[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 61 (Wednesday, April 10, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H2255-H2256]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        NATIONAL COMMUNITY ACTION FOUNDATION'S 60TH ANNIVERSARY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize 
the incredible work of the National Community Action Foundation as they 
celebrate 60 years of community action.
  Virtually every county throughout the country has a community action 
agency, which is an organization charged with fighting poverty at the 
local level. Today, I want to recognize

[[Page H2256]]

some of the incredible work these agencies do at the local level to 
create opportunities for people to move from poverty to financial 
independence.
  Community action agencies administer Federal funds from the community 
services block grant, which continues to be the only Federal program 
with the explicit and overarching goal of reducing poverty regardless 
of its cause.
  The vast majority of CSBG funds, no less than 90 percent of each 
State's allotment, go directly to local agencies that can use these 
flexible funds to tailor a unique response to poverty in their 
communities.
  Community action agencies are highly successful at leveraging their 
CSBG allotments to obtain a wide array of other public and private 
dollars, showing the immense benefits of supporting successful public-
private partnerships. These agencies often help administer a wide array 
of programs, including Head Start, USDA food programs, LIHEAP, Federal 
homelessness programs, workforce funding, and much more.

  For more than 60 years, the Community Action Network has inspired a 
spirit of hope. It has helped millions of people each year change their 
lives and has improved communities all across America.
  I want to highlight one of the successful agencies in Pennsylvania's 
15th Congressional District: the Northern Tier Community Action 
Corporation.
  Northern Tier Community Action has served a four-county region in my 
district since 1966, covering more than 3,000 square miles and serving 
thousands of individuals annually. They operate a highly successful 
Head Start program, providing education, health, nutrition, and social 
services to families with young children who otherwise may not be able 
to access these services in these rural communities.
  Northern Tier also provides housing assistance to families facing 
imminent loss of their existing housing or who are currently homeless, 
and they help connect low-income individuals to everything from food to 
energy assistance.
  While agencies like Northern Tier are successful at leveraging CSBG 
dollars, we can and must do more to make these dollars go even further. 
Unfortunately, the CSBG program has not been reauthorized in nearly 
three decades. The program, while successful, needs some modernization 
to allow agencies the ability to tap their full potential and better 
serve families and communities.
  This program has a strong history of bipartisan support because of 
the great work it enables, which is why I continue to be a proud 
partner with my friend, Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici, on championing 
recent reauthorization efforts. Several provisions would make the 
program significantly stronger, including expanded eligibility and an 
increased authorization to make sure these funds can serve those most 
in need. It is also critical that community action agencies maintain 
local control over planning and activities and avoid a top-down, one-
size-fits-all approach.
  I am also excited about the possibility of a new broadband navigator 
program within CSBG to respond to the broadband and digital needs of 
low-income families and communities.
  It is time for Congress to renew our Nation's commitment to reducing 
poverty by reauthorizing the community services block grant program.
  I am grateful for the National Community Action Foundation and the 
community action agencies across the country that serve those most in 
need every day.

                          ____________________