VACo Memorandum
TO: VACo Members
FROM: Erik Johnston, Director of Government Affairs
SUBJECT: Action Alert Regarding CDBG and HOME Funding
DATE: July 29, 2013
Please see below for an action alert sent on Friday, July 26, from the National Association of Counties regarding CDBG and HOME funding. Please take action early this week to contact Sen. Mark Warner and Sen. Tim Kaine to express your support for the CDBG and HOME programs and opposition to amendments that will curtail these programs.
In Virginia, CDBG funding flows directly from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development to Virginia’s entitlement localities. The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development uses these federal CDBG dollars to administer a competitive grant program for the rest of Virginia’s localities. HOME is the largest federal block grant to state and local governments designed exclusively to create affordable housing for low-income households.
More information and details regarding the importance of these programs for counties are below.
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NACo ACTION ALERT: PRESERVE FUNDING FOR CDBG AND HOME IN SENATE FY2014 T-HUD APPROPRIATIONS BILL Dear NACo Member: This week the Senate started debate on the FY2014 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (T-HUD) Appropriations bill, S. 1243. Further debate and votes on numerous amendments are expected early next week. NACo is supportive of the Senate T-HUD Appropriations bill, which includes $3.15 billion for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program and $1 billion for the HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) program. For the current fiscal year CDBG is funded at $3.07 billion and HOME is at $950 million. The Senate bill’s modest increases would help to strengthen the local community and economic development and housing programs which are important to counties. With all the uncertainty surrounding the FY2014 appropriations process, it is important that the Senate go on record with the above mentioned amounts for CDBG and HOME. This is especially true given the fact that the House Appropriations Committee funded CDBG at $1.6 billion for FY2014 – a $1.47 billion cut – and HOME at $750 million for FY2014 – a $200 million cut. A pair of amendments that may be offered by Senators during floor debate would reduce the Senate’s CDBG and HOME program funding levels. We ask that you contact your Senators to oppose these amendments and/or any others that would cut funding for the CDBG and HOME programs. Community Block Grant Development Program (CDBG) Senator Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) has filed an amendment, SA 1758, to reduce funding for CDBG from $3.15 billion to $2.79 billion. Contact your Senators and ask them to oppose the Coburn Amendment, SA 1758. HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) Senator Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) has filed an amendment, SA 1768, to cut HOME funding from $1 billion to $950 million, and require a Comptroller study and report on the effectiveness of the program. Contact your Senators and ask them to oppose the Flake Amendment, SA 1768. Thank you! RESOURCES For the NACo Legislative Brief on CDBG, click here. If you have questions or need assistance, contact NACo Associate Legislative Director Daria Daniel at ddaniel@naco.org or 202.942.4212 |
| National Association of Counties | Executive Director: Matthew D. Chase 25 Massachusetts Ave NW, Suite 500 | Washington, DC 20001 | Phone: 202.393.6226 |
