Save America's Communities Coalition

Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my opposition to the administration’s budget proposal.

Although the Community Development Block Grant Program is now on its way out if this is approved, I think it is important for the Nation to know that on August 22, 1974, the Today, there is a proposal that would allow for a consolidation of 18 other programs in the Department of Commerce, and the new commerce program would then be funded at a level that is 35 percent lower than the combined fiscal year 2005 appropriated level for all 18 programs.

The pro-rata reduction of CDBG alone would be $1.42 billion. That would devastate a program, Mr. Speaker.

When I was mayor of Kansas City, Missouri, we identified 60,000 homes in need of rehabilitation or repair. We were able to complete 12,000. What will happen to the 48,000 others?