OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

American City Quality Month

Floor Speech

Date: April 6, 2016
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Infrastructure

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. KING. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize the many years of productive community partnership fostered by the cooperation of four organizations--the National League of Cities, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the American City Planning Directors' Council, and the American City Quality Foundation--in their administration of the American City Quality Month every April since its establishment in 1988.

Thanks to the collaboration of both public and private partners connected through this program, communities across the Nation are bolstered each April by a combination of public meetings, educational opportunities for students, and public announcements, all dedicated to the betterment of urban areas. By advocating for improved city planning, decisionmaking, design, development, management, and action, the program brings attention to the need for revitalization and upkeep of metropolitan spaces.

With the U.S. population expected to hit nearly 350 million by 2026 and almost 400 million by 2050, the sustainability of American cities, which contain 80.7 percent of the U.S. total population according to the 2010 census, is paramount to accommodating an ever-expanding citizenry.

The focus of the program lies not only with large cities like Boston and New York, but also with smaller ones like Portland and Augusta, ME. These small cities are growing and developing into economic powerhouses attractive to both skilled workers and middle-class families. Ensuring the preservation of productive relationships, infrastructure, and environmental well-being in Maine's growing urban spaces is a crucial piece of the success not only for these cities, but for the entire State. American City Quality Month inspires the dialogue and partnerships necessary for sustainable growth and revitalization.

I thank the organizers of American City Quality Month for ensuring that American cities of all sizes continue to promote the welfare of this generation and those to come.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT


Source
arrow_upward