Maryland will see more than $25 million in new federal investments after Maryland Democratic Sens. Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks secured funding for a wide range of community projects in the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies appropriations bill for fiscal year 2026.
The bill became law earlier this month and directs money toward first responders, mental health services, agricultural research, workforce development, and major infrastructure work across the state.
A central focus for Maryland is the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC) in Prince George’s County, which employs about 1,000 people and serves as the nation’s largest USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) campus.
While the Beltsville facility has been targeted for closure under the Trump administration’s reorganization plan, the bill includes $6 million for upgrades to aging buildings. Of that amount, $3 million represents direct federal funding requested by the two senators.
“We fought to secure direct federal investments in this legislation to advance local priorities,” Van Hollen said. “Within this bill, we also worked to ensure BARC can continue its vital efforts to bolster the success of America’s farmers, halting this administration’s misguided attempts to shutter this crown jewel of agricultural research.”
Alsobrooks, the first Black person to represent Maryland in the U.S. Senate, said she was proud to work with Van Hollen to defend BARC and its Maryland workforce.
“BARC is a hub for agricultural research that supports 1,000 jobs in our state,” she said. “Protecting this center and securing resources for communities across Maryland will strengthen our state for years to come.”
Funding Supports Efforts to Strengthen Maryland Communities
Although the senators secured funding for these targeted Maryland priorities, both ultimately voted against the larger government funding package. They cited the bill’s failure to protect millions of Americans from steep increases in health care costs and the absence of guardrails to prevent further abuses of power by the Trump administration.
The funding bill directs support to communities across the state.
“As the appropriations process for next year moves forward, I will continue to do all I can to ensure our funding bills meet the needs of Maryland and our nation,” explained Van Hollen, a member of the Appropriations Committee.
Projects include upgrades to Berlin’s historic Flower Street School site to create a multigenerational community center. Worcester County will receive $1.4 million for that work.
Carroll County will see $1 million for the expansion of the Youth Service Bureau building to broaden mental health and substance use programs. Cambridge will receive $715,000 to replace a fire and rescue truck that is more than a decade past its service life. Crisfield will receive more than $1.3 million to build a modern fire station and emergency shelter to replace a 65-year-old structure.
The University of Maryland Eastern Shore will receive $1 million for equipment and supplies for its new Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program, created to help ease the nation’s severe shortage of veterinarians in rural communities. McDaniel College will receive $830,000 to outfit a new facility for training nursing students, part of Maryland’s effort to address its workforce shortage in the field.
Garrett Regional Medical Center will receive $1 million to create a radiation department and on-site treatment options for cancer patients who currently must travel long distances for care.
Kent County will receive $45,000 for a backup generator to keep emergency medical services operating during power outages. The county will also receive $6.2 million to relocate and rebuild the Millington Wastewater Treatment Plant, which now sits in a floodplain.
Additional funding includes $675,000 to replace a 33-year-old fire engine in Allegany County. Mount St. Mary’s University will receive $1 million to build a water treatment plant for its campus, a local urgent care facility, and residents of Emmitsburg who face elevated PFAS levels.
San Mar Children’s Home will receive a little more than $1 million to renovate buildings and create supportive housing for young people at risk of homelessness.
The University of Maryland Shore Regional Health system will receive $2.5 million toward a new Regional Medical Center in Easton. Charles County Public Library will receive $67,000 for a STEM makerspace at the new La Plata branch.
The Foxie G Foundation will receive $428,000 for an equine-assisted therapy center supporting veterans, first responders, dementia patients, and at-risk youth.
Barclay will receive a little more than $1 million to construct a new community center and town hall. Eagle Harbor will receive $800,000 for community center renovations and outdoor amenities that support local economic growth. Carroll County will also receive $1 million to create a Veterans Freedom Center for employment assistance, education support, and community programs.
Beyond local projects, the bill includes major national and statewide priorities.
Conservation Operations will receive $850 million to provide one-on-one technical assistance for farmers and protect waterways across the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
Historically Black 1890 Land-Grant institutions will also receive more support, including $89 million for research, $72 million for extension services, $30 million for education grants, $21.5 million for facility improvements, $10 million for scholarships, and $10 million for Centers of Excellence.
Maryland’s agricultural and nutrition programs also receive substantial support. The bill includes $2 million for invasive wild-caught catfish processing and $1 million for inspection capacity.
WIC will receive $8.2 billion, an increase of $603 million, to ensure eligible families continue to receive essential nutrition assistance. The Commodity Supplemental Food Program will receive $460 million to serve more than 700,000 low-income seniors.
SNAP, School Lunch, School Breakfast, and Summer EBT will remain fully funded.
Nationwide, the ARS will receive $1.79 billion and the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program will receive $48 million. The National Organic Program will receive $22.8 million. The Rural Water Circuit Rider Program will receive $23.9 million.
Alsobrooks said she was grateful for the collaboration that helped deliver these investments.
“I am proud we were able to secure funding for mental health and substance use services, STEM-related equipment for our public libraries, support for our fire departments, additional funding to address Maryland’s nurses shortage, and a radiation department and on-site radiation treatment services for cancer patients in Garrett County,” she said.