Congresswoman Laura Richardson Rises in Opposition to Section 2226 of H.R. 1

Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to Section 2226 of the bill, which will cut funding for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program from the current level $3.948 billion to $1.5 billion, a 62 percent decrease.

This drastic reduction would have a devastating impact on communities all across America, including my district, and hinder our ability to continue doing our part in aiding the Nation's economic recovery.

CDBG works. In Los Angeles County, for example, CDBG funding has provided a direct benefit to low- and moderate-income residents and their neighborhoods, something that simply would not have been possible without this federal-local partnership.

Over the past five years, Los Angeles County's CDBG program has accomplished the following: 1. created or retained 1,109 jobs; 2. provided loans and technical assistance to over 14,000 businesses; 3. provided assistance to over four million individuals in unincorporated areas and participating cities in Los Angeles County; 4. preserved 6,217 housing units; 5. provided improvements to almost 23,000 facilities; and 6. removed over 28 million square feet of graffiti.

Mr. Chair, reducing CDBG funding would mean curtailing or cancelling the following types of activities in my district and countless others across the Nation: 1. Housing Rehabilitation Loans and Grants for families the elderly and disabled persons; 2. Commercial Facade Improvements in distressed areas; 3. Youth Programs providing afterschool, child care, gang prevention, and intervention services; 4. Senior Programs that offer meals, housing placement, and recreation; 5. Construction and improvement of critical public facilities and infrastructure; and 6. Business Loan Programs to bring development and jobs into our communities.

Mr. Chair, the federal budget is not merely a ledger documenting receipts and expenditures but a reflection of our national values. And certainly nothing is more central to our national character than its strong, healthy, and vibrant local communities. The CDBG program is indispensable if we are to continue the important community and economic development initiatives needed to revitalize our economy, create jobs, and put people back to work in homes they own and can afford.