HomeMy WebLinkAbout026172 RES - 03/08/2005
A RESOLUTION
URGING CONGRESS TO REJECT THAT PORTION OF THE ADMINISTRATION'S
PROPOSED 2006 FEDERAL BUDGET THAT CALLS FOR THE SHIFTING OF THE
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM FROM THE
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT TO THE DEPARTMENT
OF COMMERCE AND REQUEST THAT THE PROGRAM REMAIN FULLY FUNDED.
WHEREAS, since its creation by President Richard Nixon more than 30 years
ago, the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program has been the signature
partnership between the federal government and local government to create jobs, in-
crease economic development opportunities, expand home ownership, and maintain
neighborhoods;
WHEREAS, in previous years, the CDBG program provided the City of Corpus
Christi with approximately $4 million per year that was used to benefit homeowners
through the reconstruction or repair of existing homes; assist new homebuyers with
down payment and closing costs; provide assistance and loans to local small busi-
nesses owned by low-income persons; benefit thousands of residents by improving
streets, sidewalks, and parks in their neighborhoods; and provide social services to
thousands of families and individuals in need, through assistance to local agencies;
WHEREAS, for every dollar invested through CDBG programs, private or other
grant dollars are leveraged for housing and economic development;
WHEREAS, the proposed 2006 Federal Budget, as released February 8, 2005,
recommends shifting the CDBG program and 17 other programs from the Department
of Housing and Urban Development to the Department of Commerce and significantly
reducing the amount of federal funding for the program;
WHEREAS, the U. S. Conference of Mayors, the National League of Cities, the
National Community Development Association, and the National Association of
Counties have joined with a coalition of business leaders to denounce the proposed
shifting and funding reduction of the CDBG program in the 2006 Federal Budget; and
WHEREAS, the coalition has bi-partisan support to keep the CDBG program
within the Department of Housing and Urban Development and to remain fully funded.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS, THAT:
SECTION 1. The City Council strongly urges Congress to reject that portion of the
Administration's proposed 2006 Federal budget that calls for the shifting of the
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program and to require that the CDBG
program remain fully funded at the $4.7 billion level and continue to be administered by
the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
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SECTION 2. The City Council declares this resolution to be an emergency measure
necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, safety, and welfare and
for the reason that the CDBG program is a vital component of the partnership between
the federal and local governments to create jobs, increase economic development
opportunities, and expand home ownership.
SECTION 3. The City Council authorizes the City Manager, or his designee, to send a
copy of this resolution to U. S. Senators Kay Bailey Hutchison and John Cornyn and
U. S. House Representative Solomon P. Ortiz.
SECTION 4. This resolution shall become effective immediately upon its passage and
approval.
ATTEST:
CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI
Arma~
City Secretary
~w~ ~4t=.
amuel L. eal, Jr.
Mayor
Eliza th R. Hundley
Assis ant City Attorney
for the City Attorney
'3/3/
I I
,2005
APPROVED AS TO LEGAL FORM:
H:\LEG-DIR\elizabeth\Dept Files\EH Resolutions\EHres 152.doc
Corpus Christi, Texas
~ day of ~t,-
,2005
The above resolution was passed by the following vote:
Brent Chesney
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Samuel L. Neal, Jr.
Javier D. Colmenero
Melody Cooper
Henry Garrett
Bill Kelly
Rex A. Kinnison
Jesse Noyola
Mark Scott
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02f)172