Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2018

Floor Speech

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Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of my amendment that would appropriate additional resources to CDBG funds, or the Community Development Block Grant program. Back home in California's 25th District, CDBG funds are awarded to numerous nonprofit organizations that do significant and far-reaching work for our constituents.
These resources reach citizens of the city of Santa Clarita through programs like Bridge to Home, domestic violence victim support centers, home rehabilitation services, and summer youth development programs.

In the Antelope Valley, CDBG funds address community needs through grants for street maintenance in low-income neighborhoods, emergency shelter for low-income people, and financing for the construction of Palmdale's senior center.

Mr. Chairman, it goes without saying that my constituents dramatically benefit from CDBG funds, and I am sure many of my colleagues here can attest to the same. That is why I was alarmed to see that the President's budget request completely defunded this program. I am thankful to Chairman Diaz-Balart and his staff for understanding the importance of this program and supporting it in the underlying bill.

My amendment returns the total program funding to a level that is consistent with the FY 2017 enacted level, which will provide the funding stability our communities need to ensure these programs can continue to operate. I urge my colleagues to support this.

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