Even as Donald Trump cuts federal programs, I’m working hard in Congress to help Indianapolis receive its fair share — especially when it comes to local projects that help solve some of our city’s most pressing issues.
So far this year, I’ve secured $13 million in new funding to make Indianapolis a stronger and safer place. Each year, I take advantage of the opportunity for all members of Congress to direct funds for Community Project Funding. This is all under guidelines and strict vetting by the House Appropriations Committee, which strictly limits the types of projects that can be selected for funding awards.
Some members from Indiana have refused to participate in these local funding opportunities for philosophical or ideological reasons — a lost opportunity for Hoosiers. But I feel strongly that these funds belong home with us, especially as disadvantaged and minority communities are under attack by this administration.
I’m proud to highlight some projects coming to our community soon:
Lead service line replacement
I’m bringing over $1 million to identify and replace lead service lines across the city, specifically in Martindale-Brightwood. Lead poisoning in the United States disproportionately hurts Black communities, a direct result of past U.S. policies. Segregation, systemic discrimination, and disinvestment allowed policymakers to expose Black neighborhoods to lead poisoning by putting waste facilities and dumping harmful waste in our communities and then restricting access to public water services.
While these policies originated decades ago, they are hurting our kids today. A Notre Dame study shows that lead levels are higher in children living in racially segregated neighborhoods. There is no safe level of lead in a child’s blood — which means we must identify all possible causes of lead contamination and remove those causes. Thanks to this funding, we’re one step closer to that goal.
Infrastructure investments
I am building on progress we started with the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law — a historic bill I helped draft and pass. This has brought around 186 projects throughout the state, including internet infrastructure, better roads, bridges, and highways, new and safer sidewalks, stronger and more reliable transit, and improved water systems. But we’re not stopping there.
I’m continuing to invest in local projects like improvements to Market Street and IndyGo.
Since I helped bring the initial federal funding to establish the Red Line, IndyGo is only growing. Now, we need new vehicles to meet growing demand — and I’m making sure these vehicles use cleaner hybrid engine technology. The benefits are twofold: connecting Indianapolis residents to the entire city while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and exhaust fumes.
Good transportation infrastructure has historically bypassed the Black community. But I believe that transportation is a civil right. Since I started my service in Congress, and as the only Black member from Indiana, I’ve prioritized policies to correct these historic problems that have modern-day impacts.
Housing insecurity
I’m also bringing new funding for direct rental assistance to those struggling with housing insecurity. This will also establish new affordable housing and provide permanent supportive housing solutions. This issue is personal.
For a brief period during my childhood, my mother and I stayed at the Salvation Army in downtown Indianapolis. I was lucky to have a safe space to stay — but too many in Indianapolis don’t. Black Indianapolis residents face a higher burden — despite only making up 28% of the Indianapolis population, 54% of homeless people in Indianapolis are Black.
With rising costs due to the Trump administration’s tariffs and state laws weakening tenant protections, housing insecurity is only getting worse. This new federal housing funding will not only increase the availability of affordable units, but it will also provide direct rental assistance and other supportive services to ensure families can stay in these homes.
Public safety
I’m investing in three public safety initiatives — to stop child online exploitation with more resources for investigations, funding to address the opioid crisis, and new equipment for safety and transparency for the City of Lawrence. Crime prevention doesn’t have a one-size-fits-all solution. The opioid crisis has devastated the Black community. analysis found that Black men born between 1951 and 1970 died of overdoses at a disproportionately high rate at nearly all stages of their lives in dozens of cities. While we need investments in local law enforcement, that can’t come without accountability measures. More body-worn cameras in Lawrence will help increase trust and a better police-community relationship.
I’m also fighting to improve public safety by expanding common sense gun violence prevention measures. This includes my gun safety bill, the Gun Safety Incentive Act, to incentivize safe storage of firearms — a practical solution to the gun violence epidemic our community has suffered for too long.
You can read more about these investments at carson.house.gov. Our community’s needs are diverse — and that’s why the solutions must be diverse too. In addition to Community Project Funding, my office is available to help eligible organizations explore traditional federal grants — including discretionary and formula funding. As the Trump administration tries to take resources away from our communities, I’m working with constituents to bring funding back where it belongs: right here, at home in Indianapolis.
