U.S. Rep. Nick J. Rahall (D-WV) announced today that over $2 million dollars of disaster assistance has been allocated to West Virginia by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). "This grant will be a huge help throughout our state," said Rahall. "Recently, West Virginia has been struck with more than our fair share of floods, snow storms, and other natural disasters. This funding will help West Virginia's communities clean up from past instances and prepare for the possibility of future disasters."

The funding from HUD, for a total of $2,041,256, has been awarded to the Community Development Block Grant disaster assistance program. According to HUD, "Requests for assistance consisted of acquisition, demolition of abandon and dangerously fragile housing stock, relocation, elevation of some structures, levee restoration and/or debris removal."

Congressman Rahall has repeatedly fought for the survival and sufficient funding of the Community Development Block Grant program, which was scheduled for elimination in the President's proposed budget.

"I have been working for the future survival of the Community Development Block Grant program and this grant is a great example why," said Rahall. "West Virginia needs the Community Development Block Grant to help address local housing and community development needs. If the funding for these grants is lowered, as the Administration proposed, then the ability of countless communities to create jobs and affordable housing opportunities for working families would be jeopardized."

The Administration's budget proposal would shift the Community Development Block Grant program from HUD to the Department of Commerce by consolidating it with many other programs and effectively eliminating the program. The change would likely eliminate its focus on the revitalization of distressed neighborhoods and change the mission altogether. Moving the Community Development Block Grant program out of HUD and into Commerce would also eliminate the flexibility of the program, which has become its hallmark. Under HUD the Community Development Block Grants go to cities and towns, which are able to determine priorities and develop strategies to address their communities' individual needs.

"The Community Development Block Grant program is one of the most effective federal programs in West Virginia," said Rahall. "I will continue to urge my colleagues to reject any proposal to eliminate the program. West Virginia needs the Community Development Block Grant to remain independent and under the authority of HUD, not consolidated into a larger bureaucracy."