WASHINGTON, D.C. — On March 6, U.S. Representative Mark Pocan (WI-02), a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, celebrated the House passage of six of the twelve appropriations bills for Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24). These six bills include all twelve of Rep. Pocan’s earmarks, totaling $11,568,717.
“Today is a great day for South Central Wisconsin. This funding legislation provides a major investment in our economy, making a real difference in communities across Wisconsin and the country,” said Congressman Pocan. “I’m pleased that 12 Community Project Funding awards for Wisconsin’s 2nd Congressional District are now headed to the Senate. These projects will reach every corner of the district, and I look forward to seeing their impact for years to come. I urge the Senate to pass this bill immediately and send it to President Biden’s desk.”
Among the items in the FY24 Minibus Appropriations bill are $1 million for the Green County Family YMCA to support a 50,000-square-foot expansion to the current facility. There is also another $155,000 set aside for the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office to support the procurement of vital scanning equipment to improve the safety and security of individuals and staff at the county corrections facility.
Other provisions benefiting Wisconsin’s 2nd Congressional District, include:
● $3,000,000 for The River Food Pantry to support the construction of a new food pantry facility that can serve over 13,000 people from low-income and underserved communities throughout Dane County.
● $1,396,913 for the Dane County Agricultural Digester to upgrade the filtration system to reduce agricultural-related runoff and improve the water quality of the Yahara Watershed.
● $1,119,365 for the Badger Prairie Needs Network Food Pantry to support the renovation of an existing food pantry facility to increase food storage capacity and add workspace to allow BPNN to meet increased demand for food assistance.
● $1,000,000 for the Urban League Healthy Food Entrepreneurship Project to support the construction of a new space within the Black Business Hub to support BIPOC food entrepreneurs.
● $1,000,000 for UW-Madison Ag Research Infrastructure Improvements Project to support upgrades to outdated research facilities utilized by USDA Ag Research Service and University researchers.
● $963,000 for the UW-Madison PFAS Center of Excellence to upgrade analytical equipment that supports research in the University’s new Center of Excellence in PFAS Environmental Science.
● $800,000 for the Baraboo Boys & Girls Club to rehabilitate and repurpose an existing, underutilized building in Baraboo to serve as the new location for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Baraboo.
● $500,000 for the DeForest Windsor Fire & EMS Station No. 2 to support the construction of a new Fire and EMS Station to better ensure the public safety of the surrounding communities.
● $334,439 for the Evansville Highway-Rail Crossings Project to support improvements of the Madison Street and Main Street highway-rail grade crossings to improve safe passage and enhanced mobility for pedestrian and vehicle traffic in Evansville.
● $300,000 for the Southwest Tech Outreach Campus Land Acquisition to support land acquisition to serve as the site for a new multipurpose workforce education and training center to serve rural Southwest Wisconsin.