Levin Objects to Cuts to Community Development Funds Under President's 2007 Budget Proposal
LEVIN OBJECTS TO CUTS TO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FUNDS UNDER PRESIDENT'S 2007 BUDGET PROPOSAL
Rep. Levin Takes "Windshield" Tour of Programs and Releases Congressional Report
U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak) today released a report from the Congressional Research Service (CRS) projecting that the entire 12th Congressional District would lose nearly 20% of its CDBG funding under the President's budget proposal. Opposing these proposed cuts, Levin today joined local officials on a "windshield" tour of Warren's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) programs to highlight the importance of this federal funding to 12th District communities. Levin plans to visit Southfield's Community Development Block Grants program on Monday.
"Seeing firsthand how the CDBG program has allowed Warren to improve its residents' quality of life has reinforced for me how critical it is that we stop the irresponsible cuts the President has proposed to the CDBG Program," said Rep. Levin. "The CDBG Program has already been cut by more than 20% in real terms since 2001. Our local governments in Southeast Michigan are already stretched thin, and these additional cuts will force hard choices that will hurt our communities."
The President's budget proposal for 2007 would cut CDBG funding by $736 million, or about 20%. The CRS report requested by Rep. Levin projects seven Southeast Michigan communities, along with Oakland and Macomb Counties, would lose at least $2.2 million of the $11.2 million they currently receive in CDBG funds. Warren specifically stands to lose $178,789 of the $886,739 it receives in CDBG funding, a cut of more than 20%.
The CDBG program provides direct federal funding to local governments to make needed investments in community and economic development projects. In Warren, CDBG funds are used, in part, to rehabilitate housing, to reconstruct residential streets, to help fund domestic violence shelters, to provide seniors with snow removal and lawn care assistance, and to fund important economic development initiatives.
"I have joined bipartisan groups of my colleagues in Washington in urging the relevant committees to reject these cuts," said Levin. "But a big part of the reason we avoided most of the 30% cut to CDBGs last year was that local officials worked so hard to remind Congress what these funds mean to communities back home."
http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/mi12_levin/pr041906.html