FY 25 COMMUNITY PROJECTS REQUESTED
Congressman Raskin submitted the following Community Project Funding requests to the House Appropriations Committee for Fiscal Year 2025.
Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies
Strategic Reforestation and Habitat Restoration
Amount Requested: $680,000
Recipient: Montgomery County
Recipient Address: 101 Monroe Street, Rockville, MD 20850
Project Summary: With this funding, Montgomery County will plant 2,000 shade trees and structurally prune 1,000 previously planted shade trees on strategically selected county-owned land. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it will reduce soil erosion, enhance water supplies, improve water quality, and increase wildlife habitat.
Federal Nexus: This project has a Federal nexus because it is for the purposes authorized by the Soil Conservation and Allotment Domestic Act of 1935, 16 U.S. Code sections 590a-590d and 590f- g.
Signed Financial Disclosure and Federal Nexus Letter
Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies
Forensic Laboratory Capabilities Enhancement
Amount Requested: $1,477,000
Recipient: Montgomery County Police Department
Recipient Address: 100 Edison Park Drive, Gaithersburg, MD 20878
Project Summary: The funding would be used to procure technology and updated equipment for the forensic laboratory in order to reduce the backlog of cases awaiting analysis and to decrease the overall time required for each examination. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the information gathered by the acquired technology systems will provide information that can assist in the accurate and timely conviction of criminals and the exoneration of innocent citizens.
Federal Nexus: The project has a Federal nexus because the funding provided is for purposes authorized in section 1701(b)(8) of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. § 10381(b)(8)).
Signed Financial Disclosure and Federal Nexus Letter
Police Communications and Mental Health Dispatch Upgrades
Amount Requested: $800,000
Recipient: City of Takoma Park
Recipient Address: 7500 Maple Avenue, Takoma Park, MD 20912
Project Summary: The funding would establish a pilot program to expand and improve the Takoma Park Police Department’s mental health crisis response program. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it will improve community safety, and it will offer an appropriate and cost-effective response to mental health crises.
Federal Nexus: The project has a Federal nexus because the funding provided is for purposes authorized by section 501 of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. § 10152).
Signed Financial Disclosure and Federal Nexus Letter
Real Time Crime Center (RTCC) Enhancement
Amount Requested: $2,100,000
Recipient: Montgomery County Police Department
Recipient Address: 100 Edison Park Drive, Gaithersburg, MD 20878
Project Summary: This project will establish a Real Time Crime Center in Montgomery County to provide officers with intelligence such as real-time suspect movement, criminal information on detained suspects, and premises information for crime locations so that officers can make better and more efficient decisions. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the information gathered by the acquired technology systems will help officers make better and more efficient decisions in pursuit of enforcing laws and addressing violent crime.
Federal Nexus: The project has a Federal nexus because the funding provided is for purposes authorized by section 501 of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. § 10152).
Signed Financial Disclosure and Federal Nexus Letter
Homeland Security
Wheaton Branch Flood Mitigation
Amount Requested: $2,613,000
Recipient: Montgomery County
Recipient Address: 101 Monroe Street, Rockville, MD 20850
Project Summary: The funding would be used to reduce the risk of flooding of five homes, six additional residential properties, and Dennis Avenue, a major thoroughfare with an average daily traffic of 14,000 vehicles. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because repeated flooding affecting the area causes significant traffic delays and affects access to nearby medical facilities.
Federal Nexus: The project has a Federal nexus because the funding provided is for purposes authorized by section 203 of the Stafford Act (42 U.S.C. 5133), as amended by Section 1234, National Public Infrastructure Pre-Disaster Hazard Mitigation, of the Disaster Recovery Reform Act (DRRA) of 2018.
Signed Financial Disclosure and Federal Nexus Letter
Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies
Lead Service Line Inventory Investigation
Amount Requested: $491,571
Recipient: City of Rockville
Recipient Address: 111 Maryland Ave, Rockville MD, 20850
Project Summary: The funding would be used to identify 8,256 service lines comprised of currently unknown materials, posing a threat to Rockville's water safety and compliance with Safe Drinking Water Act. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it will support a comprehensive inventory, safeguarding public health and ensuring long-term water safety for Rockville residents.
Federal Nexus: The project has a Federal nexus because the funding provided is for purposes authorized by Section 1452 of the Safe Drinking Water Act, 42 U.S.C. 300j-12.
Signed Financial Disclosure and Federal Nexus Letter
Orangeburg Lateral Replacement
Amount Requested: $2,520,000
Recipient: City of Rockville
Recipient Address: 111 Maryland Ave, Rockville MD, 20850
Project Summary: The funding would be used to replace aging and failing Orangeburg pipes that threaten residents with sewage backups, overflows, and ground contamination. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because installing new, reliable infrastructure would prevent costly emergencies, protect residents from harmful sewage exposure, and ensure a cleaner environment for the community.
Federal Nexus: The project has a Federal nexus because the funding provided is for purposes authorized by Title VI of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C 1381 et seq.
Signed Financial Disclosure and Federal Nexus Letter
Wastewater Collection System Rehabilitation
Amount Requested: $2,416,000
Recipient: City of Rockville
Recipient Address: 111 Maryland Ave, Rockville MD, 20850
Project Summary: The funding will rehabilitate 54,196 linear feet of aging wastewater pipes in Southeast Rockville. This is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the project will prevent sewage backups that threaten public health and safety, damage private property, and pollute our waterways.
Federal Nexus: The project has a Federal nexus because the funding provided is for purposes authorized by Title VI of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C 1381 et seq.
Signed Financial Disclosure and Federal Nexus Letter
Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies
Energy Efficiency Retrofit for Under-Resourced Buildings
Amount Requested: $3,000,000
Recipient: Montgomery County
Recipient Address: 101 Monroe Street, Rockville, MD 20850
Project Summary: This project would improve whole-building energy efficiency and replace fossil fuel heating, water heating, and cooking equipment in up to 10 large, under-resourced multifamily properties. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it will address a barrier to the completion of efficient, modernizing energy upgrades in multifamily and affordable housing, connecting residents to the public health benefits of enhanced indoor air quality and reducing energy cost burdens.
Federal Nexus: The project has a Federal nexus because the funding provided is consistent with purposes authorized in 42 U.S.C.5305(a)(1), 5305(a)(2), 5305(a)(4), and/or 5305(a)(5).
Signed Financial Disclosure and Federal Nexus Letter
Flex On-Demand Microtransit Vehicles
Amount Requested: $2,000,000
Recipient: Montgomery County
Recipient Address: 101 Monroe Street, Rockville, MD 20850
Project Summary: This project would purchase new zero emission microtransit vehicles to provide first/last mile transit connections in suburban Montgomery County. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the project will improve regional access, reduce traffic, support regional economic development, and assist in achieving the County's long term transit growth and sustainability goals.
Federal Nexus: The project has a Federal nexus because the funding provided is for purposes authorized by chapter 53 of title 49 of the United States Code.
Signed Financial Disclosure and Federal Nexus Letter
Low-Income Home Weatherization Project
Amount Requested: $1,500,000
Recipient: Montgomery County
Recipient Address: 101 Monroe Street, Rockville, MD 20850
Project Summary: The funding would be used to remediate health and safety problems in low-income homes that are required before weatherization work can begin. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it will reduce energy burdens for income-eligible homes, improve indoor air quality and prevent disrepair.
Federal Nexus: The project has a Federal nexus because the funding provided is consistent with purposes authorized in 42 U.S.C.5305(a)(1), 5305(a)(2), 5305(a)(4), and/or 5305(a)(5).
Signed Financial Disclosure and Federal Nexus Letter
Rooftop Solar for Parking Garages
Amount Requested: $2,750,000
Recipient: Montgomery County
Recipient Address: 101 Monroe Street, Rockville, MD 20850
Project Summary: This project will fund solar installations on the rooftops of Montgomery County-owned parking garages. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it capitalizes on the otherwise untapped value of this real estate, offset the energy required to operate these facilities and lower operating costs for parking rate payers. Affordable parking will ensure the shopping areas served by these parking garages are attractive options for consumers.
Federal Nexus: The funding provided is consistent with purposes authorized in 42 U.S.C.5305(a)(1), 5305(a)(2), 5305(a)(4), and/or 5305(a)(5).
Signed Financial Disclosure and Federal Nexus Letter
Security Cameras for Parking Garages
Amount Requested: $ 2,757,000
Recipient: Montgomery County
Recipient Address: 101 Monroe Street, Rockville, MD 20850
Project Summary: The project will fund additional cameras and other electronic surveillance apparatus to cover previously excluded fields of view of the parking decks, pedestrian and vehicular access points, increasing safety and security of Montgomery County-owned parking garages. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it will deter criminal activity within and surrounding Montgomery County-owned parking garages and increase public confidence in parking safety and security.
Federal Nexus: The funding provided is consistent with purposes authorized in 42 U.S.C.5305(a)(1), 5305(a)(2), 5305(a)(4), and/or 5305(a)(5).
Signed Financial Disclosure and Federal Nexus Letter
US 29 Critical Bike & Pedestrian/Safety Improvements
Amount Requested: $400,000
Recipient: Montgomery County
Recipient Address: 101 Monroe Street, Rockville, MD 20850.
Project Summary: This project will facilitate first and last mile connections to the Flash BRT station located along Lockwood Drive at Oak Leaf Drive. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because these improvements will expand the existing pedestrian and bicycle network by addressing critical safety issues, filling network gaps and upgrading existing facilities to current standards.
Federal Nexus: The funding provided is consistent with purposes authorized in 42 U.S.C.5305(a)(1), 5305(a)(2), 5305(a)(4), and/or 5305(a)(5).
Signed Financial Disclosure and Federal Nexus Letter
Zero Emission Bus (ZEB) Procurement
Amount Requested: $2,456,000
Recipient: Montgomery County
Recipient Address: 101 Monroe Street, Rockville, MD 20850
Project Summary: This project will fund the procurement of new zero-emission buses to replace old and outdated diesel and compressed natural gas buses. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the new buses will advance the County’s Ride On Reimagined program and will reduce the harmful air pollutants released by existing diesel buses, which currently serve the county’s most densely populated communities. The transition to zero-emission vehicles will have an immediate positive health benefit for these communities.
Federal Nexus: The funding provided is for purposes authorized by chapter 53 of title 49 of the United States Code.