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There are three types of requests that you can submit to my office—Community Project Funding requests, programmatic requests, and language requests—listed in the order they appear on this webpage:
The deadline for programmatic and language requests is no later than two weeks prior to the relevant subcommittee’s deadline. Visit the House Appropriations Committee website for more information.
The deadline for Community Project Funding requests is April 13, 2022.
PROGRAMMATIC AND LANGUAGE REQUESTS
Requests for general support or funding for a program OR requests to add language to the bill or report to accompany the bill which generally does not include dollar amounts.
Submit this form to the appropriate staff contact no later than two weeks prior to the relevant subcommittee’s deadline.
Please visithttps://appropriations.house.gov/for additional guidance on submitting appropriations requests as well as for submission deadlines.
COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING REQUESTS
Requests to direct funds to a specific state or local government or eligible non-profit recipient.
Please read the eligibility criteria and selection guidance carefully before submitting a request. Interested parties can review the Appropriations Committee announcement to learn more about the general guidelines required for submitting these requests. Submission of this information does not create a binding commitment on any party nor a guarantee that any organization or program will be awarded funding from any federal agency. Once submitted, this request may be made publicly available.
For-profit entities are ineligible from receiving CPF, and submissions will be required to include demonstrated community support for the project. My office will be prioritizing projects that have the greatest chance of success of being included in the final appropriations bill.
Please click on the title of the eligible account you are interested in to download the submission form. All Community Project Funding requests must be submitted to CPFs.DelBene@mail.house.gov by April 13, 2022.
COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING ELIGIBLE ACCOUNTS:
Agriculture-FDA
The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) owns and operates laboratories and facilities across the United States. Many of these laboratories/facilities are decades old, have outlived their functional lifespan, and are badly in need of major repairs, renovation, or replacement. Facility requests must be for ARS-owned facilities or for facilities that will enhance ongoing ARS work. Requests can assist in the acquisition of land, construction, repair, improvement, extension, alteration, and purchase of fixed equipment or facilities as necessary to carry out the agricultural research programs of the Department of Agriculture.
Members are strongly encouraged to provide details on the research to be conducted, why the research is a high priority, as well as details on the modernization and why it is critical in carrying out the research. Requests for ARS-owned facilities will be given priority for funding.
Grants to purchase, construct, or improve essential community facilities, to purchase equipment, and pay other related project expenses. Essential community facilities include, but are not limited to, healthcare facilities, public facilities, public safety measures, educational services, or other community support services. Examples of eligible projects include medical or dental clinics, towns halls, courthouses, childcare centers, police or fire departments, public works vehicles, or distance learning equipment. Any project must serve a rural area as specified in 7 CFR 3570.53 (rural areas including cities, villages, townships and Federally Recognized Tribal lands with no more than 20,000 residents), and the Member’s request must demonstrate community support. Members should ensure that their request provides the fullest description of the project as possible. Submissions should include details on all proposed uses of funds, activities that will occur, timeline, and detailed information on the complete service territory, including median household income of the proposed project. Please review all program regulations carefully, most notably:
· Cost share requirements. The Community Facilities program has a cost share calculated on a graduated scale. The applicant should be aware of any cost share as documented in 7 CFR 3570.63(b).
· Credit Elsewhere Test. Applicant shall certify they cannot finance the project from their own resources and credit is not otherwise available on reasonable terms from non-Federal sources.
Community Facilities grants generally cannot be used to pay initial operating expenses or annual recurring expenses, refinance existing debt, pay interest, build or repair facilities in non-rural areas, or pay for construction costs of facilities that will be used for commercial rental space.
The State Rural Development Office is a valuable resource to answer program questions, including eligibility.
For fiscal year 2022, the average CPF funding level was just over $1 million. Please note that the Committee will consider higher project requests for fiscal year 2023. However, projects requesting significantly more than that average may be more difficult to fund and funding will depend on program demand and other variables. Any future potential project caps will be determined by the Chair after reviewing the full universe of requests.
ReConnect broadband pilot grants facilitate broadband deployment in rural areas. Grants funds can be used for the costs of construction, improvement, or acquisition of facilities and equipment needed to provide broadband service to rural areas without sufficient broadband access.
The area must be rural and lack sufficient access to broadband service. A rural area is any area which is not located within a city, town, or incorporated area that has a population of greater than 20,000 inhabitants. Sufficient access to broadband is defined as greater than 90% of any rural area in which households have fixed, terrestrial broadband service delivering at least 25 Mbps downstream and 3 Mbps upstream. Mobile and satellite services will not be considered in making the determination of sufficient access to broadband.
Stand-alone middle-mile projects are not eligible under the ReConnect Program. However, middle-mile facilities are eligible if they are needed to bring sufficient broadband service to all premises in the area.
Members are strongly encouraged to include information in their requests, such as the number of households, businesses, or farms will be served in the area, what the performance of the service to be offered will be, and whether healthcare or educational facilities will be served.
USDA’s Rural Development is a valuable resource to answer program questions, including eligibility.
For fiscal year 2022, the average ReConnect CPF award was nearly $2 million. Please note the subcommittee will consider higher project requests for fiscal year 2023. However, projects requesting significantly more than that average may be more difficult to fund and funding will depend on program demand and other variables. Any future potential project caps will be determined by the Chair after reviewing the full universe of requests.
Additionally, when submitting a request, Members are reminded that all policies and procedures apply, including environmental and related reviews and the cost share requirement of 25% of the overall project cost. Policies and procedures can be found at https://go.usa.gov/xexPT.
The Distance Learning and Telemedicine program (DLT) helps rural residents better utilize the enormous potential of modern telecommunications and the internet for education and healthcare, two critical components of economic and community development. The DLT program helps rural communities acquire the technology and training necessary to connect educational and medical professionals with students, teachers, and patients in rural areas.
Grants may be used for audio and video equipment, broadband facilities that support distance learning or telemedicine (not actual broadband), computer hardware or network components/software, and acquisition of instructional programing.
All requests are subject to all the regulations governing the program which can be found at 7 CFR Part 1734.The program requires a 15% matchthat cannot come from another federal source.
The State Rural Development Office is a valuable resource to answer program questions, including eligibility.
Competitive awards typically range from $50,000 to $1,000,000 and the Committee will consider projects in this range. This a new account for the fiscal 2023 House process; in fiscal year 2022, the average Senate CPF in this account was $359,000. Members are strongly encouraged to provide as much detail as possible on how the award will be utilized, what equipment of service will be acquired and any information on population(s) served. The program is intended to serve rural areas with populations of 20,000 or less.
The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) supports private landowners, conservation districts, and other organizations to conserve, maintain, and improve the Nation’s natural resources. Conservation Operations has four major program components: Conservation Technical Assistance, Soil Survey, Snow Survey and Water Supply Forecasting, and Plant Materials Centers. Examples of specific objectives include reduce soil erosion, improve soil health, enhance water supplies, improve water quality, increase wildlife habitat, and reduce damage caused by floods and other natural disasters. Due to the newness of the urban agriculture program, the subcommittee will not consider such proposals this year as part of CPFs in Conservation Operations.
Members are strongly encouraged to provide details on the work to be done, including if the project will conduct surveys, investigations, or research, and if there is a plan to publish the results of any such work. Members should also describe any preventive measures to be taken, such as engineering operations, methods of cultivation, or changes in use of land.
This is a new account for the fiscal year 2023 House process; in fiscal year 2022, the average Senate CPF in this account was $1.1 million. The Committee will consider higher project requests for fiscal year 2023. However, projects requesting significantly more than that average may be more difficult to accommodate and will depend on program demand and other variables. Any future potential project caps will be determined by the Chair after reviewing the full universe of requests.
Additional guidance with specific information about these accounts is attached.
Commerce-Justice-Science
Funding must be for activities consistent with and supportive of NIST’s mission and within its authorities, such as STEM education activities, scientific research, or other activities that support American manufacturing and industry. The median award in this account for FY 22 was $1,250,000. Note the Committee may consider similar or higher project amounts for FY 23. Any caps will be determined after reviewing the full universe of requests, and while there are no guarantees, projects of a modest size are more likely to receive full funding. This account does not fund vehicles or building construction or renovation.
This account funds the construction and renovation of research facilities, provided that such facilities will be used in a manner that is aligned with and supportive of the mission of NIST. The median award in this account was $10 million in FY 22, but this account was not open to community project funding in the House in FY 22. Note the Committee may consider lower project amounts for FY 23, and any caps will be determined after reviewing the full universe of requests. Given the expectation of limited resources and the large cost of research facilities, the Committee may not be able to fully fund all requests. While there are no guarantees, preference will be given to more modest requests.
Office of Justice Programs, Byrne JAG Grants assist state, local, and tribal law enforcement efforts to prevent crime, improve the criminal justice system, provide victims’ services, and other related activities. Community projects funded under this category must comply with the requirements cited in JAG statutes and be consistent with Justice Department guidance for the program. Below are the links to the Department’s guidance and frequently asked questions regarding Byrne-JAG:
https://bja.ojp.gov/program/jag/overview
https://bja.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh186/files/media/document/jag-faqs.pdf
The Committee encourages community project funding designed to help improve police-community relations. Historically, the Committee has not funded building construction or renovation as part of community project funding under this account. The median award in this account for FY 22 was $500,000. Note the Committee may consider similar or higher project amounts for FY 23. Any caps will be determined after reviewing the full universe of requests, and while there are no guarantees, projects of a modest size are more likely to receive full funding.
Funding will be provided for COPS Technology and Equipment (COPS Tech) community project grants for State, local, and tribal law enforcement to develop and acquire effective technologies and interoperable communications that assist in investigating, responding to, and preventing crime, provided that such equipment meets the applicable requirements of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Office of Law Enforcement Standards (OLES).
The median award in this account for FY 22 was $520,000. Note the Committee may consider similar or higher project amounts for FY 23. Any caps will be determined after reviewing the full universe of requests, and while there are no guarantees, projects of a modest size are more likely to receive full funding.
This funding will allow recipients the opportunity to establish and enhance any of a variety of technical equipment and/or programs to encourage the continuation and enhancement of community policing efforts within their jurisdictions. These projects should help improve police effectiveness and the flow of information among law enforcement agencies, local government service providers, and the communities they serve.
Historically, the Committee has not funded vehicles or building construction or renovation as part of community project funding under this account. Recipients of community project funding under this account may not subgrant to other organizations or agencies.
Community project funding for NOAA will only be considered within the Operations, Research, and Facilities account. This account does not fund construction projects, and as such, any such requests will not be considered. Requests for funding will be considered for research, demonstration, or education projects performed by external partners or for prioritizing NOAA internal funds for geographically specific projects. Any such project must be aligned with NOAA’s mission and within their existing authorities. The median award in this account for FY 22 was $750,000. Note the Committee may consider similar or higher project amounts for FY 23. Any caps will be determined after reviewing the full universe of requests, and while there are no guarantees, projects of a modest size are more likely to receive full funding.
The subcommittee will not entertain requests for community project funding for the Office of Marine and Aviation Operations. Coastal Zone Management funds are distributed to states on a formula basis and will not be considered for community project funding. Historically, the Committee has not funded vehicles or building construction or renovation as part of community project funding under this account.
Community project funding under the NASA Safety, Security, and Mission Services (NASA-SSMS) account must be for activities consistent with and supportive of the work of NASA’s mission directorates and within the agency’s authorities, such as STEM education activities and scientific research. Funding for building construction or renovation projects will not be considered for community project funding. The median award in this account for FY 22 was $900,000. Note the Committee may consider similar or higher project amounts for FY 23. Any caps will be determined after reviewing the full universe of requests, and while there are no guarantees, projects of a modest size are more likely to receive full funding.
Additional guidance with specific information about these accounts is attached.
Defense
- Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation Army
- Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation Navy
- Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation Air Force
- Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation Space Force
- Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation Defense-Wide
Additional guidance with specific information about these accounts is attached.
Energy and Water
- Corps of Engineers:
- Investigations
- Construction
- Mississippi River and Tributaries
- Operation and Maintenance
· Water and Related Resources
All requests for the Corps of Engineers (Corps) and Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) accounts listed above should reflect a funding amount that can be realistically utilized in FY23.
This is referred to as the project’s “capability” for FY23. All projects will be sent to the relevant agency for technical assistance, including regarding project capability.
Please note that if the Member wishes to support a project in the President’s budget request at the amount requested in the budget request, that will continue to be a programmatic request. In this case, please select “Program” as the Request Type and insert the official name of the project as it appears in the budget request in the “Program Title” line. If a Member supports only the requested amount in the President’s budget request, this will not be a CPF request and will not be treated as such by the Subcommittee. Please do not use a CPF request for this purpose.
If the scope of the Member’s request varies from the President’s budget request (i.e. the Member is seeking an amount above the budget request amount), then the request must be submitted as a CPF request. In this case, please select “Project” as the Request Type and fill out all requested information.
If the project is not included in the President’s budget request, the Member must submit it as a CPF request. In this case, please select “Project” as the Request Type and fill out all requested information.
Please note that for the Corps, the Subcommittee may provide funding for a very limited number of new start projects, if any, in the Investigations, Construction, and Mississippi River and Tributaries accounts. While requests for new starts in these accounts will be accepted, please consider this limitation when making requests.
Please note that for the Corps, the Subcommittee may provide funding for a limited number of Environmental Infrastructure (EI) projects and Continuing Authorities Program (CAP) projects, if any, in the Construction account. While requests for specific projects will be accepted, please consider these limitations when making requests.
Please note that for Reclamation, projects authorized under sections 4007, 4009(a), and 4009(c) of the Water Infrastructure Improvements Act for the Nation (WIIN) Act of 2016 (Public Law 114–322) will not be accepted.
Please note that it is of the utmost importance to provide the official project name and the correct project authorization information. If inaccurate information is provided, the Subcommittee may not be able to properly evaluate your request.
To assist you in identifying and providing the Subcommittee with the official project name and project authorization, lists of authorized projects in a searchable PDF format can be found here.
Please locate your authorized Corps or Reclamation project and use the official project name as it appears in these lists. Once you locate the name of your project, you will also need to provide to the Subcommittee the Public Law and section of the law that authorizes your project, and enter it into the database in the appropriate place (as a response to a supplemental question).(example: P.L. 110–114, Section 1401).
If you are not able to find your authorized Corps project in the authorized project list, or if you have difficulty finding the authorization information, contact your local Corps District office to obtain this information. If you are not able to find your authorized Reclamation project in the authorized project list, or if you have difficulty finding the authorization information, contact your local Reclamation Region office to obtain this information.
All CPF requests for the Department of Energy (DOE) should reflect a funding amount that can complete the project or complete a discrete segment of the project. In the event that the Subcommittee cannot fully fund your request, information is required to be provided about a minimum funding level that could be realistically utilized in FY23 to advance the project or complete a discrete segment of the project. If the minimum amount exceeds available funding, then the project may not be funded. The number of projects and the amount will be limited. In FY10, the last year these DOE CPFs were included in the House, House projects selected for funding received $740,000 on average, and the range of funding was approximately $75,000 to $3 million. Note that the Committee may consider similar or slightly lower amounts for FY23, and any caps will be determined after reviewing the full universe of requests. Members should not expect that every request will be able to be funded or funded in full.
Given the ban on directing Community Project Funding to for-profit entities, projects with for-profit entities as a recipient are not allowed. In addition, funds may not be used to support building construction (no brick and mortar). Electric vehicle (EV) charging station projects will not be considered unless there is a renewable energy or energy storage connection to the charging station. Please direct questions about any other EV charging station request to the Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development Subcommittee.
Only certain topic areas within the Department of Energy are eligible for CPF requests. Topics include:
· energy efficiency, renewable energy, sustainable transportation
· cybersecurity, energy security, emergency response
· electricity, energy storage
· nuclear energy
· fossil energy, carbon management, critical minerals
Statutory cost sharing requirements may apply to these projects, as required by section 988 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. The amount of required cost sharing will depend on the scope and technological maturity of the project:
· Research or development activities of a basic or fundamental nature: no minimum cost share
· Research or development activities of an applied nature: minimum 20 percent cost share
· Demonstration or commercial application: minimum 50 percent cost share.
Some projects may contain elements of more than one of the categories shown above. Therefore, some projects may have a blended cost share. It is recommended that you ensure the requested recipient is aware of and can meet applicable cost sharing requirements prior to submitting a CPF request.
Additional guidance with specific information about these accounts is attached.
Financial Services
Projects are limited to line items in the GSA Federal Buildings Fund requested by the Administration in either the FY22 or FY23 budget request. This account was not eligible for community project funding in the House in FY22 but was eligible for community project funding in the Senate. The awards in FY22 ranged from $500,000 to $50 million. Note that the Committee may consider a similar project range for FY23, and any caps will be determined by the Chair after reviewing the full universe of requests.
Projects that help ensure online public discovery and use of historical records collections, encourage public engagement with historical records, strengthen the nation’s archival network, or publish documentary editions of historical records. Generally, projects should comply with the eligibility requirements for existing National Historical Publications and Records Commission grants programs as specified at https://www.archives.gov/nhprc/apply/eligibility.html. This account was not eligible for community project funding in the House in FY22 but was eligible for equivalent funding in the Senate. The average award in FY22 was just under $500,000. Note that the Committee may consider slightly higher project amounts for FY23, and any caps will be determined by the Chair after reviewing the full universe of requests.
Projects in support of small businesses, including but not limited to entrepreneur training, workforce development, counseling, research, and construction or acquisition of facilities. The average award in this account for FY22 was $650,000. Note the Committee may consider slightly higher project amounts for FY23, and any caps will be determined by the Chair after reviewing the full universe of requests.
Additional guidance with specific information about these accounts is attached.
Homeland Security
- Federal Emergency Management Agency, Federal Assistance:
· Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grants
Only projects that meet the requirements detailed in the most recent Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant program will be considered for funding, including the cost-share requirement and environmental and historic preservation requirements, as applicable. For any projects designated for funding in the final fiscal year 2023 Homeland Security Appropriations Act, the state agency responsible for administering mitigation grants in the requestor’s state must submit an application to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and that entity will serve as the administrative agent for the grant. Therefore, all project proposals must be accompanied by a letter of support from the appropriate state agency affirming that it believes the project is eligible.
· Emergency Operations Center Grants
Only projects that meet the requirements detailed in the most Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Emergency Operations Center Grant Program, including the cost-share requirement and environmental and historic preservation requirements, as applicable, will be considered for funding. For any projects designated for funding in the final fiscal year 2023 Homeland Security Appropriations Act, the respective state administrative agency (SAA) must submit an application to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and that agency will serve as the administrative agent for the grant. Therefore, all project proposals must be accompanied by a letter of support from the appropriate SSA affirming that it believes the project is eligible.
Additional guidance with specific information about these accounts is attached.
Interior-Environment
The Save America’s Treasures grant program is for preservation and/or conservation work on nationally significant collections and historic properties. The SAT program falls under the purview of the Historic Preservation Fund account and was established in 1998 to celebrate America's premier cultural resources in the new millennium (Public Law 113–287, Section 308902, 128 Stat. 3244; 54 USC 3089 et seq.). The existing competitive grant program funds two categories of projects: awards managed by the National Park Service (NPS) for preservation projects at properties listed in the National Register of Historic Places for national significance or designated a National Historic Landmark; and awards managed by the Institute of Museum and Library Services for projects involving nationally significant collections (including artifacts, museum collections, documents, sculptures, and other works of art).
To be considered for Community Project Funding, each applicant must provide information consistent with competitive application requirements. All grant recipients must comply with relevant requirements for recipients of Federal financial assistance and program-specific requirements found here on NPS’s SAT website. Consistent with prior years, Members are encouraged to consider a project funding threshold of up to $500,000 when making requests in this account. This a new account for the FY23 House process.
All SAT grants require a dollar‐for‐dollar non‐federal matching share. Recipients of any SAT project funded in the Interior bill must be able to match the amount provided. The property must be on the National Register of Historic Places in order to be eligible to receive funding. Grants are not available for work on sites or collections owned by the NPS. Other federal agencies working with a nonprofit partner to preserve the historic properties or collections owned by the federal agency may submit applications through the partner. If the project has received previous appropriations, it is not eligible. A building or structure may only receive one SAT grant. Previous SAT projects can be viewed here: https://go.nps.gov/satmap.
If the historic structure has been moved, it is probably not eligible for funding. It is best to ask the State Historic Preservation Officer if the proposed work meets the Secretary of Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Buildings (https://ncshpo.org/). Work that has already been done prior to SAT funding may have had an adverse effect on the historic features of the building and make it ineligible for the National Register and for SAT funding.
Contractors for the project must be competitively selected, as stipulated under Government‐ wide Grants Requirements set by OMB. New construction is not eligible. The SAT grant program was created to preserve nationally significant properties by repairing them, not adding to or changing them.
Demolition of an historic building or significant changes to it are not eligible projects under the SAT grant program. The sponsors of this project must agree to a preservation easement or covenant. The National Park Service not only pays for the work to fix the roof, but also ensures that if the property is sold later, then the covenant or easement will bind the new owner to maintain and preserve the historic building that gets the SAT grant.
Federal acquisition of lands and water and interests therein must be for the purpose of land and habitat conservation and the encouragement of outdoor recreation, as established by the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Act of 1965. Land acquisition project requests funded from the LWCF should be requested through the agency that would manage the land being acquired. The four land management agencies are: within the Department of the Interior, (1) the Bureau of Land Management, (2) the Fish and Wildlife Service, (3) the National Park Service; and within the Department of Agriculture, (4) the Forest Service.
Third party organizations (i.e. The Nature Conservancy, Trust for Public Land, etc.) frequently participate in the federal acquisition process by coordinating the negotiation and purchase of tracts. If the project you are requesting involves a third-party organization, please be mindful that funding for a land acquisition project goes to the agency that will manage the land.
The Great American Outdoors Act of (Public Law 116-152) and the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Public Law 116-260) mandates that the president submit, along with the upcoming fiscal year’s budget request, proposed and supplemental project lists. Projects that appear on the proposed lists are considered programmatic requests and should not be requested for Community Project Funding. The Committee will look favorably upon requests for projects that appear on the supplemental list. When submitting your request, please indicate whether the project is on this list.
The vast majority of requests made to the Interior Subcommittee are for STAG infrastructure grants. These grants fund local wastewater and drinking water infrastructure projects. This includes construction of and modifications to municipal sewage treatment plants and drinking water treatment plants. Similar to past practice, the Committee will be limiting STAG infrastructure grants only to projects that are publicly-owned or owned by a non-profit entity and that are otherwise eligible for the funding from that state’s Clean Water or Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (SRF) loan programs. Members should use the range of House and Senate project amounts funded in FY22 as a general guide when making requests. In FY22, the majority of EPA STAG infrastructure projects funded in the House bill ranged from $60,000 - $3,500,000, though there were a handful of exceptions. Note that the Committee may consider higher project amounts for FY23, and any caps will be determined by the Chair after reviewing the full universe of requests.
Privately-owned projects are NOT eligible for infrastructure grants, even if they are otherwise eligible for assistance under a SRF program. The Committee will look favorably upon requests for projects that are listed on a state’s most recent Intended Use Plan.
There is a minimum 20% cost share requirement for any portion of a project funded through a STAG infrastructure grant. For example, a $1 million project could receive a maximum of $800,000 from the Federal government, with the remaining $200,000 the responsibility of the grantee. In almost all cases, other federal funds cannot be used to meet this 20% cost share.
Ability to fund the 20% cost share is required before EPA can award a STAG grant. Please note that assistance provided by a SRF counts towards the project’s matching requirement.
The Forest Service is an agency within the Department of Agriculture. Requests that do not fit into the described categories below are unlikely to be eligible for funding under the Forest Service.
The State and Private Forestry (S&PF) account provides technical and financial assistance, usually through the network of State Foresters, to improve the management, protection, and utilization of the Nation’s forests. Community projects are usually limited and include various specific urban and community forestry projects and specific forest disease or pest treatment areas. Members may also request specific State fire assistance projects or specific forestry assistance projects in this account. Please carefully review the information the Forest Service provides on its website regarding what activities are permitted under the various S&PF programs and consult with your State Forester office if needed to confirm that all of a project’s activities are eligible for S&PF funding. Members should use the range of House and Senate project amounts funded in FY22 as a general guide for making requests. In FY22, the majority of State and Private Forestry projects in the House bill ranged from $50,000 - $750,000. Note that the Committee will consider similar project amounts for FY23, and any caps will be determined by the Chair after reviewing the full universe of requests.
Note, State and Private Forestry projects are required to meet the 1:1 matching requirement mandated by the Forest Service. Keep this in mind when considering the amount being requested for the project. The amount being requested can be no more than half of the total project cost to account for matching funds being used (ex. If a project has been calculated to cost $200,000, then a request for a CPF can be no more than $100,000 for that project to allow for 1:1 matching funds to be used.) Additionally, project amounts should be to the nearest thousand (ex. $100,000 instead of $100,500).
The Committee will look favorably upon requests for projects that are listed on any federal or state ordinal list or are clearly demonstrated to meet the goals of a State Forest Action Plan(s). Please ensure any requests submitted for S&PF funding include not only full details on the types of activities in the project, but other details relevant to the specific type of S&PF program the project would fall under (ex. For landscape scale restoration, precise location data is needed).
Additional guidance with specific information about these accounts is attached.
Labor-Health, Human Services -Education
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act demonstration program is the only Labor Department program that supports community project funding. Community project funding is designated under Training and Employment Services. These projects must meet all statutorily mandated requirements, except that they are exempt from the requirement to compete. In addition, all projects must:
1) Include direct services to individuals to enhance employment opportunities;
2) Demonstrate evidence of a linkage with the State or local workforce investment system; and
3) Include an evaluation component.
Equipment purchases may be included within community project funding only as an incidental part of the entire project. A similar standard applies to curriculum development, which should be incidental to the project’s emphasis on direct services to individuals. Community project funding cannot be used for construction or renovation of facilities.
House project amounts in this account were funded between $100,000 and $2,000,000 in FY 2022. The Committee may consider slightly higher project amounts for FY 2023. Any caps will be determined by the Chair after reviewing the full universe of requests.
Grants to help with the cost of construction, renovation, or capital equipment for facilities for provision of health, mental health, or substance abuse services, training of health professionals, or medical research. Examples of eligible facilities include hospitals; health centers and clinics; skilled nursing facilities; mental health centers; facilities for schools of medicine, nursing or other health professions; and medical research laboratories.
In addition to construction and renovation, grants can be used to acquire capital equipment, such as lab equipment, x‐ray machines, and telehealth and information technology equipment. Equipment‐only grants—that is, grants not involving construction—are permissible (and commonly done). Generally, any equipment having a useful life of more than one year and a unit cost of at least $5,000 will be eligible as capital equipment. In addition, equipment with lower costs may also be eligible, provided that it is treated as an item of capital expense under the recipient institution’s pre‐existing, written accounting policies. One-time equipment expenses for health information systems and electronic medical records systems are permitted expenditures. The costs of expendable supplies such as pharmaceuticals, lab chemicals, or office paper are not eligible.
HRSA Health Facilities grants cannot be used to acquire land or purchase existing buildings, or to pay salaries or other operating or ongoing costs. They cannot be used to pay for work previously completed. Grants can be used for architectural and engineering costs associated with an eligible construction project, but cannot be used for general feasibility studies.
House project amounts in this account were funded between $100,000 and $2,000,000 (or up to $4,000,000 for projects jointly submitted by multiple Members) in FY 2022. Note that the Committee may consider slightly higher project amounts for FY 2023. Any caps will be determined by the Chair after reviewing the full universe of requests.
Community project funding through SAMHSA provides resources for substance use and/or mental health services — including prevention, harm reduction, treatment, or recovery support services. Generally, SAMHSA projects cover:
· Evidence-based substance use disorder and/or mental health treatment services.
· Evidence-based harm reduction activities.
· Crisis services, including 24-hour mobile crisis teams.
· Suicide prevention activities including awareness training, screening, referral to treatment, as well as postvention activities.
· Recovery support services, which includes case management, outreach, peer recovery mentors, peer support specialists, childcare, training, transportation, and housing, as well as helping individuals to navigate these various services.
· Screening and assessment of individuals, including the presence of co-occurring mental and substance use disorders and referral to treatment.
· Referral and access to treatment services.
· Educational materials on substance misuse, HIV prevention, hepatitis prevention, and mental health promotion.
· Practitioners or community members training on evidence-based behavioral health practices.
· FDA-approved medications for the treatment of opioid use disorders in combination with comprehensive psychosocial services, including counseling, behavioral therapies, recovery support services, and other clinically appropriate services.
· Projects that support the hiring of behavioral health providers.
· Limited indirect costs that are directly related to the projects.
Note: This is not an exhaustive list of the types of programs and services that SAMHSA funds. A listing of SAMHSA NOFO’s can be found at: https://www.samhsa.gov/grants/grantannouncements-2022.
SAMHSA project funds cannot be used for:
· Inpatient treatment or hospital-based detoxification services.
· Direct payments to individuals to enter treatment or continue to participate in prevention or treatment services.
· Meals and food.
· Research projects (e.g., scientific, academic, clinical trials, studies, development of research technology).
· Construction (other than a limited amount of renovation necessary to carry out a funded project).
More information on allowable or unallowable costs can be found on the HHS Webpage at: https://www.hhs.gov/grants/grants/index.html. House project amounts in this account were funded between $100,000 and $2,000,000 in FY 2022. The Committee may consider slightly higher project amounts for FY 2023. Any caps will be determined by the Chair after reviewing the full universe of requests.
Community project funding within ACF should be submitted through the Children and Families Services Programs account and must fall under one of the following categories:
· Child Abuse Prevention— Community project funding may be used for projects to improve the prevention, assessment, identification, and treatment of child abuse and neglect through research, model service improvement, information dissemination, and technical assistance. Projects must serve or target children and families who are at risk or who have experienced child abuse and neglect.
· Social Services Research and Demonstration— Community project funding may be used for projects to promote the ability of families to thrive through financial self-sufficiency in order to prevent and reduce poverty and to promote the healthy development and greater well-being of children and families. Projects can serve a diverse population including: low-income individuals, children, youth, families, individuals with developmental disabilities, and Native Americans.
ACF community project funding cannot be used for construction or renovation of facilities. The House LHHS bill did not include projects in this account in FY 2022. The Committee expects to consider project amounts in this account between $100,000 and $2,000,000 for FY 2023. Any caps will be determined by the Chair after reviewing the full universe of requests.
Community project funding within ACL should be submitted through the Aging and Disability Services Programs account. Community project funding may be used for projects to improve or create new opportunities for older adults, individuals of all ages with disabilities, and their eligible family caregivers, to live independently and participate fully in their communities. Generally, community project funding should focus on improving access to, or the quality of, education, health services, training, support services, and independent living services for older adults, individuals with disabilities, and eligible family caregivers. ACL community project funding cannot be used for construction or renovation of facilities.
The House LHHS bill did not include projects in this account in FY 2022. The Committee expects to consider project amounts in this account between $100,000 and $2,000,000 for FY 2023. Any caps will be determined by the Chair after reviewing the full universe of requests.
Community project funding for elementary and secondary education should be submitted through the Innovation and Improvement account. Elementary and secondary education community project funding includes instructional services, afterschool centers, curricula development, teacher training, acquisition of books and computers, arts education, social and emotional learning activities, full-service community schools, and early childhood education. In general, the focus of elementary and secondary education community project funding should be providing early childhood or K‐12 educational services.
Community project funding to provide and improve special education services at the elementary and secondary levels are also eligible under elementary and secondary education. Community project funding may include early intervention services for infants and toddlers, transition services, and postsecondary education services.
Eligible grantees are state education agencies, school districts, colleges and universities, and other public and private nonprofit entities. Generally, community project funding intended for individual schools is provided to the applicable school district and not directly to the individual school.
Community project funding cannot be used for construction or renovation of school buildings, except in the case of minor remodeling required as part of technology upgrades. Daycare and childcare projects that do not include educational services are also not eligible.
House project amounts in this account were funded between $100,000 and $2,000,000 in FY 2022. The Committee may consider slightly higher project amounts for FY 2023. Any caps will be determined by the Chair after reviewing the full universe of requests.
Community project funding can be designated under this heading for a wide variety of higher education projects. Generally, community project funding should focus on improving access to, or the quality of, postsecondary education. Community project funding cannot be used for construction or renovation of academic buildings, except in the case of minor remodeling required as part of technology upgrades.
Examples of the types of projects that can be funded under FIPSE include projects to hire and train faculty, establish and improve degree programs, improve teacher preparation programs, develop and improve curricula, upgrade technology and telecommunications, acquire science laboratory equipment, provide student support, implement university partnerships with school districts, and establish research and training centers.
Grantees are usually colleges and universities, but may include other public and private nonprofit organizations.
House project amounts in this account were funded between $100,000 and $2,000,000 in FY 2022. The Committee may consider slightly higher project amounts for FY 2023. Any caps will be determined by the Chair after reviewing the full universe of requests.
Again, except where specifically authorized, community project funding cannot be used for construction (or the acquisition of property) or renovation of buildings. In addition, grantees may not restrict participants based on race, ethnicity, or gender. Any project that appears to target services toward a particular race, ethnicity, or gender must have a description that makes clear that it will be operated in a race/ethnicity-neutral and gender-neutral manner.
Additional guidance with specific information about these accounts is attached.
Legislative Branch–will not be accepting Community Project Funding requests in FY23.
Military Construction, Veterans Affairs
Eligible community project requests include both construction and unspecified minor military construction projects for active components. An unspecified minor military construction project is a project that has an approved cost equal to or less than $6,000,000. The types of projects under this heading include construction, installation, equipment of temporary or permanent public works, military installations, and facilities for the accounts listed below:
· Army
· Navy and Marine Corps
· Air Force
· Space Force
· Defense-Wide Agencies (Special Operations Command (SOCOM), Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), etc.)
Eligible community project requests include both construction and unspecified minor military construction projects for Reserve Components. An unspecified minor military construction project is a project that has an approved cost equal to or less than $6,000,000. Some Reserve Component projects require a State funding match. Requesting offices must determine whether the proposed project requires such a match and if so, confirm that the project has current State match funding before the request can be considered. The types of projects under this heading include construction, expansion, rehabilitation, and conversion of facilities for training and administration for the accounts listed below:
· Army National Guard
· Air National Guard
· Army Reserve
· Navy Reserve
· Air Force Reserve
Planning and design funding can be requested for specific projects when they are not yet at 35 percent design and therefore ineligible for construction funding. The types of projects under this heading include improving facility resilience, study, planning, design, and architect and engineer services for the accounts listed below:
· Army
· Navy and Marine Corps
· Air Force
· Space Force
· Defense-Wide Agencies (SOCOM, DHA, etc.)
· Army National Guard
· Air National Guard
· Army Reserve
· Navy Reserve
· Air Force Reserve
The eligible lists of community projects are those that are submitted to Congress by the Secretary of Defense or his/her designee. Projects that only appear on a project list provided by a base commander, as opposed to the Secretary or his/her designee, will not be accepted. Such eligible lists include:
- Future Year Defense Program (FYDP)– FYDP is a projection of the forces, resources, and programs needed to support DoD operations over a five-year span. The FYDP is released simultaneously with the President’s budget request. The updated document listing projects eligible for FY 2023 will be obtainable after the FY 2023 full budget rollout, through the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) website: https://comptroller.defense.gov/Budget-Materials/.
- Unfunded Requirements/Unfunded Priorities Lists (UFRs/UPLs)– UFRs/UPLs are lists that each Service provides to Congress that identify priority projects that were not included in the President’s budget request. These lists must be approved by the Secretary of Defense. UFRs/UPLs become available to Congress within ten days of the President’s full budget release and can be found by contacting the Congressional Liaison Offices of the Armed Services.
- Cost-to-completes (CTCs)– CTCs are projects that have previously received an appropriation but require additional funding for completion.
These lists represent the requirements identified by each Service for the additional funding necessary to complete a project. The lists are approved by each Service Secretary and can be obtained by contacting the Congressional Liaison Offices of the Armed Services. These lists include projects, ongoing and upcoming, that ensure long-term viability, better readiness, increased resiliency, improved living and working conditions for service members and their families, and significant cost savings in perpetuity.
As indicated above, some Reserve Component projects will additionally require a corresponding State funding match. Please verify said funding before submission. The Committee will not waive match requirements. For your reference, current military construction authorizations may be found in the FY 2022 NDAA DIVISION B—MILITARY CONSTRUCTION AUTHORIZATIONS, which you can access by clicking HERE.
The average award for Military Construction projects in FY 2022 was $18 million. Note the Committee may consider similar project amounts for FY 2023, and any caps will be determined by the Chair after reviewing the full universe of requests.
VA’s Minor Construction program includes capital projects with costs equal to or less than $20,000,000, particularly projects that construct new space instead of renovating existing space. Examples may include expanding existing facility square footage to provide additional healthcare capacity, construction of specialty care buildings or clinics, building of parking structures, or expanding gravesite space at cemeteries.
The Committee will only consider projects that appear on VA’s Integrated Departmentwide Priority List for 2023 Construction Projects (2023 Construction SCIP List). This list will be included in the FY 2023 President’s Budget submission.
The yearly Construction SCIP List includes projects that have been reviewed by VA and are determined to be at an advanced enough stage to receive funds. This will ensure that Federal dollars are not set aside for projects that are not yet ready to spend them. Please note that while this list includes both Major Construction and Minor Construction projects, only Minor Construction projects will be considered for Member requests.
The subcommittee strongly encourages member offices to familiarize themselves with VA’s process for identifying and prioritizing construction needs at its facilities. As part of the annual President’s Budget submission, VA submits four volumes of additional detail. Volume IV details the Construction and the Long Range Capital Plan. For your reference, the prior year 2022 Construction Strategic Capital Investment Planning Process Project (SCIP) List can be found in Table 5-1 within the FY 2022 VA budget submission, available at: https://www.va.gov/budget/docs/summary/fy2022VAbudgetVolumeIVconstructionAndLongRangePlan.pdf
A discussion of the FY 2022 list begins on page 281 in the linked document, and the list itself begins on page 282. While VA may change this list from year to year, this will enable you to become familiar with VA’s project identification process.
Criteria for VA Community Project Funding (CPF):
· The subcommittee will consider supporting Community Project Funding only for VA Minor Construction projects that are equal to or less than $20,000,000 in total estimated project cost, and they must be included in the 2023 Construction SCIP List (this list will be included in the FY 2023 President’s Budget submission materials).
· Projects must be listed as unfunded on VA’s 2023 Construction SCIP List with $0 in the 2023 Request column. Projects with a dollar amount in the 2023 Request column are requested in the President’s budget request, and if requested, should be submitted as programmatic requests.
· Funding for a CPF project will be capped at 10 percent of the total estimated cost of the project to support planning and design that can be executed within twelve months of receiving funding. (Similar projects on the FY 2022 list would generally have been in the range of $1,000,000 to $2,000,000.)
· Exceptions to the 10 percent cap may be made for projects where construction is ready to be supported in year one, and only applies to some National Cemetery Administration (NCA) Minor Construction projects. Please consult with the subcommittee and VA to determine if the full scope of an NCA project can be executable in one year.
· Final decision on funding caps will be determined by the Chair after reviewing the full universe of requests.
Additional guidance with specific information about these accounts is attached.
State, Foreign Operations–will not be accepting Community Project Funding requests in FY23.
Transportation, Housing Urban Development
Transit Infrastructure Projects are public transportation capital projects eligible under chapter 53 of title 49 of the United States Code. Eligible capital projects are described under Section 5302(4) of title 49, United States Code, and Section 5339(b)(1) and (c)(1)(B) of title 49, United States Code. All projects must be:
· Transit capital projects or project-specific planning/design for a transit capital project.
· Supported by the state, local governmental authority, or Tribal government that would administer the project. Inclusion on a Statewide Transportation Improvement Plan (STIP) or Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP) would satisfy this requirement.
· Administered by public entities or Tribal entities.
Public transportation or transit is defined in Section 5302(15) and (22) of title 49, United States Code, as regular, continuing shared-ride surface transportation that is open to the general public or open to a segment of the general public defined by age, disability, or low income, and does not include intercity passenger rail transportation, intercity bus service, charter bus service, school bus service, sightseeing service, courtesy shuttle service for patrons of one or more specific establishments, or intra-terminal or intra-facility shuttle services.
The Subcommittee will not fund activities that are administrative in nature even if they are eligible expenses under the statutory citation. These include general operating expenses, and activities authorized under sections 5303, 5304, and 5305 of title 49, United States Code. The Subcommittee will continue to treat the Capital Investment Grants (CIG) program as programmatic requests and will not fund CIG projects under Transit Infrastructure Projects, consistent with the fiscal year 2022 process. The average award in this account for fiscal year 2022 was $2.5 million. Note that the Committee may consider project amounts of up to $7 million for FY23, but any caps will be determined by the Chairman after reviewing the full universe of requests.
Additional guidance with specific information about this account is attached.
Highway Infrastructure Projects are capital projects eligible under title 23 of the United States Code. Eligible projects are described under Section 133(b) of title 23, United States Code, as amended by title III of division A of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Tribal and territorial capital projects authorized under Chapter 2 of title 23, United States Code, are also eligible. All projects must be:
· Capital projects or project-specific planning/design for a capital project.
· Supported by the state or Tribal government that would administer the project. Inclusion on a Statewide Transportation Improvement Plan (STIP) or Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP) would satisfy this requirement.
· Administered by public entities or Tribal entities.
The Subcommittee will not fund activities that are administrative in nature even if they are eligible expenses under the statutory citation. These include general operating expenses, and activities required under sections 134 and 135 of title 23, United States Code. The average award in this account for fiscal year 2022 was $2.7 million. Note that the Committee may consider project amounts of up to $7 million for FY23, but any caps will be determined by the Chairman after reviewing the full universe of requests.
Additional guidance with specific information about this account is attached.
AIP community project funding requests shall be used for enhancing airport safety, capacity, and security, and mitigating environmental concerns. All projects must be:
· AIP eligible in accordance with sections 47101 to 47175 of title 49, United States Code, and FAA policy and guidance.
· Supported broadly by local stakeholders, including residents, businesses, and elected officials.
· Administered by an airport and/or airport sponsor.
The average award in this account for FY22 was $4 million. Note that the Committee may consider project amounts of up to $7 million for FY23, but any caps will be determined by the Chairman after reviewing the full universe of requests. Please ensure community project funding requests are not duplicative of requests to another Committee or Subcommittee.
Additional guidance with specific information about this account is attached.
EDI community project funding may be used for economic and community development activities, including land or site acquisition, demolition or rehabilitation of housing or facilities, construction and capital improvements of public facilities (including water and sewer facilities), and public services. Requests may also include planning and other activities consistent with previously funded activities eligible under the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program (title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as amended (42 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.)), unless otherwise specified. EDI community project funding is not eligible for the reimbursement of expenses for activities or costs incurred prior to the obligation of funds, if such activities are not eligible under the CDBG program. Capital and operating expenses for fire and police stations are not eligible for EDI community project funding. All projects must be:
· Supported broadly by local stakeholders, including residents, businesses, and elected officials.
· Administered by governmental or non-profit entities, including public housing agencies, as well as tribes and tribally designated housing entities.
The average award in this account for fiscal year 2022 was $1.5 million. Note that the Committee may consider project amounts of up to $4 million for FY23, but any caps will be determined by the Chairman after reviewing the full universe of requests.
Additional guidance with specific information about this account is attached.
Additional guidance with specific information about the THUD accounts is attached.
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