By Eugene T. Lowe
October 17, 2011

Concerned about the Senate’s funding level for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program in FY2012, Newton (MA) Mayor Setti Warren, Chair of the Conference of Mayors Standing Committee on Community Development and Housing, has called for a CDBG Lobby Day on November 9. Warren is encouraging all mayors, and especially those mayors with members on the Senate Appropriations Committee, to come to Washington in November to lobby for increased funding for CDBG.

The Senate Appropriation Committee, chaired by Senator Patty Murray (WA), approved FY2012 funding for the CDBG program at $2.85 billion, a 14.5 percent cut from the program’s funding level of $3.34 billion in FY2011. The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation and Housing, chaired by Representative Tom Latham (IA), approved funding for the CDBG program at $3.5 billion, which is five percent above last year’s funding level.

During CDBG Lobby Day, which will include a beginning briefing session on the latest developments in Congress, mayors will visit Senate Appropriations Committee members and urge support of the House funding level for CDBG at $3.5 billion. The final funding for CDBG will be determined by negotiations between the Senate and House. Mayors are encouraged to set up meetings with their individual senators prior to coming to Washington for Lobby Day on November 9.

Mayors are also encouraged to talk to their senators before Lobby Day. An excellent opportunity to have such conversations will be during the week of October 24, when the Senate will be on recess and senators will be back in their states. All calls between now and November 18 are key to getting a higher funding level for CDBG.

With the FY2011 fiscal year ending on September 30, CDBG and other federal programs are being funded through a continuing resolution which expires on November 18. CDBG Lobby Day on November 9 is probably the last chance for mayors to have an impact on the CDBG funding level for the next fiscal year.