In the News
In northwest Indiana, Indiana U.S. Representative Frank J. Mrvan on Friday January 9, 2026, announced the inclusion of his law enforcement Community Project Funding requests for Indiana’s First Congressional District for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 in the final House-approved appropriations measure. They include police departments across Lake, Porter, and La Porte counties.
Federal spending legislation overwhelmingly approved by the U.S. House on Thursday includes more than $4.5 million to help police departments in Lake, Porter and northwest LaPorte counties upgrade their radios or make other needed technology improvements.
The federal funds, which must still be authorized by the Senate and the president, are the full amount requested by U.S. Rep. Frank J. Mrvan, D-Highland, through the Community Project Funding program, more commonly known as earmarks.
U.S. Rep. Frank J. Mrvan, D-Highland, was one of just two Indiana congressmen to vote in favor of reinstating expired health insurance subsidies for Hoosiers who purchase health coverage through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace.
An unusual coalition of 213 House Democrats and 17 Republicans, none from Indiana, advanced the measure through the U.S. House on Thursday — notwithstanding the opposition of Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana.
Eleanor Walsh, who faces an increase of approximately $14,300 in health insurance costs this year as the Affordable Care Act subsidies sunset, said she was pleased that the U.S. House passed a three-year extension on the subsidies.
But, Walsh said she’s still anxious about the measure successfully passing the Senate and then being signed by President Donald Trump.
“I am happy about it. I wish the rest of it all falls in place too,” Walsh said.
The United Steelworkers Union announced they support the creation of a bill that would help increase veterans’ access to various resources, which was sponsored by an Indiana senator.
Sen. Jim Banks, R-Indiana, said in a statement, “I’m proud to join my colleagues and American steelworkers in backing this common-sense, bipartisan effort to ensure veterans can easily access information about their benefits and crisis resources in their workplaces,”
The United Steelworkers Union announced they support the creation of a bill that would help increase veterans’ access to various resources, which was sponsored by an Indiana senator.
“I’m proud to join my colleagues and American steelworkers in backing this common-sense, bipartisan effort to ensure veterans can easily access information about their benefits and crisis resources in their workplaces,” Sen. Jim Banks, R-Indiana, said in a statement.
In Gary, Indiana U.S. Representative Frank J. Mrvan this week announced a federal grant that will go toward the completion of final design and permitting steps for riparian and wetland restoration on the nearly 800-acre Chase Street Complex along the Little Calumet River. The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation says the Wetlands Initiative will receive $794,000 to support planning, design and implementation.
Rep. Frank Mrvan announced a federal grant award under the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s National Coastal Resilience Fund in Gary.
According to the NFWF, the Wetlands Initiative will receive $794,000 to support planning, design and implementation of nature-based solutions along the Little Calumet River in Gary.
La Porte will be able to grow its police department thanks to a federal grant.
U.S. Rep. Frank J. Mrvan, D-1st., recently announced federal grant awards in Northwest Indiana, including for the City of La Porte and River Forest Community School Corp., under the Department of Justice’s Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Office.
“Congratulations to all of the leaders with the City of La Porte and River Forest Community School Corp. on securing these vital federal funds,” said Mrvan.
Indiana U.S. Representative Frank J. Mrvan has announced federal grant awards in Northwest Indiana, including for the City of La Porte and River Forest Community School Corporation, under the Department of Justice’s Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Office. According to the Department of Justice, the City of La Porte will receive $500,000 from the COPS Hiring Program (CHP) to hire four additional law enforcement officers in an effort to increase community policing capacity and crime prevention efforts.