Garrett County Board of Commissioners\n\nProject Location: Garrett County\n\nAmount Included: $525,000\n\nDescription: Funds will be used to purchase a hydro-excavator and associated equipment to allow Garrett County to perform public utility maintenance and repairs, install rural broadband, and respond to emergency situations more efficiently.\n\nProject Name: Hampstead Fire Station and Emergency Shelter\n\nApplicant: Hampstead Volunteer Fire Engine & Hose Company #1\n\nProject Location: Carroll County\n\nAmount Included: $2,000,000\n\nDescription: Funds will support the construction of a new fire station and event center to improve fire, rescue, and EMS services to Hampstead and surrounding communities in Carroll and Baltimore Counties. The event center will also serve as an emergency shelter with a backup generator.\n\nProject Name: HOPE Center\n\nApplicant: Foundation of HOPE, Inc.\n\nProject Location: Talbot County\n\nAmount Included: $630,000\n\nDescription: Foundation of HOPE works to mentor and empower middle school girls in Talbot County. Funds will be used to construct a new facility to house its offices and entrepreneurship and empowerment afterschool program, allowing it to serve 50% more students.\n\nProject Name: Tri-Towns Emergency Medical Services Building Restoration\n\nApplicant: Tri-Towns Emergency Medical Services\n\nProject Location: Allegany County\n\nAmount Included: $150,000\n\nDescription: Tri-Towns EMS serves over 100 square miles in Allegany and Garrett Counties in a building that is open to the public, including for walk-in care. Funds will upgrade the building to repair some damaged areas, operate more efficiently, and provide a safe space for walk-in patients.\n\nAdditional priorities secured by the Senators in the FY24 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies funding bill include:\n\nChesapeake Bay States Partnership Initiative (C-SPI) report language that recognizes the important role of voluntary conservation practices in restoring waterways especially when deployed at scale. The language supports USDA\u2019s continuation of the C-SPI and encourages the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to target additional technical assistance to the most effective basin areas of the watershed to reduce agricultural runoff in the Chesapeake Bay.\n\n$800.89 million for Conservation Technical Assistance, in which Natural Resources Conservation Service staff work one-on-one with farmers to conserve resources and prevent run-off. The bill also includes language expressing the Committee\u2019s view that additional technical assistance should be provided to Critical Conservation Areas like the Chesapeake Bay Watershed because a lack of planning capacity can slow down projects in our region.\n\n$56.411 million for the continued consolidation of the FDA campus in White Oak, Maryland to increase FDA\u2019s efficiency and productivity.\n\nSupporting FDA/Health and Human Services (HHS) coordination on medical supply chains to prevent shortages of crucial drugs \u2013 the bill includes language directing the FDA to coordinate with HHS and report on current domestic manufacturing of drugs on HHS\u2019s Critical Drug List and dependence on international supply chains. The review may account for non-viability of certain components domestically.\n\n$20 million for the Farmers Market Nutrition Program, which helps low-income mothers and children purchase fruits and vegetables from local farmers.\n\nFunding for programs at historically Black 1890 Land-Grant institutions like the University of Maryland Eastern Shore:\n\nResearch: $89 million\n\nExtension Services: $72 million\n\nEducation Grants: 30 million\n\nFacility Improvements: $21.5 million\n\nScholarships: $10 million\n\nPriorities funded through the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs funding legislation:\n\nNaval Support Activity Bethesda Fire House\n\nApplicant: Naval Support Activity Bethesda\n\nProject Location: Bethesda\n\nAmount Included: $3,000,000\n\nDescription: The current fire station is in severe disrepair and has been plagued by mold, leaks, structural problems, and other serious issues. It is also undersized and unable to accommodate a ladder truck. Funds will be used for planning and design of a new station that meets the needs of the base.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-announces-senate-passage-of-appropriations-package-with-over-40-million-for-maryland-infrastructure-rural-development-military-construction-projects"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.7078009657561779, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}