By Judy Sheahan and Derrick Coley
February 17, 2003

The House Financial Services Committee, chaired by Representative Mike Oxley (OH) passed unanimously H.R. 239, the Brownfields Redevelopment Enhancement Act February 13. The bipartisan bill authorizes the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to make grants (not Section 108 loans) to eligible entities and Indian tribes to assist in the environmental cleanup and economic development of brownfield sites, including mine'scarred lands.

The bill also makes brownfields'related environmental cleanup and economic development activities eligible for Community Development Block Grants (CDBG). Brownfields redevelopment has been an eligible CDBG activity but the bill codifies the use of CDBG funds for this purpose.

Introduced by Representative Gary Miller (CA), the bill was passed by the House in the 107th Congress and referred to the Senate but no companion bill had been introduced by the Senate.

Miller said, "In the past smaller projects were discouraged and it was even considered that we turn this provision over to EPA, but EPA provides funding directly to the States, which makes it difficult for local communities to take action."

Representative Oxley said at the markup, "This legislation will enable HUD to make and investment in jobs, with the ability to continue to move brownfields redevelopment forward."