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The number of earmarks increased by one, from 10 in FY 2018 to 11 in FY 2019, while their cost shrank by 2.7 percent, from $576.3 million in FY 2018 to $560.9 million in FY 2019.
$210,984,000 for the National Predisaster Mitigation Fund (NPMF), the most ever earmarked for this purpose. While the amount provided for the NPMF in FY 2019 is only a slight increase from the $210,184,000 funded in FY 2018, it is a 363.5 percent increase from the $45,515,000 in FY 2017. The amount earmarked in FY 2019 is also a 7.6 percent increase over the $196,089,911 members of Congress earmarked for the NPMF between FY 2008, the first year an earmark was provided, and FY 2017.
President Trump’s FY 2020 Major Savings and Reforms recommended eliminating funding for the NPMF, stating that it is duplicative of other federal programs, and should be the responsibility of state and local governments. Former President Obama’s FY 2017 Cuts, Consolidations, and Savings recommended reducing the NPMF by $46 million.
Since FY 2008, there have been 209 NPMF earmarks requested by more than 100 members of Congress, costing taxpayers $617.3 million.
$101,000,000 for the National Domestic Preparedness Consortium (NDPC), the same amount as FY 2018.
President Trump’s FY 2020 and FY 2018 Major Savings and Reforms recommended eliminating funding for the NDPC because it is duplicative of other programs and belongs in the purview of state and local governments. The FY 2020 report also noted the NDPC is “duplicative of FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute and Center for Domestic Preparedness.”
Since FY 2005, the NDPC has received nine earmarks worth $682.6 million, including a $10.1 million earmark in FY 2010 by
$63,642,000 for the Port Security Grant Program (PSGP), a 21.9 percent increase from the $52.2 million earmarked in FY 2018.
President Trump’s FY 2020 Major Savings and Reforms recommended reducing funding for the PSGP as part of a larger package of budget eliminations and reductions in DHS state and local grants and training. The recommendation would save $691 million.
Members of Congress have provided eight earmarks totaling $904.8 million for the PSGP since FY 2005.
VII. Interior
The number of earmarks in the FY 2019 Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act increased by 10 percent, from 20 in FY 2018 to 22 in FY 2019. The cost of the earmarks grew by 9.4 percent, from $336.3 million in FY 2018 to $367.8 million in FY 2019.
$19,951,000 for the Heritage Partnership Program (HPP), which supports the 49 National Heritage Areas (NHAs) created by Congress. The FY 2019 earmark is the largest ever for the HPP. Operated through the National Park Service (NPS), the HPP has received 52 earmarks costing $96.5 million since FY 2001
Each of former President Obama’s budgets from FYs 2011 through 2017 slashed funding for NHAs. The FY 2017 version of Cuts, Consolidations, and Savings recommended trimming the budget by 55 percent, from $20 million to $9 million. President Trump’s FY 2019 and 2020 Major Savings and Reforms proposed eliminating the HPP entirely, saving $20 million.
Unfortunately, members of Congress have continuously ignored these proposed budget reductions, earmarking funding for the HPP in six of the last eight years.
$13,836,000 for wild horse and burro management, the most ever earmarked for this purpose. The FY 2019 earmark is a 246 percent increase over the $4 million provided in FY 2001, the last time an earmark was added for the managing of wild horses and burros. Since FY 1992, legislators have added three earmarks costing $18 million for wild horse and burro management.
$13,000,000 for the Save America’s Treasures (SAT) grants program, the same amount earmarked in FY 2018. Intended to help preserve historic locations across the country, there have been 267 SAT earmarks costing taxpayers $81.5 million since FY 2006.
In FY 2008, 78 members of Congress added 70 earmarks costing $13.6 million. In FY 2009, 58 members of Congress added 55 earmarks costing $10 million. And in FY 2010, 72 members of Congress added 52 earmarks costing $10.2 million.
During those three years, there were 21 earmarks for theaters costing $4.5 million; 10 earmarks for museums costing $2.4 million; and seven earmarks for opera houses costing $1.5 million. One of those earmarks, worth $150,000, was obtained by Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) in FY 2010 for the Sterling Opera House in Derby, Connecticut; $110,000 of that amount had to be returned to the federal government after it was improperly used by the city.
SAT earmarks contributed to the downfall of former House Appropriations Committee member Alan Mollohan (D-W.Va.).
$2,750,000 for the National Capital Arts and Cultural Affairs (NCACA) grant program, the same as FY 2018, and tied for the largest earmark ever for this program. The amount provided in both years is a 358.3 percent increase over the $600,000 earmarked in FY 2017.
The NCACA provides funding for large arts and cultural institutions in Washington, D.C. Recipients in FY 2018 included $415,365.36 for the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, $122,532 for Ford’s Theatre, and $120,167.76 for The Phillips Collection.
The Kennedy Center sold 1,413,432 tickets during the 2016-2017 season, meaning it could have charged an extra $0.30 per ticket and eliminated the need for NCACA funds.
According to its website, Ford’s Theatre hosts more than 650,000 visitors each year. Therefore, it could simply charge $0.19 more per ticket to repay the funds obtained from the NCACA.
The Phillips Collection boasted 159,529 visitors in FY 2017. Instead of relying on the NCACA, it should have charged $0.76 more per admission.
The NCACA is similar to cultural affairs organizations that exist in many U.S. cities and at the state and regional level, and is no more deserving of funding than any other such entity.
$863,000 for a Since FY 2005, members of Congress have added four earmarks for the NCACA, costing taxpayers $8.1 million. brown tree snake eradication program. The snakes are native to northern Australia, Indonesia, and many of the islands in Melanesia, but have caused damage to the ecosystem of Guam, where they were likely introduced by the U.S. military following World War II.
Since FY 1993, there have been 18 earmarks costing $17.7 million to fight brown tree snakes.
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