Letter to Tom Cole, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education - Increase Community Service Block Grant Funding

Letter

As your subcommittee finalizes its recommendations for the FY2019 Labor-HHS appropriations bill, we write to urge the subcommittee to fund the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) at no less than $750 million. As Republican Members of Congress, we share your concern that every taxpayer dollar must be spent wisely and accrue to the benefit of the American people. CSBG is a low-cost, high impact program that helps move people from poverty to independence. And, perhaps most importantly, it allows for substantial local control.

CSBG funding supports more than 1,000 local Community Action Agencies, which provide essential services to nearly 16 million low-income people. Local communities depend on CSBG funding to develop extensive community partnerships, coordinate services, respond to emergencies, and fill gaps in services.

Community Action Agencies continue to be on the front lines in helping low-income communities address their unique problems, whether it is bringing transportation to these low-income communities or providing critical post-treatment services to individuals, families and communities impacted by the opioid crisis. Communities all across America rely on their CSBG-funded Community Action Agency to help provide opportunities for those most in need.

We realize that you and your committee face difficult funding decisions in this year's Labor-HHS appropriations bill. However, after several years of nearly flat funding, it is our hope that the Community Services Block Grant will receive a very modest increase of $35 million, bringing the block grant total to $750 million.

We look forward to working with you as the appropriations process moves forward.