Van Hollen, Alsobrooks Announce Nearly $70 Million for Maryland Infrastructure and Community Development Projects

Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD), and Senator Angela Alsobrooks, a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (both D-Md.) announced $69,498,878 in direct federal funding for 46 community-led projects throughout Maryland within the fiscal year 2026 THUD appropriations bill - which was enacted into law as part of a 5-bill government funding package passed by Congress and signed into law in February. These investments in local projects - submitted and secured by the Senators - support community and economic development as well as improvements to public transit and trail networks.

"Federal dollars can make a big impact when we invest them directly in projects that support our communities' needs. That's why we fought to deliver these federal funds to local priorities - from developing affordable housing to building safer transportation infrastructure to improving access to services that help Marylanders thrive. We worked hard to secure the investments in this legislation to ensure it reflects the needs of Marylanders and our communities," said Senator Chris Van Hollen, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

"During the March on Washington, Rabbi Joachim Prinz so wisely reminded us that 'Neighbor is not a geographic term. It is a moral concept.' Here in Maryland, we are all neighbors, and that is why Senator Van Hollen and I were so determined to secure federal funding for community hubs and affordable, safe housing. Every Marylander deserves to live in a safe place where they can thrive and grow, and our over $69 million for Maryland in the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill invests in our neighbors - in upgraded infrastructure for transportation, in outdoor recreation, in youth centers, and in so much more," said Senator Alsobrooks.

Highlights for Maryland in the Fiscal Year 2026 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Funding Bill

Congressionally Directed Spending

Project Name: Aberdeen Activity Center Outdoor Recreation Improvements
Applicant: City of Aberdeen
Project Description: Funds will be used to construct an ADA-accessible playground, walking trail, and multi-purpose field at a new City Activity Center that will provide outdoor recreation opportunities for the community.
Project Location: Harford County
Amount Included: $300,000

Project Name: Amherst Affordable Housing Redevelopment
Applicant: Montgomery Housing Partnership, Inc.
Project Description: Funds will be used to redevelop the Amherst into a modern, energy-efficient, and affordable community. This project will add affordable units for low- to moderate-income families, supporting Montgomery County's affordable housing needs.
Project Location: Montgomery County
Amount Included: $1,000,000

Project Name: Artists Flats Apartments
Applicant: Howard County
Project Description: Funds will be used to support construction of mixed-income development that will provide affordable housing for low-and moderate-income individuals and families.
Project Location: Howard County
Amount Included: $2,000,000

Project Name: Baltimore Regional Trail Hub
Applicant: South Baltimore Gateway Community Impact District Management Authority
Project Description: Funds will be used to create a trail link needed to connect existing and planned trails in South Baltimore and around the region. The trails provide access to the newly built Middle Branch Health and Wellness Facility and the MedStar Harbor Hospital.
Project Location: Baltimore City
Amount Included: $3,000,000

Project Name: Bowie State MARC Station Joint Development Project
Applicant: Maryland Department of Transportation
Project Description: The Bowie State MARC Station Joint Development Project will enhance transit access, housing, and economic growth by delivering commuter spaces, residential units, and MARC station improvements. This investment will catalyze development and support Bowie State University's expansion while fostering a vibrant mixed-use community. This initiative is one of the initial cornerstones of the Penn Line Transit Oriented Development Strategy, designed to transform the Station into a vibrant, mixed-use, and transit-oriented community. The project will enhance public transportation, increase access to affordable housing, and stimulate economic growth through sustainable, community-focused development.
Project Location: Prince George's County
Amount Included: $250,000

Project Name: Capital Improvements
Applicant: Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland, Inc.
Project Description: Funds will be used to construct a state-of-the-art-kitchen in the new Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland headquarters. The new facility will allow for expansion of program services for low-income, elderly adults with a meal production facility, storage space and an accessible loading dock.
Project Location: Baltimore City
Amount Included: $1,500,000

Project Name: Carroll Community College Applied Technology and Trades Center
Applicant: Carroll Community College
Project Description: Funds will be used to establish a new Applied Technology and Trades Center to address critical workforce shortages among tradespeople in the fields of manufacturing, welding, plumbing, carpentry, and automotive/electric vehicle maintenance and repair.
Project Location: Carroll County
Amount Included: $850,000

Project Name: Cedar Lane Senior Living Community Phase IV Development
Applicant: Cedar Lane Senior Living Community III Inc.
Project Description: Funds will support Cedar Lane Phase IV, an affordable senior housing complex that will add new housing units with activities and services for Maryland's senior citizens.
Project Location: St. Mary's County
Amount Included: $1,500,000

Project Name: Cheverly MD 201 Bike Trail
Applicant: Town of Cheverly
Project Description: Funds will be used to construct a shared-use path along MD 201 for safer pedestrian and bicyclist travel.
Project Location: Prince George's County
Amount Included: $650,000

Project Name: Chimes Home Safety and Accessibility Renovation
Applicant: The Chimes Foundation, Inc.
Project Description: Funds will be used to construct and renovate homes for people with physical and developmental disabilities in order to support greater independence for residents.
Project Location: Baltimore City
Amount Included: $1,000,000

Project Name: Community Center Renovation
Applicant: Maryland Deaf Community Center
Project Description: Funds will be used to support the renovation of the Maryland Deaf Community Center in Frederick, MD. The Center will provide deaf and hard of hearing people throughout the state with a space to access resources, educational, cultural, and social programs.
Project Location: Frederick County
Amount Included: $500,000

Project Name: Community Center Revitalization Project
Applicant: Robert W. Johnson Community Center
Project Description: Funds will be used to support urgent repairs and renovations to the longstanding community hub serving youth, families, and seniors in Hagerstown. These improvements will preserve a vital local institution, enhance programs, and address infrastructure needs.
Project Location: Washington County
Amount Included: $500,000

Project Name: Community Food Center Renovation
Applicant: AfriThrive Inc.
Project Description: Funds will be used to upgrade and renovate a community kitchen, cold storage, and food pantry in Essex, Maryland to support low-income families in the region.
Project Location: Montgomery County
Amount Included: $800,000

Project Name: Crownsville Meyer Building Rehabilitation
Applicant: Anne Arundel County
Project Description: Funds will be used to remediate and rehabilitate the Meyer Building at the Crownsville Hospital Memorial Park to provide the community with essential amenity and support spaces as well as crucial health and wellness services.
Project Location: Anne Arundel County
Amount Included: $3,150,000

Project Name: Easterseals Hagerstown Child Development Center
Applicant: Easterseals DC MD VA, Inc.
Project Description: Funds will be used to purchase and renovate a building to address the lack of childcare availability in Washington County. This facility will accommodate children ages 6-weeks to 4-years-old and meet a critical need in a county with no accredited child development centers.
Project Location: Washington County
Amount Included: $2,000,000

Project Name: Echoes from the Key Bridge
Applicant: Baltimore Museum of Industry
Project Description: Funds will be used to support an initiative to collect stories and memories to document the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse and its impact on the Port of Baltimore. This historical information and perspective will be the basis of an exhibition and a school curriculum on the Port's importance.
Project Location: Baltimore City
Amount Included: $730,000

Project Name: Enhancing Eastern Shore Freight Rail Growth and Reliability Project
Applicant: Maryland Department of Transportation
Project Description: Funds will be used for improvements to the Centreville and Chestertown freight rail lines in Kent and Queen Anne's Counties. Several businesses on the Eastern Shore rely on these rail lines. Functioning freight rail lines will help reduce the number of trucks on the roads.
Project Location: Kent County, Queen Anne's County
Amount Included: $8,000,000

Project Name: Essex Branch Construction
Applicant: Baltimore County Public Library
Project Description: Funds will support the construction of a new Baltimore County Public Library branch in an underserved community on the east side of the county. This building will replace the current branch, which is inadequate in size and lacks the modern amenities residents need.
Project Location: Baltimore County
Amount Included: $2,000,000

Project Name: Facilities Upgrades and Equipment for Public Safety During Storms
Applicant: Howard County
Project Description: Funds will be used to update and improve the North Laurel Community Center and Elkridge 50+ Center which serve as warming and cooling centers and emergency shelters during emergencies.
Project Location: Howard County
Amount Included: $1,250,000

Project Name: Frederick Youth Center
Applicant: City of Frederick
Project Description: Funds will be used for construction-related furnishings, fixtures, and equipment. This includes interior and exterior elements such as security systems, gym equipment, technology infrastructure, furniture, maker-space tools, and other site amenities essential to supporting a safe and engaging environment for youth.
Project Location: Frederick County
Amount Included: $3,000,000

Project Name: Gaithersburg Pedestrian Safety Improvements
Applicant: City of Gaithersburg
Project Description: Funds will be used for multimodal safety improvements on streets in and adjacent to Olde Towne Gaithersburg, based on the highest-priority recommendations from the City's 2024 Safe Routes to School study on three local public schools.
Project Location: Montgomery County
Amount Included: $1,000,000

Project Name: Greenbelt Springhill Lake Recreation Center Expansion/Addition
Applicant: City of Greenbelt
Project Description: Funds will be used to maximize Springhill Lake Recreation Center's programmable space to allow expansion of after-school and summer programs, meet quality childcare needs, and add STEAM activities. Currently, staff struggle to meet community needs due to limited space.
Project Location: Prince George's County
Amount Included: $250,000

Project Name: Greenbelt Youth Center Roof Replacement
Applicant: City of Greenbelt
Project Description: Funds will be used to replace the water-damaged roof at the Youth Center, a community space and home to summer camps, preschool program, and the Greenbelt Boys & Girls Club.
Project Location: Prince George's County
Amount Included: $1,554,969

Project Name: Guilford Road Pedestrian / Bicycle Improvements, Phase 3
Applicant: Howard County
Project Description: Funds will be used for the construction of a shared use path along Guilford Road, between Oakland Mills Road and Carroll Heights Avenue.
Project Location: Howard County
Amount Included: $2,000,000

Project Name: Home and Building Renovations and Accessible Vehicles
Applicant: The Arc Baltimore
Project Description: Funds will be used to make improvements at the Arc's employment center and to address high-priority repairs and accessibility modifications for several homeowners. Funds will also support vehicle modifications for individuals with developmental disabilities of low to moderate income.
Project Location: Baltimore County
Amount Included: $644,000

Project Name: Housing Authority of the City of College Park MD Renovation of Attick Towers Apartments
Applicant: Housing Authority of the City of College Park
Project Description: Funds will be used for building upgrades.
Project Location: Prince George's County
Amount Included: $3,150,000

Project Name: Infrastructure Improvements and Upgrades at The Flat Iron Building, Phase 2
Applicant: Town of Mount Airy
Project Description: Funds will support Phase 2 of the building's restoration which will provide structural stabilization and interior and exterior improvements-all critical to its long-term preservation.
Project Location: Carroll County
Amount Included: $850,000

Project Name: Ivy Village Incubator for Nonprofit Excellence
Applicant: The Ivy Community Charities of Prince George's County, Inc.
Project Description: Funds will be used to support construction of community facilities to house an accelerator program with training, coaching, and networking opportunities to help build the capacity of emerging nonprofits in the County.
Project Location: Prince George's County
Amount Included: $2,000,000

Project Name: LAYC Prince George's County Site Renovation
Applicant: Latin American Youth Center
Project Description: Funds will be used to renovate the Latin American Youth Center in Riverdale, which will allow for the expansion of services for youth and their families, including housing counseling, workforce development, mental health services, and education programs.
Project Location: Prince George's County
Amount Included: $1,500,000

Project Name: Low-Income Home Weatherization Project
Applicant: Montgomery County
Project Description: Funds will be used to repair homes owned by low-income individuals with the goal of increasing participation in Maryland weatherization programs and reducing electric and heating bills.
Project Location: Montgomery County
Amount Included: $850,000

Project Name: North Prince George's County Animal Shelter
Applicant: Prince George's County
Project Description: Funds will be used to design and construct a new animal shelter to expand access to veterinary services and animal adoption for residents.
Project Location: Prince George's County
Amount Included: $850,000

Project Name: Parity Homes Strategic Acquisition Fund
Applicant: Parity Baltimore Incorporated
Project Description: Funds will be used to purchase vacant and blighted properties for rehabilitation in order to transform convert them into affordable homes.
Project Location: Baltimore City
Amount Included: $1,524,000

Project Name: Revitalize Hanover Street: Bridging Futures Transforming South Baltimore Neighborhoods
Applicant: Baltimore City
Project Description: Funds will be used to complete survey, engineering, and environmental review work for the 104-year-old Hanover Street Bridge in order to determine the most effective method to address the aging structure.
Project Location: Baltimore City
Amount Included: $500,000

Project Name: Sidewalks for All: The Downtown Frederick Streetscape Project
Applicant: City of Frederick
Project Description: Funds will be used to complete utility upgrades and design for the Downtown Frederick Streetscape project, which will increase safety, improve pedestrian access, and support visitors and local businesses in Downtown Frederick.
Project Location: Frederick County
Amount Included: $2,478,000

Project Name: Southern Maryland Rapid Transit (SMRT)
Applicant: Charles County
Project Description: Funds will be used to complete the environmental review process for the development of a transit service from the Branch Avenue Metro Station in Camp Springs to Waldorf/White Plains, which would reduce traffic congestion, improve local commuting and increase mobility in Southern Maryland.
Project Location: Charles County, Prince George's County
Amount Included: $5,000,000

Project Name: Taney Avenue Senior Center and Senior Affordable Housing
Applicant: Frederick County
Project Description: Funds will support the redevelopment of an over 50 year-old Community Center in Frederick, allowing for the continuation and expansion of services for older residents and the addition of affordable housing for seniors on the property.
Project Location: Frederick County
Amount Included: $1,000,000

Project Name: The Arc Prince George's County Affordable Housing Rehabilitation/Preservation
Applicant: The Redevelopment Authority of Prince George's County
Project Description: Rehabilitate housing units for low-income persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities, empowering these individuals to live more independently in their homes.
Project Location: Prince George's County
Amount Included: $1,840,909

Project Name: The Arc Prince George's County Full-Service Community Center
Applicant: The Redevelopment Authority of Prince George's County
Project Description: Funds will be used to renovate a building to serve as a new community hub for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. The site will include an adult medical day program, outreach/education for children, benefits enrollment center, and job training.
Project Location: Prince George's County
Amount Included: $850,000

Project Name: The Reisterstown Main Street Lamppost Replacements
Applicant: Reisterstown Main Street
Project Description: Funds will be used to replace deteriorating street lampposts in order to enhance safety and visibility.
Project Location: Baltimore County
Amount Included: $250,000

Project Name: The Sanctuary Garden
Applicant: Sanctuary AP3 Co.
Project Description: Funds will be used to support critical pre-construction activities for new affordable housing units for low-income seniors and families.
Project Location: Prince George's County
Amount Included: $2,000,000

Project Name: Thompson Creek Connector Road & Trail Extension
Applicant: Queen Anne's County Commissioners
Project Description: Funds will be used for the design, engineering, permitting, &construction of the Thompson Creek Connector Road & Trail Extensions on MD Route 8. The new roadway in Stevensville will have an adjacent pedestrian &bicycle trail to improve safety and reduce congestion around the US50/301 interchange.
Project Location: Queen Anne's County
Amount Included: $1,416,000

Project Name: Town of Easton Rails To Trails Expansion
Applicant: Town of Easton
Project Description: Funds will be used to expand the existing trail system to enhance connectivity and provide walkable access to community services and multimodal transportation options for residents and visitors.
Project Location: Talbot County
Amount Included: $411,000

Project Name: US 29 Safety and Transit Access Improvements
Applicant: Montgomery County Department of Transportation
Project Description: Funds will be used to construct cyclist and pedestrian safety improvements near a Flash Bus Rapid Transit Station in Montgomery County in order to improve transportation options for commuters and residents.
Project Location: Montgomery County
Amount Included: $500,000

Project Name: West Baltimore MARC Station Replacement
Applicant: Maryland Department of Transportation
Project Description: Funds will be used to complete the renovation of the West Baltimore MARC Station, including restrooms, waiting rooms, lighting, and communications systems to improve service and access for residents, commuters, and travelers using on the MARC Penn Line.
Project Location: Baltimore City
Amount Included: $250,000

Project Name: Workforce Development & Technical Training Center
Applicant: Montgomery County
Project Description: Funds will be used to transform underutilized and vacant space into a vocational training hub, equipping low-income workers with skills in construction, healthcare, and energy.
Project Location: Montgomery County
Amount Included: $2,000,000

Project Name: YMCA Great Mills
Applicant: Commissioners of St. Mary's County
Project Description: Funds will be used to construct a multi-use YMCA recreation center in Lexington Park that will enhance the quality of life for residents of St. Mary's County through wellness and fitness programs and multi-generational programming.
Project Location: St. Mary's County
Amount Included: $850,000

Additional priorities secured by the Senators in the FY26 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies funding bill include:

Transportation Highlights

Department of Transportation (DOT): The bill provides $111.8 billion in total resources for the Department of Transportation, of which $83.3 billion is from obligation limitations and $28.5 billion is provided in discretionary resources. This amount includes significant new funding to help the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) maintain a safe and efficient air traffic control system, while strengthening the safety of our rail and maritime network and supporting capital investments to improve the state of good repair of our transit systems. The bill strengthens Congress' control over how funds are spent, including transparency measures about the modification or termination of grants, contracts, and loans, and the closure of regional, division, or field offices.

Aviation: The bill provides $22.6 billion for the FAA, an increase of $1.6 billion over fiscal year 2025. This includes:

• The bill provides $2 million for an independent study on the airspace in the National Capital Region and the coordination between the FAA and Department of Defense in response to the tragic Flight 5342 accident in January 2025.
• $13.7 billion for FAA operations, which will allow the FAA to hire 2,500 air traffic controllers and 91 new aviation safety inspectors and engineers.
• $4 billion for FAA facilities and equipment to continue efforts to modernize the Air Traffic Control system. The bill requires the FAA Administrator to provide monthly updates on these efforts in order to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse.
• $4.5 billion for Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grants to improve airport infrastructure and safety, of which $4 billion is from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund.
• The bill also provides $514 million for the Essential Air Service (EAS) program, rejecting President Trump's budget request to cut the program by 50%, and it prevents DOT from haphazardly terminating any EAS contracts.

Highways and Bridges: The bill provides $65.8 billion for federal-aid highways, which includes $63.4 billion in funding from the Highway Trust Fund, and an additional $2.4 billion for Highway Infrastructure Programs. The bill provides $30 million for the Reconnecting Communities grant program, a program modeled off of provisions of legislation led by Senator Van Hollen and included in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 to reconnect communities isolated and excluded from economic opportunity by past infrastructure decisions. The Senator and Federal Team Maryland have worked to deliver over $95 million from the Reconnecting Communities Program to Maryland since its creation - including an $85 million grant for the first phase of the Highway to Nowhere redevelopment project in West Baltimore. In addition, the bill provides $350 million for a competitive bridge bundling grant program, $200 million for truck parking grants, and $10 million for the National Scenic Byways program.

Amtrak and Rail Safety: The bill provides a total of $2.9 billion for the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). This includes $2.4 billion to fully meet Amtrak's funding request, rejecting House Republicans' proposal to zero out new funding for Amtrak. These resources will allow Amtrak to sustain operations and current service levels, maintain a state of good repair, and safely get passengers to their destinations. In addition, the bill provides $65 million for the Federal-State Partnership grant program and $137 million for the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements grant program (CRISI). Over the past six years, Federal Team Maryland has secured over $170 million from the CRISI program for passenger and freight rail infrastructure projects in the state of Maryland.

Washington Union Station: The bill includes $5 million for the rehabilitation and repair of the Union Station complex and language allowing the Union Station Redevelopment Corporation to apply for Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail grant funding.

Transit Infrastructure: The bill provides $16.7 billion for the Federal Transit Administration, which includes $14.6 billion in funding from the Highway Trust Fund and $1.7 billion for Capital Investment Grants (CIG)-rejecting House Republicans' proposal to slash CIG funding by 98%-to a mere $54 million-in their bill. When combined with available prior fiscal year funds and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act advanced appropriations, a total of $3.7 billion is available for Capital Investment Grants in fiscal year 2026, and unlike the fiscal year 2025 continuing resolution, the bill specifies which projects to fund at what amount. In addition, the bill provides $45 million for urban and rural ferry grants, $15 million to assist large urban transit agencies in improving safety and security in transit systems, and a combined $195 million to help host cities throughout the country provide transit service in support of the 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Maritime Administration: The bill provides $1 billion for the Maritime Administration, including $201.5 million for the United States Merchant Marine Academy, of which $50 million is for capital improvements; $139 million for State Maritime Academies, of which $110 million is for the National Security Multi-Mission Vessel Program; $35 million for the Small Shipyards Grant Program; and $103 million is for the Port Infrastructure Development Program. Federal Team Maryland has delivered more than $96 million from this program for infrastructure projects at and around the Port of Baltimore over the past six years.

The bill also provides a combined $482 million for three maritime security programs that provide the Department of Defense with critical supply chain logistics and refueling needs support.

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA): The bill provides $309.5 million for the PHMSA, which includes $214.8 million for pipeline safety and $66 million for hazardous materials safety.

Housing Highlights

Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD): The bill provides $84.3 billion in programmatic funding for HUD, a historic $7.2 billion increase above fiscal year 2025, while President Trump wanted to cut funding for the agency in half. This total amount is offset by $6.9 billion in receipts and collections for a net funding level of $77.3 billion. The bill invests in maintaining rental assistance programs that millions of Americans rely on, building more affordable housing, and reducing homelessness. It also includes transparency measures about the modification or termination of grants and contracts, and the closure of field offices.

Invests in Community Development Programs: The bill provides $46 million, a $4 million increase over FY25 and $30 million over the president's budget request, for the Capacity Building for Community Development and Affordable Housing Program, which enhances the capacity of community development corporations (CDCs) and community housing development organizations (CHDOs) to carry out community development and affordable housing activities that benefit low-income communities.

Protecting Rental Assistance Programs: The bill rejects President Trump's devastating proposal to slash HUD's rental assistance programs and shift more costs onto states, local governments, and low-income families-which would have put over 10 million Americans at risk of eviction and homelessness, most of whom are children, elderly, or Americans with disabilities. Instead, the bill includes:

• $38.4 billion for tenant-based Section 8 vouchers, a $2.4 billion increase above fiscal year 2025, and of the total amounts provided:
• • $600.6 million is for tenant protection vouchers, including funding and new flexibilities to continue support for over 50,000 households who are relying on Emergency Housing Vouchers to avoid homelessness;
  • $30 million is for new incremental vouchers available to youth aging out of and involved with the foster care system; and
  • $15 million for the Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) program to support veterans at risk of or experiencing homelessness, rejecting the Trump Administration's attempt to zero out the program in its proposed FY26 budget for HUD;
• $18.5 billion for the project-based rental assistance (PBRA) program to renew housing contracts, a $1.65 billion increase above fiscal year 2025;
• $8.3 billion for public housing, including $3.2 billion to address capital needs and $50 million to address lead and other health hazards; and
• $1 billion for housing for the elderly and $287 million for housing for Americans with disabilities, a combined $130 million increase above fiscal year 2025.

In addition, the bill provides $206 million for self-sufficiency programs, an $11 million increase over fiscal year 2025, to help low-income Americans and families improve their financial security, job skills, and earnings. It also provides $7.5 million to assist low-income tenants with legal assistance while in eviction proceedings. President Trump proposed eliminating both programs in his budget request.

Addressing Homelessness: The bill provides $4.4 billion for Homeless Assistance Grants, a $366 million increase above fiscal year 2025. In addition to sustaining investments for existing projects, the bill:

• Requires HUD to distribute Continuum of Care funds on a timely basis to prevent funding lapses;
• Includes $107 million in new funding to address youth homelessness; and
• Includes $52 million in new funding to support survivors of domestic violence.

The bill also does not cut and consolidate the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) program with homeless assistance programs as proposed in President Trump's budget request. Instead, it provides $529 million for HOPWA, a $24 million increase above fiscal year 2025.

Supply of Affordable Housing: As communities across the country continue to face a shortage of affordable homes, the bill rejects President Trump's budget proposal to eliminate HUD's competitive and formula grant programs that help address the crisis. The bill instead makes critical investments to increase the supply of affordable housing and lower the cost of housing so that Americans can keep a roof over their head. The bill includes:

• $1.25 billion for the HOME Investment Partnerships Program, equal to fiscal year 2025, rejecting President Trump's budget request and House Republicans' bill that defunded the program. The HOME program is a critical federal tool used by state and local governments to build more affordable rental and owner-occupied housing.
• $50 million to continue the PRO Housing grant program that incentivizes state and local jurisdictions to remove barriers to housing production, which helps lower housing costs for Americans. President Trump's budget request and House Republicans' bill both eliminated the PRO Housing grant program.

Supporting Local Community Development: The bill provides nearly $7 billion for local community development and housing-related activities through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) formula program and Economic Development Initiatives (EDIs). President Trump's budget request sought to eliminate the CDBG program, which state and local governments rely on to improve quality of life for Americans in rural and urban communities alike.

Fair Housing: The bill protects critical fair housing programs to combat housing discrimination, providing $86 million, while President Trump's budget request and House Republicans' bill cut these programs by over 67% and outright eliminated the Fair Housing Initiatives Program.