Rep. Carson Secures Big Wins for Indianapolis in Omnibus Package

WASHINGTON, DC—Today, Representative André Carson (IN-07) voted to pass the FY’23 Omnibus Appropriations bill, that includes approximately $2.7 billion in Carson-led funding.

This government-wide funding bill will keep critical services and operations running through the next fiscal year. The package will now head to President Biden for signature.

“As millions prepare to celebrate the holidays, Congress has been working to ensure critical services remain open through next year,” said Rep. Carson. “I’m proud that several initiatives I led are included in the final package. These appropriations reflect the goals and priorities of my constituents, especially for hardworking, middle-class families who deserve to know their government is looking out for them.”

Highlights include NIH research funds to find cures and treatment for many illnesses; local funding for community-led projects that impact youth and vulnerable populations; protection against natural disasters; and financial literacy education. A breakdown of this funding is listed below.

• $18.3 million in local community projects in Indianapolis. Fifteen projects requested from local groups will be funded in total. A full list of the Indianapolis projects can be found here. Projects include:
  • Afterschool programming
  • Support to children and families affected by substance misuse
  • Investments in parks
  • Job training for youth and adults
  • Infrastructure improvements from the airport to Market Street reconstruction
• A $2.5 billion increase to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), including research to find cures and treatments for diseases that affect millions of Americans. This bipartisan effort led by Rep. Carson brings the total NIH budget to $47.459 billion. This funding will help spur economic growth, create jobs, and support lower healthcare costs.
• $15 million in funding for Pancreatic Cancer Research led by Rep. Carson. Pancreatic Cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths, disproportionately affecting Black Americans. This funding is imperative for finding innovative ways for early detection.
• $1,500,000 per state for Pre-Disaster Mitigation projects administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) programs to save lives by preventing and mitigating damage from natural disasters and the impacts of climate change. Estimates show that for every $1 invested in these kinds of programs, $11 are saved in post-disaster and related costs.
• The inclusion of financial literacy education for at-risk groups. Rep. Carson led the inclusion of language to ensure Department of Education initiatives will address the low level of financial literacy among the adults, plus primary and secondary students in the U.S. The ultimate goal is to educate and empower consumers to make better-informed financial decisions.
• $150,000 for the historic establishment of an interfaith space in the U.S. House, led by Rep. Carson. Space has been available for Members of Congress, but not for staff and House employees, so he worked to create a space for prayer and meditation in House for staff of all faiths.

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