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"So it's a tight budget year
and it won't be an easy fight – but you can bet I'm
going to push to make sure we invest here at home –
and I'm proud to be your advocate in that fight for a stronger
America."
-
Senator Patty Murray
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Dear Friend:
Knowing your interest in housing issues, I’m
writing to update you on the fight in Washington, D.C. to support
local housing efforts.
If you do not wish to receive my housing updates, please reply
to this message with “Unsubscribe Housing Updates.”
We have so much at stake this year in Congress. Throughout
our state, the lack of affordable housing is a silent epidemic.
The federal government should be a strong partner in helping
local housing leaders develop solutions.
But instead, politicians in Washington, D.C. are trying to
cut federal support for critical housing programs.
This year, the Bush Administration has proposed:
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Cutting CDBG by more than a billion dollars
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Eliminating the HOPE VI program
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Cutting housing for the elderly by 26 percent
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Cutting housing for the disabled by 50 percent
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and cutting the Public Housing Capital Fund.
Those are the wrong priorities.
Housing leaders on the frontlines need more help – not
less. That’s why I’m using my position -- as the
top Democrat on the subcommittee that funds and oversees HUD
-- to stand up for our state. It won’t be easy in such
a tough budget year, and that’s why I’m sending
you this update – so you have the information you need
to help in the fight for our communities.
Please forward this message to others who care about housing.
They can sign up here: http://murray.senate.gov/economy/housingcomments.cfm
Sincerely,
P.S. I send these Housing Alerts whenever
there is news to report.
I also send a weekly update on other Senate issues that
affect our state.
You can sign up for those here: http://murray.senate.gov/updates
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Senator Tells HUD Secretary that
Political Message on Contracts was "Grossly Unprofessional"
(Washington, D.C.) – On May 10, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.),
the ranking Democrat on the Transportation, Treasury, Housing and
Urban Development and the Judiciary Appropriations Subcommittee (TTHUD),
wrote to Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Alphonso Jackson
expressing her outrage at suggestions that receipt of HUD grants and
contracts is based on political affiliation.
According to a May 5th article in the Dallas Business Journal which
quoted a speech Jackson gave to the Real Estate Executive Council
on April 28, 2006, the Secretary allegedly indicated that he had decided
to rescind a contract award based on the prospective contractor’s
political views.
"It appears that you are quite content to let stand your
message that contractors at your agency had better be political
supporters of the President if they hope to compete successfully
for HUD funds," Murray wrote to Jackson. "That may sit
well with your personal political agenda, but it is not behavior
consistent with a public servant sworn to uphold the laws of our
nation."
Following press coverage of the Dallas incident, a HUD agency press
secretary claimed that Secretary Jackson had invented the story. Murray
addressed this issue as well.
"Even if your words were not true, they send out a deliberately
chilling message to current and future competitors for HUD grants
and contracts that 'only Republicans need apply,'" Murray wrote.
Murray also expressed her concern that government contracts be awarded
solely based on merit and asked HUD IG Kenneth M. Donohue to investigate
this incident in particular, but also overall practices at HUD to
ensure that political affiliation is not a factor.
Murray also requested that Donohue investigate whether the Secretary’s
public comments suggesting a pattern and practice of political favoritism
within HUD constitute a violation of law or regulation.
....................................................................................
Farmworker Housing: Senator Murray
Applauds Washington State Farmworker Housing Trust Board for Reaching
Historic Agreement on Grower-Sponsored Housing
(Washington, D.C.) – On April 25, U.S. Senator Patty Murray
addressed members of the Washington State Farmworker Housing Trust
Board as they met in Leavenworth, Washington. Murray, who spoke to
the group by phone, commended them for making progress that would
not have been possible a decade ago.
After Murray's remarks, the group reached an agreement on grower-sponsored
housing. This is the first time an agreement has been reached by growers,
advocates, housing providers and other community stakeholders on this
previously contentious issue.
"As a board, you've helped our state move past a decade of conflict.
You created new relationships based on trust, and you created new
ways to work together. And I'm really proud of what you've done like
completing the needs assessment, securing funding and implementing
the survey," Murray said. "I'm following your work, and
I’m ready to work with you as we move this issue into the next
phase of implementation."
In August 2005, many board members joined Senator Murray in Buena,
Washington. See
details, photos and audio.
More
....................................................................................
Senator Murray Addresses Housing
Leaders at 2006 NAHRO Pacific Northwest Regional Council Conference
On April 26, Senator Murray spoke by phone with 200 housing leaders
who were gathered in Portland, Oregon for the annual conference of
the Pacific Northwest Regional Council of the National Association
of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO).
Murray updated the group on the fight for housing in Washington,
D.C. They presented Senator Murray with an award naming her "Advocate
of the Year."
"I'm also speaking out about the way HUD is treating all of
you. I've heard some in this Administration claim that housing authorities
are not performing. They've got it wrong. I know you're working
harder than ever. The truth is that HUD and this Administration
are not serving our housing authorities and the families who rely
on them. So I've got a message for HUD too – stop criticizing
the folks on the frontlines and start helping."
Full
Remarks
....................................................................................
Community Development
Block Grants...
Save Community Development in Kitsap
On April 11, Senator Murray visited Kitsap County to continue the
fight against budget cuts that will hurt our communities. Congress
is considering cutting Community
Community Advocates Thank Senator Murray
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Development Block Grant funding to Washington state by $16 million.
Bremerton has benefited greatly from these grants. One such grant
helped redevelop the Admiral Theater, where Senator Murray joined
local leaders and residents for a rally.
The day started in downtown Bremerton on the mayor's balcony where
everyone got a birds-eye view of all the development projects that
have been funded through CDBG. Then the group stopped by the Max Hale
Homeless Center, which uses CDBG dollars to provide critical services.
Finally everyone gathered at the Admiral Theater to hear from residents
and service providers about the importance of these federal dollars.
.........................................
Community & Housing Groups Stand
Together to Fight Budget Cuts
On March 21, more than 70 housing and community advocates joined
Senator Murray in Seattle at a press conference to oppose cuts to
the Community Development Block Grant, known as CDBG.
Local officials including King County Executive Ron Sims and Bellevue
Mayor Grant Degginger spoke about how CDBG dollars are helping families
and communities. The event
Community & Housing Groups Join Senator
Murray to Fight Cuts
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attracted community development agencies, non-profit housing providers
and social service providers. The rally took place at the YWCA
Opportunity Place in Seattle. Opportunity Place has benefited from
the program. The YWCA's regional director spoke about the impact those
dollars have, and a resident of Opportunity Place told us about how
the support she got there changed her life.
The Bush Administration has proposed cutting more than $1 billion
from the program, which provides critical seed money to provide safe,
affordable housing, and create jobs and economic development in underserved
neighborhoods. It's estimated that each dollar in CDBG funds leverages
another $30 in private capital. The cuts proposed in Washington, D.C.
could cost WA state about $16 million in federal support. Senator
Murray offered an amendment to restore that funding, but her amendment
was rejected.
....................................................................................
More Housing News...
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If this message was forwarded to you, Sign
Up Here:
http://murray.senate.gov/economy/housingcomments.cfm
See Past Housing Updates:
Housing Alert from Senator Patty Murray -- Help Save CDGB
http://murray.senate.gov/economy/update2.html
Senator Murray Warns that the President's Housing Budget
Will Hurt Families and Undermine Community Development
http://murray.senate.gov/economy/update1.html
Celebrating Our Progress on Farmworker Housing
http://murray.senate.gov/latino/update1a.html
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