Bill Text: MS HR70 | 2017 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Community Development Block Grant Program; urge Congress to ensure program remains funded and express importance of to Mississippi.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Failed) 2017-03-29 - Died In Committee [HR70 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2017-HR70-Introduced.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2017 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Representative Baria
House Resolution 70
A RESOLUTION URGING THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES TO ENSURE THAT THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM WILL CONTINUE TO BE FUNDED SO THAT MISSISSIPPI'S CITIZENS WILL BE PROTECTED IN THE WAKE OF FUTURE NATURAL DISASTERS.
WHEREAS, the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program is a flexible program that provides communities with resources to address a wide range of unique community development needs and disaster relief efforts, and is one of the longest continuously run programs at the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development; and
WHEREAS, under the most recent Trump Administration budget proposal, the CDBG program, which has provided billions of dollars in disaster relief funds, would be zeroed out, potentially leaving many communities without any way to rebuild their homes, businesses and infrastructure after a natural disaster such as Hurricane Katrina; and
WHEREAS, the CDBG program allocated more than $3 billion for 9/11 recovery efforts, more than $15 billion to rebuild after Hurricane Sandy, and most importantly for Mississippi citizens, $20 billion to help victims of Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma; and
WHEREAS, under the President's proposed budget, it is unclear how readily any money would be available to affected communities when the next disaster strikes and what oversight would be in place to ensure any funds are not misused; and
WHEREAS, many people rely on the CDBG program after disasters because the money is readily allocated and allows a community to get back up and running as quickly as possible; and
WHEREAS, when not providing disaster relief funds, the CDBG program works to ensure decent affordable housing, to provide services to the most vulnerable in our communities and to create jobs through the expansion and retention of businesses; and
WHEREAS, further, the CDBG program funds can be used by local jurisdictions to fund proven programs such as Meals on Wheels, which provides in-person delivery of meals to home-bound senior citizens, in addition to many other important programs; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby urge the Congress of the United States to ensure that the Community Development Block Grant Program will continue to be funded so that the citizens of Mississippi and other coastal communities will be able to rebuild if and when another calamitous natural disaster strikes.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to every member of the Congress of the United States and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.
