Turner Statement on Budget Resolution Conference Report

Turner Statement on Budget Resolution Conference Report
April 22, 2005

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Michael R. Turner (R-Centerville) declared the Budget Resolution Conference Report that was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives Thursday evening, a victory for Community Development advocates.

Congressman Turner said, "Maintaining CDBG (Community Development Block Grant Program) at 2005 levels is a major victory for our nation's cities. During oversight hearings by the Subcommittee on Federalism and the Census, stakeholders chronicled the importance of the program. This victory maintains the government's commitment to economic development in our nation's cities."

The conference agreement increases discretionary spending levels for the Community and Regional Development function by $1.5 billion over the President's request. The Community and Regional Development function includes programs that provide federal funding for economic and community development in urban areas, including CDBG (Community Development Block Grants). The Conference Report maintains economic and community development programs such as CDBG at 2005 levels.

Representative Turner is Chairman of the Speaker's Saving America's Cities working group. In this capacity, he worked with Saving America's Cities third party partners such as, the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the National League of Cities, to help protect CDBG.

Congressman Turner said, "The budget resolution is a statement of national priorities. The Conference Report demonstrates that both the House and Senate support our nation's cities and recognize that their continued economic development is of vital interest to the United States."

http://www.house.gov/miketurner/news/press.rel/4.28.05.shtml