[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 199 (Wednesday, December 21, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S9762]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


     
     
                        COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
     
       Mr. LEAHY. Madam President, throughout my time in the Senate, I have 
     been proud to champion policies and programs that encourage community 
     and economic development. The two go hand-in-hand. Vibrant communities 
     attract investment and economic success supports community life.
       Our sense of community and our pride in our communities defines 
     Vermont. As a Vermonter, I have supported programs that invest in the 
     physical infrastructure our communities need to thrive--from water and 
     wastewater systems, roads, bridges and sidewalks, to the clean-up of 
     brownfields.
       Burlington's Church Street Marketplace is a model nationwide for how 
     to build a lively, attractive downtown that will attract visitors while 
     also serving local residents. I was proud to secure funding for its 
     creation.
       But the ties and connections which create community do not come just 
     from buildings and sidewalks. They come from a shared history and the 
     knowledge that we have a shared future. That is one of the things I 
     learned from my dear friend, the late Paul Bruhn, for whom the Paul 
     Bruhn Historic Revitalization Program is named. The program is used 
     across the country to not simply preserve historic buildings, but to 
     give them new life as housing, business incubators, or community 
     centers which preserve our history as we build our future.
       Community development block grants and the HOME program are also used 
     throughout the country to build needed housing, which we know touches 
     on nearly every challenge we face from workforce development to 
     substance use. That is why when the previous administration wanted to 
     cut funding for these programs, I fought to retain that funding.
       Roughly half of all Americans work for a small business, which is why 
     I had also strongly advocated for the Small Business Administration and 
     defended it whenever an administration decided, wrongly, that it should 
     be cut. It is also why I pushed for funding for the Small Business 
     Development Centers to provide free technical assistance to small 
     businesses and help them attract capital.
       In Vermont, I secured funding for the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund 
     and the Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies to provide needed 
     capital for new businesses. I also supported innovative job training 
     centers such as the Advanced Manufacturing Center at Vermont Technical 
     College and the Burlington's Aviation Technical Center to be sure these 
     new businesses have the skilled workers they need to succeed.
       I have always been a proud champion and advocate for Vermont's State-
     run and privately run airport. For decades, the Burlington 
     International Airport has served as Vermont's window to the world and 
     an essential economic engine that the broader economic development 
     community across the State depends on.
       I also brought Federal funds to build and strengthen the 
     infrastructure that connects Vermont's businesses and communities to 
     the rest of the world such as airports, rail lines, and the ports of 
     entry along the border we share with Quebec.
       One of the reasons people come to Vermont to visit or to live is the 
     State's physical beauty. Whether you prefer to walk through a historic 
     village green or to ski down a mountain, Vermont offers the chance to 
     get outside and enjoy beautiful weather.
       I used Vermont's town forests as a model for the Community Forest and 
     Open Space Program, which protects open spaces while creating places 
     across the country for people to walk, hunt, and cycle right in their 
     community. I sought to protect and expand Vermont's fisheries, trails, 
     and forests because public spaces are integral to our individual and 
     collective well-being while also supporting economic development.
       When it comes to building strong communities and strong economies, 
     there isn't a silver bullet. Instead, there are a great many pieces, 
     each of which varies slightly from place to place. I am proud to have 
     helped towns and cities in Vermont and across the country and the 
     businesses located there get what they needed from their government to 
     improve the lives of their residents.
     
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