MONTPELIER, VT – The Vermont Congressional Delegation, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Rep. Becca Balint (VT-At-Large), today announced more than $100 million in federal funding they secured on behalf of 69 projects addressing critical needs across Vermont. The funding for these Congressionally Directed Spending projects, or “earmarks,” was included in the three fiscal year 2026 appropriations packages passed by Congress and signed into law in November, mid-January and last week.
“I am proud to announce that — alongside Senator Welch and Representative Balint — the Vermont delegation secured more than $100 million in federal funding on behalf of 69 Congressionally Directed Spending projects addressing critical needs across Vermont. That includes important projects in affordable housing, health and dental care, environmental infrastructure needs and much more. This agreement also includes the largest increase in mandatory funding for community health centers in a decade: which is, I might add, $1.2 billion more than the Republicans originally put on the table. This funding will support the 11 Community Health Centers across our state that provide high-quality primary care to one out of every three Vermonters — over 200,000 people across 93 sites,” said Senator Sanders. “At a time when our nation faces incredible challenges, ensuring the federal government pays attention to the needs of working Vermonters remains my top priority. I look forward to working with the folks responsible for these projects, as well as with the federal agencies responsible for getting the money out the door, to ensure the work begins as soon as possible so Vermonters can see real results.”
“I fought to secure nearly $60 million in federal funding for Vermont through the Congressionally Directed Spending process — I’m proud this money will be invested right back into Vermont communities. These funds will support projects that will make a huge difference in every corner of our state — from building more affordable housing to expanding access to vital health care services, and implementing important public safety and infrastructure upgrades. These funds will also help jump-start projects that support flood-impacted and rural communities,” said Senator Welch. “Federal funding is crucial to supporting local projects that make Vermonters’ lives better, but President Trump’s backwards priorities have jeopardized the success of these projects. I’ll keep up the fight to protect Vermonters’ taxpayer dollars and bring money back to the Green Mountain State.”
“Strong communities need strong foundations: safe water, reliable housing, good schools, and emergency services we can count on,” said Rep. Balint. “I’m proud to have secured over $13.5 million in Congressionally Directed Spending projects that tackle these priorities for our state. Over time, these projects will help our towns grow, our neighborhoods flourish, and our people thrive. I look forward to seeing them progress and will keep fighting to turn federal dollars into tangible improvements for Vermonters.”
Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) projects shared by the delegation include $1 million for wastewater infrastructure in Burlington and $850,000 for the Winooski River Bridge replacement.
Sanders and Welch jointly secured $26,350,000 across nine projects, including $12 million for the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board to construct affordable housing, $4.6 million for the University of Detroit Mercy to build a state-of-the-art dental clinic and training site in Colchester, $4 million for Vermont Army National Guard training facilities, and $5,250,000 for water and wastewater infrastructure projects in Richmond, Montpelier, Burlington and Addison County.
Sanders and Balint jointly secured $750,000 for the town of Highgate to construct a wastewater discharge system enabling the town to develop housing and commercial use properties.
Sanders’ individually-secured CDS projects include an additional $10.5 million for affordable housing and shelter projects across the state, $4,450,000 to support renewable energy infrastructure through the Vermont Electric Cooperative, and $2,498,000 for Vermont’s 13 Career and Technical Education Centers to address critical workforce shortages our state faces in medicine, construction, and manufacturing.
Sanders also secured $2,385,000 for outpatient care for substance use disorder at the Johnson Health Center, $2,000,000 for the Vermont Department of Public Safety to upgrade its communications equipment, $1,662,000 for health care education at the Community College of Vermont, and $1.5 million for a new highway garage and fire station in Newark.
Welch-championed CDS projects include $5.25 million to help construct new affordable housing in Middlebury, $3.2 million for the Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation to create over 350 jobs and spur economic development, and $2.7 million to UVM to foster a local and regionally skilled research workforce. Welch also secured $2 million for the Vermont Office of Economic Opportunity to weatherize 120 homes, $1.4 million for Northeastern Regional Hospital to construct new community pharmacies in the Northeast Kingdom, and $250,000 for the Vermont Department of Economic Development to provide help for Vermont businesses hurt by President Trump’s tariffs and trade war.
Balint secured funding for all 15 projects that she submitted — the maximum allowed under House rules. That includes $4.8 million to build housing in Brattleboro, Springfield, Fairlee and Hinesburg, plus an additional $2,132,000 for water and wastewater projects in Troy and Riverton Village that will deliver clean water to existing homes and allow for new housing development. Balint’s projects also provide more than $1.4 million for Pownal Valley Fire Department to build a new central station and for Granville Fire Department to upgrade their firehouse. Lyndon Institute will also receive $488,000 for the Lyndon Early Childhood Education and Workforce Development program, run in partnership with Northeast Kingdom Community Action (NEKCA).
Additional information is available here on projects secured by Sanders, Welch and Balint.
Organizations and municipalities interested in applying for Congressionally Directed Spending in the future can sign up for Sanders’ e-newsletter, the Bernie Buzz, to get notified when the fiscal year 2027 application process opens.
Vermonters are encouraged to sign up for Welch’s newsletter and check his website for future CDS updates.
For updates on this process from Balint, Vermonters can subscribe to her newsletter or reach out anytime to her office via her website or phone (802-652-2450).
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