Housing Alert from Senator Patty
Murray
-- Help Save CDGB on March 21st --
....................................................................................
Dear Housing Leader:
In Washington, D.C., the fight is on to save
housing programs from painful budget cuts. Last month,
President Bush proposed a budget that would cut HUD programs by nearly
2 percent. So far, the Senate has largely endorsed those misguided cuts.
Among the changes Congress is now considering-
- Cutting housing for the elderly by 26 percent
- Cutting housing for the disabled by 50 percent
- Cutting the Public Housing Capital Fund by 11 percent
- Freezing operating funds for public housing authorities –
for the 5th year in a row
- Eliminating the Hope VI Program (and taking back money Congress
appropriated last year)
- Cutting Community Development Block Grants by over $1 billion.
Those are the wrong priorities. We should be providing
more help for our citizens and communities – not less. That’s
why I’ve been working to fight these budget cuts. At two hearings,
I’ve questioned the HUD secretary about these misguided cuts.
On Tuesday night, I offered an amendment on the Senate floor
to prevent the cuts to CDBG. My amendment would have fully-funded
CDBG. It would have been paid for by closing corporate tax loopholes.
On Wednesday (3/15), I spoke about it again on the Senate floor.
Unfortunately, my amendment was defeated 53-45 on a largely
partisan vote.
Instead, the Senate passed an empty, symbolic measure expressing
“support” for CDBG without providing a dime of real funding.
That amendment was a sham.
See
how Senators voted. A “Yea” vote was in favor
of fully funding CDGB.
Unless we stop the cuts, Washington state will lose $16 million
in CDBG grants next year.
They may have killed my proposal, but I’m not giving up –
and I need your help.
Together, we need to send a message to Congress and the White House
that housing and community development programs are worth the investment.
....................................................................................
An Invitation
Next week, on Tuesday March 21st, I will join with housing and community
leaders in Seattle to show how CDBG funds are changing lives and improving
communities. I want to invite you to attend this important event and
help us send a clear message to the public, the press and elected
officials. I’ll also be collecting stories that show how our
investment in CDBG pays off for our cities, state and country.
Please share this message with other housing leaders.
They can join my list by signing up here: http://murray.senate.gov/economy/housingcomments.cfm
Here are the details:
What: CDBG Press Conference with U.S. Senator
Patty Murray, King County Executive Rom Sims, and Bellevue Mayor
Grant Degginger
When: Tuesday, March 21, 9:45-10:30 AM
Where: YWCA Opportunity Place, 2024 Third Avenue
(Third and Lenora in Belltown)
I hope to see you there.
Sincerely,
....................................................................................
IF THIS MESSAGE WAS FORWARDED TO YOU, SIGN UP
HERE:
http://murray.senate.gov/economy/housingcomments.cfm
SEE PAST HOUSING UPDATES:
http://murray.senate.gov/latino/update1a.html
http://murray.senate.gov/economy/update1.html
UNSUBSCRIBE: Send a message with the
subject line "Unsubscribe Housing List" to:
webmaster@murray.senate.gov
|