Wittman Secures Funding for Virginia’s First District

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-01) highlighted the House passage of four Community Project Funding (CPF) requests for the First District: $1.6 million for the Virginia Institute of Marine Science's (VIMS) Center of Excellence in Environmental Forecasting (CoEEF), $448,559 for public safety radio system upgrade and regional interoperability enhancements in Mathews County, $295,000 for the Physical and Cyber Security Improvements for Public Water System project in Williamsburg, and $2 million for Winter Harbor Dredging in Mathews County.

"Last week, I secured millions in Community Project Funding to bring federal dollars back home to Virginia's First District - strengthening public safety, protecting drinking water, supporting working waterfronts, and boosting coastal resilience," said Rep. Wittman. "These are real results for our communities. I am proud to support these projects and will continue working to see them across the finish line."

Rep. Wittman secured $1.6 million to establish a Center of Excellence in Environmental Forecasting at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS). This funding will support advanced environmental forecasting and modeling tools that help coastal communities prepare for flooding, storms, and environmental change. These tools will improve emergency planning, strengthen resilience, and generate long-term cost savings for local, state, and federal agencies-benefiting millions of Americans who live and work along our coasts.

Rep. Wittman also secured $295,000 to strengthen the physical and cyber security of Williamsburg's public water system. Bad actors-both foreign and domestic-are increasingly targeting critical infrastructure across the United States. This funding helps protect drinking water facilities from cyber intrusions and physical threats, ensuring tens of thousands of Virginians continue to have access to clean, safe drinking water while preventing costly disruptions down the road.

Funding secured by Rep. Wittman will deliver $2 million for Winter Harbor dredging in Mathews County. Severe shoaling has made navigation increasingly difficult for recreational and commercial vessels. This project will support the maintenance dredging of the harbor which has not been dredged since 2009-2010 and which has experienced severe shoaling over the last 15 years. By reestablishing navigable depths in Winter Harbor, recreational and commercial vessels who use its working waterfronts and many piers, marinas, and boat ramps will have access to safe, navigable waters that lead to the Chesapeake Bay.

Community Project Funding (CPF) allows Members of Congress to bring tax dollars back home for district-specific priorities. Members have firsthand knowledge of their district's needs and can prioritize federal funding for the most critical local projects-rather than leaving those decisions to unelected bureaucrats in Washington who lack a direct connection to the community. For Congressman Wittman, these projects address clear and present needs in communities across Virginia and enjoy broad support. The federal dollars designated for CPF projects exist within existing budget limits, reinforcing Congress's control over the power of the purse. Rather than allowing that money to fund projects in different states, Community Project Funding gives Congressman Wittman the ability to empower Virginians by ensuring they have a critical voice in determining where funding goes.