COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND HOUSING 

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM

WHEREAS, the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program has provided state and local governments with flexible resources in dealing with our community’s needs; and

WHEREAS, the CDBG Program is one of the most effective tools used in the nation’s communities to address blight, and revitalize low-income neighborhoods; and

WHEREAS, state and local governments continue to use the resources provided by annual appropriations for the program to support needed public and social services to eligible participants; and

WHEREAS, the CDBG program has been recommended in the President’s 1999 Budget for an increase of funding to $4.750 billion and $1.5 billion recommended for the HOME program; and

WHEREAS, the United States Conference of Mayors has passed a resolution in opposition to funding needed programs out of CDBG set-asides; and

WHEREAS, on May 14, 1997 the House of Representatives passed H.R.2, "Housing Opportunity and Responsibility Act," that would potentially penalize local governments by permitting the Secretary of HUD to reduce CDBG funding to cities if they are found to not provide support to distressed public housing authorities in their jurisdictions; and

WHEREAS, on September 26, 1997 the Senate passed S.462 "Public Housing Reform and Responsibility Act of 1997," which does not include the House provision that would potentially penalize local governments by permitting the Secretary of HUD to reduce CDBG funding to cities if they are found to not provide support to distressed public housing authorities in their jurisdictions; and

WHEREAS, both H.R.2 and S.462 are currently in conference committee,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that The U.S. Conference of Mayors supports the Administration’s budget request of $4.750 billion for the CDBG program and $1.5 billion for the HOME program; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that The U.S. Conference of Mayors reaffirms the policy in opposition to CDBG set-asides in both the CDBG and HOME programs; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that The U.S. Conference of Mayors is opposed to the provision in H.R.2 that ties CDBG funding to a turn-around in their public housing and urges the conferees to drop this provision.