March 10, 2008

Representative Chaka Fattah (PA) has reestablished the Congressional Urban Caucus at the recommendation of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Representative Fattah has said that the Mayors 10-Point Plan will serve as a benchmark for the work of the Caucus, and he has committed to securing full funding for the new Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) this year.

Representative Mike Turner (OH) has agreed to serve as Vice Chair of this bi-partisan Caucus. Representative Turner is the former Mayor of Dayton and helped save the CDBG program in 2005. Representative Turner was an original co'sponsor of the EECBG, and has been a leader on brownfield redevelopment. It is important to note that the Caucus will focus on issues of importance to all metropolitan communities: both urban and suburban.

Please contact your Representatives and urge them to join the Congressional Urban Caucus. They should contact Brenden Chainey with Representative Fattah’s office at 202- 225-4001 or Stacy Palmer Barton with Representative Turner’s office at 202-225-6465.

For a list of the current Caucus members, contact Ed Somers with the Conference staff at 202-861-6706 or esomers@usmayors.org.