Perlmutter's Livable Communities Act Receives Financial Services Committee Hearing

Press Release

Today, the full House Financial Services Committee held a hearing on H.R. 4690 -- the Livable Communities Act of 2010. This legislation currently has 36 co-sponsors and is the companion bill to S. 1619 sponsored by Senator Chris Dodd. As our country tries to rebuild and rebound from a slow economy, local governments need to continue promoting the economic development benefits of sustainable development and community planning.

Below are excerpts of Rep. Perlmutter's opening statement:

"If you have ever been stuck in a traffic jam on your way to the grocery store or looking for a public transportation option but are unable to find one, then you know how important smart growth policies are. Since its introduction, this bill has generated a lot of buzz in local communities across the country. This legislation is crafted to be incentive based, providing local communities the tools and resources necessary to develop and implement comprehensive regional plans. Livable communities are about creating better and more affordable places to live, work and play. This bill will provide benefits to neighborhoods across the country, including areas like Belmar and the Denver Federal Center in 7th Congressional District.

"As you will hear from Mayor Bob Murphy of Lakewood, Colorado today, my state is already beginning collaborative projects that fit within the goals of this bill. My legislation will enhance the process, capabilities and efficiency of executing these collaborative projects and eliminate barriers to federal agencies working together to provide the necessary resources and technical assistance to local communities. Livable communities are good for the environment and good for the economy."

This legislation is the companion bill to S. 1619, introduced by Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT). Key provisions of the bill include:

-Create competitive planning grants that towns and regions can use to create comprehensive long-term plans that integrate transportation, housing, land use, and economic development;

-Create challenge grants that towns and regions can use to implement these long-term plans through investments in public transportation, affordable housing, complete streets, transit-oriented development, and brownfield redevelopment;

-Establish a federal Office of Sustainable Housing and Communities at the Department of Housing and Urban Development to administer and oversee the Livable Communities grant programs;

-Establish a federal Interagency Council on Sustainable Communities that will include representatives from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Department of Transportation, the Environmental Protection Agency, and other federal agencies to coordinate federal sustainable development policies.

The Livable Communities Act of 2010 is endorsed by the following national, state and local organizations:

National Organizations

America 2050, American Institute of Architects, American Planning Association, American Society of Landscape Architects, Apollo Alliance, Center for Neighborhood Technology, CEOS for Cities, Congress for the New Urbanism, Conservation Law Foundation, Enterprise Community Partners, Environmental and Energy Study Institute, League of American Bicyclists, Local Initiatives Support Corporation, Local Government Commission, National Association of Counties, National Association of Realtors, National Association of Regional Councils, National Complete Streets Coalition, National Housing Conference, National Housing Trust, National League of Cities, National Resources Defense Council, National Trust for Historic Preservation, Northeast-Midwest Institute, PolicyLink, Project for Public Spaces, Reconnecting America, Smart Growth America, Transportation for America, US Green Building Council

State and Local Organizations

1,000 Friends of Connecticut (CT), 1,000 Friends of Minnesota (MN), 1,000 Friends of Oregon (OR), 10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania (PA), Action Committee for Transit (MD), Active Transportation Alliance (IL), Alliance for Metropolitan Stability (MN), American Planning Association -- New Jersey Chapter (NJ), Anchorage Citizens Coalition (AK), Bicycle Commuters of Anchorage (AK), Bike Delaware (DE), Bloomington Transportation Options for People (IN), Bozeman Sustainability Group (MT), California WALKS (CA), Cascade Land Conservancy (WA), City of Duluth Mayor Don Ness (MN), Cleveland Restoration Society (OH), Colorado Environmental Coalition (CO), Conservation Alabama Foundation (AL), Conservation Minnesota (MN), Denver Regional Council of Governments (CO), Empire State Future (NY), Fit City Duluth (MN), Fresh Energy (MN), Futurewise (WA), Greater Albuquerque Housing Partnership (NM), Greater Ohio Policy Center (OH), Greenbelt Alliance (CA), Grow Smart Rhode Island (RI), Growth and Justice (MN), Hennepin County, MN Commissioner Peter McLaughlin (MN), Housing Preservation Project (MN), Houston Tomorrow (TX), ISAIAH (MN), Lewis & Clark City-County Health Department (MT), LOCUS Minnesota (MN), MA Smart Growth Alliance (MA), Madison Area Bus Advocates (WI), Metropolitan Planning Council (IL), Minnesota State Senator Scott Dibble (MN), Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy (MN), Missoula City-County Parks and Recreation Department (MT), Missoula Health Department (MT), New Jersey Audubon Society (NJ), New Jersey County Planners Association (NJ), New Jersey Future (NJ), Opportunity Link, Inc. (MT), PlanGreen (OR), Ramsey County Commissioner Jan Parker (MN), Regional Plan Association (NY -- NJ -- CT), Renew Lehigh Valley (PA), San Luis Obispo County Bicycle Coalition (CA), Sierra Club -- North Star Chapter (MN), Smart Growth Vermont (VT), Somerset County Planning Board (NJ), St. Paul Smart Trips (MN), Transit for Livable Communities (MN), Tri-State Transportation Campaign (NY/NJ/CT), Tucson Bike Alliance (AZ), Twin Cities LISC (MN), Vision Long Island (NY), WalkBoston (MA)

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