Fattah Offers Aid for Cities, GOP votes NO!

WASHINGTON, June 27, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- When the House Appropriations Committee met today to consider the funding for the FY2014 Transportation Housing and Urban Development bill (THUD), Congressman Chaka Fattah (D-PA), a senior member of the Committee, offered an amendment to restore funding to the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. The $44.1 billion bill cut funding in half from CDBG programs for 2014.

The program, administered by HUD, is one of the most flexible sources of funding to states, local governments and insular areas that benefit low to moderate income residents.  The more than 1,200 grants provide support for a wide range of community and economic development activities, including public infrastructure improvements, housing rehabilitation and construction, and employment training, especially in some of the most distressed communities.

Congressman Fattah offered an amendment to restore funding to $3.3 billion - up from the $1.6 billion allocated in the FY2014 THUD bill.  The amendment failed along party lines.

Fattah said, "While I'm disappointed that the amendment failed in Committee, it is important that urban centers know that they have an advocate who will fight for them despite the odds.  As CDBG funding is so central to improving our local communities, it is sad to see that Congress is willing to spend billions of dollars overseas while failing to make that same investment at home, to local neighborhoods and families that need it most."

In fiscal year 2011 alone CDBG funding;

• assisted almost 97,000 households maintain or gain access to safe, decent and affordable housing;
• provided public service activities to 10.1 million people, and
• benefited approximately 4.1 million people through public improvement investments.

Congressman Fattah voted against the $44.1 billion THUD measure.

www.fattah.house.gov

SOURCE Office of Congressman Chaka Fattah

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