By
March 28, 2011

Senator Patrick Leahy (VT) circulated a “Dear Colleague” letter over the last week calling on Senators to sign in support of full funding for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program in fiscal year 2011 appropriations. Twenty-nine Senators signed the letter. The letter, addressed to Senator Daniel Inouye (HI), Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Ranking Member of Vice-Chairman of the Appropriations Committee Senator Thad Cochran (MS), calls for CDBG to be funded at $3.984 billion.

The letter makes a strong case for fully funding CDBG, including the need to continue the revitalization needed in communities. The Senators signing the letter believe that CDBG plays a very important role in the nation’s economic recovery. The letter states strongly: “Any reduction in CDBG funding would severely slow down or eliminate thousands of local and state projects and programs that are directly contributing to local and regional recovery.”