By Eugene T. Lowe
August 8, 2005

When Congress returns after the August recess, the Conference of Mayors and other national organizations representing state and local elected and appointed officials as well as other national public interest groups will seek to get congressional approval of at least $4.1 billion in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) formula funding for FY06. At present, the Senate Appropriations Committee has approved funding for CDBG formula grants at $3.744 billion, while the House passed bill for Transportation, HUD and other agencies approved funding for the CDBG grants at $3.877 billion.

In a letter to Senator Christopher Bond (MO), Chair of the Subcommittee on Transportation, Treasury, the Judiciary, and Housing and Urban Development, and Senator Patty Murray (WA), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee, the Conference of Mayors and several members of the CDBG Coalition said that the Senate funding of CDBG formula grants will amount to “an additional eight percent over FY 2005, and, when coupled with a five percent cut to the formula funding in FY05, results in a 13 percent cut in just two years. During this period more than 100 new entitlement communities were added as a result of OMB’s revised definition of metropolitan areas.”

Mayors should contact their congressional delegations, especially Senators who must still consider housing and community development funding on the Senate floor, after the congressional recess and urge them to support CDBG formula funding at $4.1 billion.