What Does “Pork” Mean in the Military?

ENERGY AND WATER

Legislators once again flooded the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act with pricey pork. While the number of earmarks declined by 19. 1 percent, from $356 in FY 2023 to $288 in FY 2024. The cost went up by 10%, from $356 to $288. 5 percent, from $1. 9 billion in FY 2023 to $2. 1 billion in FY 2024. The cost of earmarks has gone up the third most in all of the FY 2024 spending bills.

£1,488,596,000 for 217 earmarks for the Army Corps of Engineers. This is 24% more than the 175 earmarks in FY 2023 and 48% more than the amount spent in FY 2022. 9 percent increase in cost from the $1 billion in FY 2023. Former President Trump’s FY 2018 Major Savings and Reforms Plan called for cutting $976 million from the Corps of Engineers’ budget. In the version for FY 2021, his Major Savings and Reforms plan called for changing how the Army Corps of Engineers’ Inland Waterways Trust Fund is funded by requiring commercial navigation users to pay an annual fee. This would save the fund $180 million a year. The report also recommended divesting the federal government of the Washington Aqueduct, which services Washington, D. C. , and several Virginia suburbs, saving $118 million over five years.

Four projects worth at least $100 million were earmarked for the Army Corps of Engineers in FY 2024. The largest non-anonymous earmark was $236,800,000 for the Chickamauga Lock on the Tennessee River by House Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Chuck Fleischmann, earning Rep. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc) and other members of the Senate Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee gave $120 million to a project on the Upper Mississippi River and the Illinois waterway system. Fleischmann was named CAGW’s Porker of the Month for May 2024. ) and Richard Durbin (D-Ill. ), Sens. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill. ), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn. ), and Tina Smith (D-Minn. ), and Reps. Nikki Budzinski (D-Ill. ), Garret Graves (R-La. ), Darin LaHood (R-Ill. ), Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-Mo. ), and Eric Sorensen (D-Ill. ); $103,170,000 for the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System by Rep. Rick Crawford (R-Ariz. ); and $100,000,000 for a project on the Sabine-Neches Waterway System by Rep. Randy Weber (R-Texas). These four projects account for 37. 6 percent of the $1,488,596,000 in Army Corps of Engineers earmarks.

The Army Corps of Engineers has been a favorite place for lawmakers to hide pork for a long time, and it is one of the most heavily earmarked parts of the federal budget. Since FY 1996, members of Congress have added 7,566 earmarks for the Corps, costing taxpayers $20. 9 billion. According to the Water Resources Development Act of 2014, earmarks for any water projects, including the Army Corps of Engineers, are not allowed. This includes the earmarks in the FY 2024 bill and all other Energy and Water appropriations bills with earmarks since 2014.

$36,000,000 for two plans to fight pests that live in water, including $20,500,000,000,000 for a program to get rid of aquatic plants, a 46 1 percent decline from the $38 million earmarked in FY 2023.

Since FY 1994, there have been 30 earmarks worth a total of $207. 6 million for aquatic plant control, meaning the amount provided in FY 2024 represents 9. 9 percent of the total over the past 30 years. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) is one lawmaker who has asked for special funding for the aquatic plant control program in the past. Y. ), who requested three, and one each by then-Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt. ) and Jeff Sessions (R-Ala. ).

The bill also included $15,500,000 for aquatic nuisance control research, 32. 3 percent less than the $22. 9 million earmarked in FY 2023. Since FY 1992, members of Congress have added 13 earmarks for aquatic nuisance research, costing $99. 4 million.

There are no signs of which Congressmember will get the money for underwater pest warfare in FY 2024.

A total of $8,865,000 was set aside for two specific purposes: to pay for fish passages and fish screens. This amount includes $6 million added by an anonymous donor and $2,865,000 given by Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev. ) and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev. ).

The anonymous earmark is a 45. 5 percent decrease from the $11 million added without attribution in FY 2023. Since FY 2000, members of Congress have added 26 earmarks costing $102. 9 million for fish passage and fish screens.

The Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act had 152 earmarks in FY 2024, down from 252 in FY 2023. This is a 39% drop. 7 percent decrease, while their cost increased by 0. 2 percent, from $355. 5 million in FY 2023 to $356. 1 million in FY 2024.

The Economic Development Administration (EDA) gets $356,100,000 for 152 earmarks. The EDA gives federal money to projects it thinks are important for a region’s economic growth. The EDA first received earmarks in FY 1991, when legislators provided 36 projects costing $2. 2 million.

Since FY 1991, Congress has added 1,507 earmarks for the EDA, costing taxpayers $845.7 million.

The EDA is a duplicative program. The Trump administration’s FY 2021 Major Savings and Reforms plan said that the agency should be gotten rid of because it “duplicates other Federal programs.” ” The report also noted that the elimination of the EDA would save $1. 1 billion over five years. In his FY 2017 budget, former President Obama cut $16 million from the EDA’s budget because he said the program “could not demonstrate that it [was] meeting its statutory objectives.” ”.

The number of earmarks in the FY 2024 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Appropriations Act increased by 12. Their cost went up by 39.3%, from 154 in FY 2023 to 173 in FY 2024. 3 percent, from $653. 7 million in FY 2023 to $910. 4 million in FY 2024. The increase in the cost of earmarks is the fourth highest in the FY 2024 appropriations bills.

$456,000,000 for two earmarks for the National Predisaster Mitigation Fund. This is the most money that has ever been set aside for this purpose. 4 percent increase from the previous high of $402. 2 million in FY 2023.

The amount earmarked in FY 2024 is 50. 1 percent of the $910. 4 million in the FY 2024 DHS Appropriations Act, and a 54. 7 percent increase from the $294. 8 million provided in FY 2022. The dramatic increase from FY 2022 is likely attributable to hurricanes and wildfires during FY 2023. Since FY 2008, there have been 36 earmarks costing taxpayers $3. 4 billion for predisaster mitigation.

Since 2002, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has been in charge of the predisaster mitigation program. This program gives money to state and local governments for projects that aim to lower risks before a disaster. The program also receives funding through the Disaster Relief Fund, which received $19. 4 billion in FY 2022, meaning there is no need for earmarks.

$120,500,000 for 150 earmarks will fund the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Emergency Operations Center Grant Program. This is 84% more than the $65 million that was set aside before. 5 million provided for 91 earmarks in FY 2023, and a 12. 3 percent increase from the $107. 3 million provided for 92 earmarks in FY 2022.

Since FY 2008, legislators have added 2,143 earmarks costing taxpayers $1. 8 billion for emergency operations centers. There are often a lot of earmarks in appropriations bills for emergency operations centers. However, the program could be gotten rid of in favor of competitive or merit-based awards that would let states decide which areas have the most important needs.

$87,000,000 for 11 earmarks funding the Firefighter Assistance Grants (FAG) program. This is a 138. 5 percent increase in the cost from the $36. 5 million earmarked in FY 2023, and the most ever earmarked for FAG.

The FAG program has been abused by lawmakers for a long time. It is made up of the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response grants, which pay firefighter salaries, and the Assistance for Firefighters grants, which pay for vehicles, training, equipment, and other resources for firefighters.

The FAG program has not been spared the criticism of former presidents. Former President Obama proposed reducing its budget by 17. 1 percent in his FY 2017 budget, and the Trump administration called for reducing FAG spending by 23. 7 percent in its FY 2021 Major Savings and Reforms.

Since FY 2001, Congress has added 2,668 earmarks for the Firefighter Assistance Grants program costing taxpayers $2.6 billion.

In the FY 2024 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, the cost of earmarks increased by 34. 2 percent, from $1 billion in FY 2023 to $1. 3 billion in FY 2024, the second-largest increase in cost among the 12 appropriations bills. The number of earmarks increased by 3. 3 percent, from 303 in FY 2023 to 313 in FY 2024.

$500,000,000 for 117 earmarks funding the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a 22. 5 percent increase from the 99 earmarks in FY 2023, and a 30. 2 percent increase from the $384 million provided in FY 2023. Since FY 2000, Congress has added 2,798 earmarks for the EPA, costing $4. 8 billion.

Seven million dollars have been set aside by Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Chris Van Hollen (D-Md) for watershed infrastructure projects in the Chesapeake Bay region. ), Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee member Ben Cardin (D-Md. ), Senate Appropriations Committee member Mark Warner (D-Va. ), Senate Environment and Public Works Committee member Tim Kaine (D-Va. ), Rep. Kweisi Mfume (D-Md. ), Rep. C. A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-Md. ), Rep. John Sarbanes (D-Md. ), House Appropriations Committee member Abigail Spanberger (D-Va. ), Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D-Va. ), Rep. Lloyd Smucker (R-Pa. ), and House appropriator David Trone (D-Md. $3,500,000 for projects to manage stormwater and stop flooding at the American River Parkway in Sacramento, California, by Doris Matsui (D-Calif.), a House appropriator ); and $1,600,000 for the Storm Water Infrastructure Improvement Project in Westfield, New Jersey by Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-N. J. ).

$236,127,000 for 52 earmarks for the National Park Service (NPS), a 21. 4 percent decrease in cost from the $300. 4 million earmarked in FY 2023, and the first reduction in cost since earmarks returned in FY 2022.

The largest NPS earmark, $48,960,000, went to the Pennsylvania Avenue Development Corporation, which Congress established in 1972. The earmark for FY 2024 is 64 percent bigger than the earmark for FY 2023, which was $29,880,000. It is also the organization’s biggest earmark ever.

The Pennsylvania Avenue Development Corporation hasn’t been seen since 1996, when it lost the power to issue notes or other debts. The group was supposed to give its records to the National Archives and Records Administration and its property and debts to the General Services Administration.

The earmark represents 20. 7 percent of the $236,127,000 in NPS earmarks, and 37 percent of the NPS’s $132. 2 million appropriation for this purpose in FY 2024. Since FY 2000, Congress has added 968 earmarks costing taxpayers $789 million for the NPS.

$99,705,000 for 27 earmarks funding the United States Forest Service (USFS), a 30. 2 percent increase from the $76. 6 million in FY 2023, and the most ever earmarked for the USFS.

One of the USFS’s designated funds is $2,000,000 to improve the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education in Brevard, North Carolina. This was requested by Chuck Edwards (R-N), a member of the House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee. C. ; Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Patty Murray (D-Wash.) gave $1,200,000 to the state of Nevada to help manage wildfire fuels in Nevada. and $1,000,000 for California’s Lake Solano County Park by Alex Padilla (D), a member of the Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee. ).

Since FY 1997, legislators have added 355 earmarks costing $467.7 million for the USFS.

$94,254,000 for 54 earmarks for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM ), a 94. 9 percent increase from the $48. 4 million earmarked in FY 2023, and the largest ever earmarked for the BLM. Since FY 1997, members of Congress have added 476 earmarks costing $428 million for the BLM.

Three-quarters of a billion dollars will go to the Nevada Conservation and Wilderness Fund for a project to restore and protect the Black Rock Desert-High Rock Canyon Emigrant Trails National Conservation Area. This money was set aside by Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Patty Murray (D-Washington). The Klamath Tribes will get $2,500,000 from Senate Appropriations Committee member Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) for the Aquatic Restoration Initiative. ; and $2,000,000 for Lassen County, California for the Central Lassen County Community Wildfire Protection Plan by Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.), a member of the House Appropriations Committee. ).

$90,208,000 for 63 earmarks funding the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), a 25. 7 percent increase from the $71. 8 million earmarked in FY 2023, and the most ever earmarked for the FWS.

Three million dollars will be given to the Concho River Water Conservancy District in Texas for the Concho River water conservation project by House Appropriations Committee member August Pfluger (R-Texas); two million dollars will be given to the State of Colorado for the Water Supply Security Project by Senate Appropriations Committee member Michael Bennet (D-Colorado). ) and Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-Colo. ); and $2,800,000 for the City of Athens, Ohio for the Athens Area Watershed Reclamation Project by Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio).

Since FY 1997, legislators have added 548 earmarks costing $523.5 million for the FWS.

VII LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND EDUCATION

In the FY 2024 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education (Labor/HHS) Appropriations Act, the cost of earmarks went up by 22%. 3 percent, from $2. 3 billion in FY 2023 to $2. 8 billion in FY 2024. The number of earmarks increased by 32. 1 percent, from 1,233 in FY 2023 to 1,629 in FY 2024.

$1,133,213,500 for 484 earmarks for the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), a 13. There will be 47% more earmarks than in FY 2023, and the cost will go up by 14% from $993 to $10,093. 8 million in FY 2023.

The HRSA earmarks include: $3,000,000 for the Alexandria Neighborhood Health Services, Inc. in Virginia by House appropriator Don Beyer (D-Va. ); $2,500,000 for Friends of the Children in Oregon by Senate Labor/HHS Appropriations Subcommittee member Jeff Merkley (D-Ore. ) and Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore. and $2,000,000 for the Angel Flight West Hangar and Administration Building at the John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, California by Michelle Steel (R-Calif.), who is in charge of the budget in the House. ).

The RSC’s FY 2024 budget proposed eliminating HRSA’s Health Workforce program, which would save $3. 9 billion over 10 years.

Since FY 2001, legislators have added 3,261 earmarks for HRSA, costing taxpayers $1.9 billion.

$804,566,000 for 361 earmarks funding the Fund for the Improvement of Education (FIE), a 32. 6 percent increase in the number of earmarks from the 272 in FY 2023, and a 30. 8 percent increase in cost from the $615. 3 million earmarked in FY 2023.

The FIE earmarks include: $2,000,000 for the George Washington University in Washington, D. C. , for the Energy Innovation Initiative by House appropriator Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D. C. ); $2,000,000 for the Topeka Center for Advanced Learning and Careers in Kansas by Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), a member of the Senate Labor/HHS Appropriations Subcommittee, asked for $1,500,000 for the SPARC Youth Art Lab and Leadership Program at the Social and Public Arts Resource Center in Venice, California. ) and Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif. ).

FIE earmarks have received criticism from across the political spectrum. In its FY 2006 budget, the Bush administration tried to get rid of the FIE, saying that the program “has outlived its usefulness.” The government’s FY 2008 Terminations, Reductions, and Savings plan wanted to get rid of the FIE because “the program has not demonstrated results.” ”.

Terminations, Reductions, and Savings for FY 2012 also said that the FIE should be gotten rid of because it “has not demonstrated clear results.” ”.

On March 11, 2011, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee approved legislation introduced by Sens. Richard Burr (R-N. C. ) and Tom Coburn (R-Okla. ) to eliminate 82 wasteful and duplicative programs. The bill, S. 446, included the FIE.

Since FY 2001, legislators have added 3,223 earmarks for the FIE, costing $1.8 billion.

$511,199,000 for 468 earmarks funding the Health Facilities Construction and Equipment (HFCE) program, a 30. 1 percent increase in the number of earmarks from the 360 earmarks in FY 2023, and a 35. 8 percent increase in cost from the $376. 5 million in FY 2023.

The HFCE includes $2,000,000 for the Allegany County, Maryland, Public Schools Allegany High School, Community and Workforce Development Center, given by Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), a member of the Senate Labor/HHS Appropriations Subcommittee. ) and Rep. David Trone (D-Md. ); $1,000,000 for the Bassett Hospital of Schoharie County, Inc. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), a member of the Senate Labor/HHS Appropriations Subcommittee, for the Bassett Healthcare Network Digital Connections in New York. Y. Katie Britt (R-Ala.), a member of the Senate Labor/HHS Appropriations Subcommittee, asked for $500,000 for the Mobile Infirmary Association for Women’s Wellness Center Mobile Services in Alabama. ).

Since FY 2001, members of Congress have added 1,886 earmarks for the HFCE program, costing $1.6 billion.

$195,567,500 for 316 earmarks funding the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE), a 46. 3 percent increase in the number of earmarks from the 216 in FY 2023, and a 38. 6 percent increase in cost from the $141. 1 million earmarked in FY 2023.

Senate Labor/HHS Appropriations Subcommittee member Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) set aside $1,500,000 for Kent State University in Ohio to create a Mental Health Scholars Program for Public School Counselors. House Labor/HHS Appropriations Subcommittee member David Rouzer (R-N.C.) set aside $1,000,000 for the University of North Carolina Wilmington to build an Offshore Wind Workforce Training Center. C. and $1,000,000 for Syracuse University in New York for the Institute for the Study of Outliers in Education by Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), a member of the Senate Labor/HHS Appropriations Subcommittee. Y. ).

In its FY 2018 Major Savings and Reforms report, the Trump administration said that getting rid of FIPSE would save $30 million in FY 2018 and $165 million over five years. The report stated that FIPSE is “unnecessary and duplicative,” and “has supported activities that other agencies fund. ”.

Since FY 2001, Congress has added 1,725 earmarks for FIPSE, costing $1.5 billion.

In the FY 2024 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, there were 4 less earmarks than in the previous year. 8 percent, from 42 in FY 2023 to 40 in FY 2024, while their cost increased by 37. 5 percent, from $1. 6 billion in FY 2023 to $2. 2 billion in FY 2024. The increase in the cost of earmarks is the largest among the 12 appropriations bills.

Sixteen barracks projects will get a total of $604 million. Two earmarks will pay for three projects at Fort Hood in Texas, with $299 million from Senate Appropriations Committee Member John Cornyn (R-Texas) and House Military Construction Appropriations Subcommittee Member Roger Williams (R-Texas), and four projects at Fort Campbell in Tennessee and Kentucky, with $192 million from Senate Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Mitch McConnell (R-Ky). ), House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Hal Rogers (R-Ky. ), Rep. James Comer (R-Ky. ), and House Appropriations Committee member Mark Green (R-Tenn. ).

Since FY 2000, members of Congress have added 89 earmarks for barracks projects, costing $5.7 billion.

Representative John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) have asked for $400,000,000 to be spent on a Medical Center Addition and Alteration project at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas. Veronica Escobar (D-Texas).

Senate Military Construction Appropriations Subcommittee member Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) and House Military Construction Appropriations Subcommittee member Jill Tokuda (D-Hawaii) signed off on a $250 million plan to build homes for soldiers who are stationed at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii.

Since FY 2000, members of Congress have added 37 earmarks for unaccompanied personnel housing projects, costing $1.4 billion.

Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Patty Murray (D-Wash) and House Military Construction Appropriations Subcommittee member Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) each gave $75 million for projects in Hawaii, and House Military Construction Appropriations Subcommittee member Jill Tokuda (D-Hawaii) did the same. Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Murray also gave $49 million for projects in Washington State. ) and House Military Construction Appropriations Subcommittee member Derek Kilmer (D-Wash. ).

The 2023 Military Construction FY 2023 Budget Overview stated that the Department of Defense (DOD) has a $2 billion backlog of critical CDC requirements. There have been 21 earmarks costing $699.8 million for CDCs added since FY 2000.

In FY 2017, former President Obama wanted the DOD’s military construction budget to go down by 5%. The Trump administration’s Major Savings and Reforms for FY 2021 called for a $686 million cut in spending on military construction.

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