By Ed Somers
May 23, 2005

In a press conference held on May 12 in the U.S. Capitol, House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (IL) and Ohio Congressman Mike Turner announced a new Urban Advisory Committee for the Speaker's Saving America's Cities Working Group. Turner chairs the working group, which is comprised of 23 Republican members, many of whom attended the press event and meeting.

Conference President Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic has been appointed a member of the Urban Advisory Committee, along with Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley and Washington (DC) Mayor Anthony Williams. The Urban Advisory Committee is being chaired by former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Jack Kemp, and includes former Speaker Newt Gingrich, former Oklahoma Congressman J.C. Watts, National Urban League President and CEO Marc Morial, and Cincinnati City Manager Valerie Lemmie. The committee will be asked to make recommendations as the working group develops a legislative agenda, and identifies regulatory reforms that will assist cities to address the complex economic development challenges they face.

In commenting on the effort, Hastert said, "The Saving America's Cities working group is an important organization that helps address challenges facing our nation's cities. We have assembled an outstanding bipartisan team of the country's most experienced leaders for the Advisory Committee. I look forward to working together and hearing their ideas."

Turner commented, "The Urban Advisory Committee has some of the best minds for solving problems and greatest experts at running cities. I am excited by the opportunity to have them join the working group members and help create solutions that will lead to economic development in America's cities."

The working group has five subcommittees dealing with:

1. brownfields;

2. public housing;

3. market rate housing;

4. historic preservation; and

5. federal rules on regulations.

During the discussions following the press event, strong support was expressed for the Community Development Block Grant program at HUD, and the successful effort to ensure that the budget resolution called for full funding. The CDBG campaign is continuing to make sure that the program is fully funded by the appropriations committees.