Community Leaders Join Rep. Sanders to Discuss Impact of Cuts to Community Service Block Grants

Press Release

Community Leaders Join Rep. Sanders to Discuss Impact of Cuts to Community Service Block Grants

Congressman Sanders today was joined by directors of Vermont's Community Action Programs (CAP) at a press conference focused on the impact of recent funding cuts severely affecting CAPs. Currently the Republican leadership has imposed a 75% cut to the state's Community Service Block Grant (CSBG) funding as part of the leadership's temporary spending bill. CSBG provides the core funding to more than 1,000 Community Action Agencies across the country (including 5 in Vermont) that provide vital services to low-income families and communities, including emergency food assistance and job placement.

Sanders said, "The temporary spending bill that Congress passed, the so-called Continuing Resolution, is devastating to community action agencies in Vermont and working families and seniors on fixed incomes. The resolution expires on November 18th and I will be doing everything that I can in the interim to restore these draconian cuts, and ensure that at the very least, the CSBG program receives as much money this year as it did last year."

Nationally, the CR has resulted in a 50% cut in funding to the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) program going from $636.8 million in FY 2005 to $320 million - the level included in the House version of the FY '06 Labor-H Appropriations bill. This scenario is even worse in Vermont because of the formula requirements for states, such as Vermont, that receive the small state minimum. As a result, Vermont's allocation has been cut by 75% or nearly $2.4 million dollars.

Unfortunately, these critical programs also face cuts once the final FY06 appropriations bill is passed. The House passed version of FY06 appropriations bill included a 50% cut. The Senate version offers level funding. As Congress debates the conference version of these appropriations bills, Sanders will fight to ensure that the Republican leadership supports the Senate version and restores necessary funding to these critical programs.

Sanders was joined at the press conference by Tim Searles, the Director of the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity; Hal Cohen, the Director of the Central Vermont Community Action Council; and Trevor Colby, the Director of the Northeast Kingdom Community Action Program. Sanders' statement from the press conference is attached.

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