[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 9]
[House]
[Page 12745]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANTS

  (Mr. VEASEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to shed light on the importance 
of the Community Development Block Grant Program. This program provides 
urban communities with vital resources needed to address a wide range 
of community development needs, growing local economies, and improving 
the quality of life for low- and moderate-income citizens.
  Since the start of the program, the Community Development Block Grant 
program has invested over $135 billion in local economies by helping 
families, creating jobs, supporting businesses, improving 
infrastructure, and providing housing to many Americans who are in 
need.
  The program has provided the great State of Texas with over $60 
million in direct grants this year alone, with over $28 million going 
to the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Funding for this program is vital 
to the constituents of the 33rd Congressional District. It has assisted 
homeowners with rehabbing their homes, providing downpayment and 
closing cost assistance to qualified home buyers; funded public 
improvements; provided public services, including employment training, 
meals and services to the elderly.
  The appropriations bill up for vote this week cuts the fiscal year 
2014 budget for these grants nearly in half. This is the lowest level 
of funding in history. I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' and save 
this important program.

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