Happy spring! This season is a time for renewal and for a new start. In Congress, I’m always working to create new opportunities for Hoosiers, and I’d like to tell you about a major legislative achievement that advances this goal.
In the most recent government funding bill that Congress passed, and President Biden signed into law (the Fiscal Year 2022 Appropriations bill), I secured $3.4 million in funding for nine local organizations working to help Hoosiers. The new Community Project Funding designations are a legislative mechanism that Democrats have designed and implemented since we took charge in Washington. Unlike Republicans, who choose to spend your taxpayer dollars on tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy, Democrats believe that this money should be invested back into our communities and families.
The recipients of these funds went through a thorough review process to ensure the money would be put to the best use, and I’d certainly say it is. The local organizations selected touch every corner of our community, and help a diverse group of Hoosiers. The list of projects is below.
• $1,000,000 to the City of Indianapolis for a Mental Health Diversion Program
• $96,000 to the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office for Second Chance Workshops
• $500,000 to the Global Village Welcome Center for youth programming
• $500,000 to the City of Indianapolis for mental health and substance use treatment services for people in need of permanent supportive housing
• $75,000 to Community Action of Greater Indianapolis Inc. for behavioral health treatment and services, including supportive services
• $300,000 to Ivy Tech Community College for a mobile unit to offer training and other services
• $600,000 to the United Northeast Community Development Corporation for a job training initiative, including supportive services
• $250,000 to Flanner House of Indianapolis Inc. for facilities and equipment
• $100,000 to Eclectic Soul VOICES Corporation for a job training program, including supportive services and stipends
I am incredibly honored to have secured these federal dollars, which is the latest in a long line of big wins for our community and our state. Through the American Rescue Plan, which became law in 2021, I helped bring more than half a billion dollars back to our community for schools, universities, transit and more. In addition, the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which I proudly supported, will update Indiana’s transportation networks and help create many more good paying jobs. Thanks to this law, I’m confident we will remain “The Crossroads of America” for years to come.
For Black Hoosiers, these lifelines are particularly important. Our community continues to suffer from systemic inequalities that hinder our access to health care, a quality education, good jobs and other necessities. While we’re making progress in reducing these inequalities through laws like the Affordable Care Act and the American Rescue Plan, there’s still a lot of work to do. Local governments and nonprofits play a major role in promoting equity, and they do it with a powerful understanding of the needs of the communities they serve. Washington should help strengthen these efforts with a much-needed boost in funding.
Challenges remain, but the investments Democrats are bringing back to our communities, and our entire country, are laying the groundwork for a better and brighter future — one with opportunities available to everyone, not just the privileged few. I’m confident we can get there if we continue working together.
Rep. Carson represents the 7th District of Indiana. He is a member of the Congressional Black Caucus and one of three Muslims in Congress. Rep. Carson sits on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the House Intelligence Committee, where he is chairman of the Subcommittee on Counterterrorism, Counterintelligence and Counterproliferation. Contact Rep. Carson at carson.house.gov/contact.
