Earmarked Funding
Earmarks have been a part of the federal budget since the early days of American democracy, but the practice rose in prominence as the size of the federal government grew, particularly amid a rise in taxes in the 1920s and 1930s.
After an absence for ten years, Congressional earmarks returned in 2021 and have been rebranded as “community project funding.”
- Requests had to be posted publicly online, with a letter explaining the need for the project. Each lawmaker had to sign a form attesting that they had no personal or family connection to it.
The Government Relations Office works with City departments to identify viable projects that will appeal to specific members of the delegation and coordinates the submittals. The City of Houston has done very well working with the delegation to bring money to Houston. It is important to note that the amount of funds awarded are often lower than the amount requested so project scopes may have to be adjusted.