HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.R. NO.

77

TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2005

  

STATE OF HAWAII

  
   

HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

URGING THE UNITED STATE CONGRESS NOT TO CUT FEDERAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FUNDING AS PROPOSED BY THE ADMINISTRATION IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2006 FEDERAL BUDGET.

 

 

WHEREAS, community development activities include many different programs that provide assistance to a wide variety of grantees. Begun in 1974, the Community Development Block Grant is one of the oldest programs in the Department of Housing and Urban Development; and

WHEREAS, the Community Development Block Grant program provides annual grants on a formula basis to many different types of grantees through several programs such as:

(1) Entitlement Communities:  The program provides annual grants on a formula basis to entitled cities and counties to develop viable urban communities, by providing decent housing and a suitable living environment and by expanding economic opportunities, principally for low- and moderate-income persons;

(2) State Administered Community Development Block Grant:  Participating states award grants only to units of general local government that carry out development activities. Annually, each state develops funding priorities and criteria for selecting projects;

(3) Section 108 Loan Guarantee Program:  Community Development Block Grant entitlement communities are eligible to apply for a guarantee from the section 108 loan guarantee program. Community Development Block Grant non-entitlement communities may also apply; provided that their state agrees to pledge the block grant funds necessary to secure the loan. Non-entitlement applicants may receive their loan guarantee directly or designate another eligible public entity, such as an industrial development authority, to receive it and carry out the section 108 assisted project;

(4) Department of Housing and Urban Development-Administered Small Cities:  The Department of Housing and Urban Development's Hawaii State Office at Honolulu directly administers the Community Development Block Grant program for non-entitlement areas in the State of Hawaii;

(5) Insular Areas:  The insular areas Community Development Block Grant program provides grants to four designated areas:  American Samoa; Guam; Northern Mariana Islands; and the Virgin Islands;

(6) Disaster Recovery Assistance:  The Department of Housing and Urban Development provides flexible grants to help cities, counties, and states recover from disasters declared by the President, especially in low-income areas, subject to availability of supplemental appropriations;

(7) Colonias:  Texas, Arizona, California and New Mexico set aside up to ten per cent of their state Community Development Block Grant funds for use in colonias; and

(8) Renewal Communities/Empowerment Zones/Enterprise Communities:  This program is an innovative approach to revitalization, bringing communities together through public and private partnerships to attract the investment necessary for sustainable economic and community development; and

WHEREAS, to be eligible, not less than seventy per cent of the Community Development Block Grant funds must be used for activities that benefit low- and moderate-income persons over a one-, two-, or three-year period selected by the grantee. All activities must meet one of the following national objectives for the program:

(1) Benefit low- and moderate-income persons;

(2) Prevention or elimination of slums or blight; and

(3) Community development needs having a particular urgency because existing conditions pose a serious and immediate threat to the health or welfare of the community; and

WHEREAS, the community development block grant program works largely without fanfare or recognition to ensure decent affordable housing for all, to provide services to the most vulnerable in our communities, and to create jobs and expand business opportunities; and

WHEREAS, the community development block grant program is an important tool in helping local governments tackle the most serious challenges facing their communities and has made a difference in the lives of millions of people living in communities all across this country; and

WHEREAS, the Administration has proposed cutting community development block grant funding in the fiscal year 2006 federal budget; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2005, that this body urges the United State Congress not to cut federal Community Development Block Grant funding as proposed by the Administration in the fiscal year 2006 federal budget; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States, the Speaker of the United State House of Representatives, the President of the United State Senate, the members of Hawaii's Congressional delegation, and the Governor.

 

 
 

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title:

Community Development Block Grants; Urge No Federal Cuts