Speak out against the House of Representatives’ proposed budget cuts
Continuing off yesterday's post, here's a chance to tell them not to balance the budget at such a huge cost to our communities.
Leaders in the House of Representatives declared their plans to cut funds to many key programs. What's on the table? Programs that help rebuild our economy, funds that help our rural, suburban and urban communities create more housing and transportation choices near jobs, shops and schools, support our local economies and protect the environment, including:
-Elimination of funds for the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)’s HOPE VI program, which serves a vital role in HUD’s efforts to transform public housing into strong communities.
-Elimination of funds for the Environmental Protection Agency’s Brownfields Program, which helps states and communities to prevent, assess, safely cleanup, and reuse abandoned land to strengthen local economies
-Restriction on funds for HUD’s Community Development Fund, including limiting the funds to Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Programs and preventing funds from going to the Sustainable Communities Initiative.
-Rescindment of unobligated funds for HUD’s Sustainable Communities Initiative, which improves access to affordable housing, increases transportation options and lowers transportation costs while supporting communities nationwide.
-Rescindment of the Department of Transportation’s unobligated TIGER II funds, aimed at strengthening the economy and creating jobs, reducing gridlock and providing safe, affordable and environmentally sustainable transportation choices.
The CDBG funds are particulary important in Spokane, allocating an estimated $1.9 million in federal funds per year to subrecipients throughout the Spokane area to conduct activities that improve the lives and living conditions of low-income residents. These subrecipients use CDBG funds to improve local infrastructure, provide needed human services, improve parks and public facilities and increase recreational opportunities. Check local projects HERE that range from aquifer protection to Second Harvest Food Bank.
Tell your representatives to reject cuts to smart economic investments HERE.
