[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 82 (Thursday, May 16, 2019)]
[House]
[Page H3845]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         COMMUNITY ACTION MONTH

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I rise today to 
recognize May as Community Action Month.
  This year marks the 55th year since the Community Action Network was 
established to help American families and communities overcome 
obstacles to poverty. There are more than 1,000 Community Action 
Agencies across the country that reach children and families in 99 
percent of America's counties to help provide life-changing services 
that create pathways out of poverty.
  Every year, these agencies help tens of thousands of children and 
youth with before- and after-school programs; more than 165,000 
unemployed people get a job; almost 220,000 families find safe and 
affordable housing; and about 6.5 million people, including seniors, 
make their homes more energy efficient and lower their utility bills.
  Earlier this spring, I was proud to introduce H.R. 1695, the 
Community Services Block Grant Reauthorization Act of 2019, with 
Congresswoman Betty McCollum.
  This bill renews our Nation's commitment to reducing poverty through 
locally driven, comprehensive approaches.
  Madam Speaker, the Community Services Block Grant traces its roots 
back more than 50 years ago to the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964. 
This act established local Community Action Agencies to help identify 
why people were in poverty and how to address it using public and 
private resources, a great public-private partnership.
  These agencies act as a safety net for low-income individuals and 
families. Even more importantly, they help create opportunities for 
people to move from poverty to independence. That is the true measure 
of success as we look at these Community Action Agencies.
  The Community Services Block Grant is the only Federal program with 
the explicit goal of reducing poverty, regardless of the cause. 
Unfortunately, this program has not been reauthorized in more than 20 
years.
  Our bill makes important updates that will strengthen the Community 
Services Block Grant and the network it supports, including:
  A new federally administered Community Action Opioid Response Grant 
that will enable Community Action Agencies to fill service gaps and 
respond to unmet needs of low-income individuals, families, and 
communities affected by the opioid or substance abuse crisis;
  A provision requiring Federal approval of State applications and 
plans, with provisions to allow direct Federal funding of local 
agencies if a State plan fails to meet Federal requirements; and
  A renewed commitment to streamlining the program's stated purpose to 
reduce poverty through support for Community Action Agencies that 
improve economic security for low-income individuals and families and 
create new opportunities in the communities where they live.
  This bill will help more than 15 million low-income Americans and 
provide resources necessary to help lift individuals and families out 
of poverty.
  Madam Speaker, it is time to reauthorize the Community Services Block 
Grant, and I urge all my colleagues to support this bill, especially 
during Community Action Month.

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