[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 162 (Monday, November 14, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1434]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





        RECOGNIZING OCTOBER AS NATIONAL COMMUNITY PLANNING MONTH

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                          HON. EARL BLUMENAUER

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, November 14, 2016

  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize October as 
National Community Planning Month. This year's theme, ``Civic 
Engagement,'' acknowledges that thoughtful local planning cannot happen 
without meaningful community involvement. National Community Planning 
Month provides an opportunity to recognize the essential role that 
planning plays in creating communities of lasting value.
  Planning is the formal process of envisioning, mapping, and guiding 
how a community will look, grow, and define itself--its 
characteristics, attributes, and identity. As our communities continue 
to change and evolve, planners work to ensure that new developments are 
designed and built in harmony with existing surroundings. Planners 
carefully balance the needs and desires of residents against the 
challenges presented by physical, economic, and social change.
  Planners strive to give citizens choices. From the types of homes we 
live in to how we choose to get around, planning helps ensure that we 
address the needs of everyone. A diverse and vibrant community is one 
that offers transportation and housing choices that are equitable and 
sustainable.
  In my home state of Oregon, our commitment to planning became an 
official part of our state policy structure in 1973 with the passage of 
Senate Bill 100. We developed a strong planning program with nineteen 
Statewide Planning Goals, including promoting citizen involvement, 
stimulating economic development, and preserving ocean resources. Over 
forty years later, the ``Oregon Story'' of economic growth, 
sustainability, and deliberate development is as compelling as ever. 
I've worked very closely with the planners that have written that story 
and guided our region's growth, integrating statewide policies with the 
needs and interests of local communities.
  As founder of the Congressional Livable Communities Task Force and 
Co-Chair of the Congressional Bike Caucus, I've sought to bring that 
understanding to Congress. From rebuilding and renewing America's 
infrastructure, protecting natural and urban resources, to supporting 
programs that enhance public health, we must find ways to improve the 
federal partnership with those who are engaged in the day-to-day work 
of creating livable communities. Planners are the gatekeepers of that 
partnership, and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting National 
Community Development Month.

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