Michigan gets $211 million for earmarked projects from Congress: Here's the list

Even before the U.S. Senate gave its final approval late Thursday on a 68-31 vote to a $1.5 trillion spending bill funding the federal government, Michigan members of Congress were celebrating the return of the earmark.

The legislation itself is an achievement, given how difficult it has been for a sharply divided Congress to set aside differences and reach a funding agreement that is more than a stopgap, with the promise of keeping government open through September. It increases funding for both defense and nondefense sides of the government, includes about $14 billion for aid to Ukraine and features a few items — like $348 million for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and $5 million for Flint's lead registry — of specific initiatives important to Michigan.

But for the first time in just over a decade, this spending package passed by both chambers of Congress also included items specifically requested by individual legislators to fund projects in their districts or states, items — known as earmarks — they can now take on the campaign trail with them to show what they have been able to do for their constituents.

Stevens had the most at $17.8 million, followed by Slotkin at $16.9 million. Given the way earmarks have tended to work in the past, that's not too surprising. Both are currently in districts that had been previously held by Republicans, and it's not unusual for the party in power to give help through community funding to such members.