A resolution calling on President George W. Bush, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, Senator Lamar Alexander, and the United States Congress to preserve the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program within the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

WHEREAS, the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program was enacted, and signed into law by President Gerald Ford, as the centerpiece of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974; and

WHEREAS, the CDBG program has as its primary objective "the development of viable urban communities, by providing decent housing and a suitable living environment and expanding economic opportunities, principally for persons of low and moderate income;" and

WHEREAS, the CDBG program has considerable flexibility to allow communities to carry out activities that are tailored to their unique affordable housing and neighborhood revitalization needs; and

WHEREAS, throughout its 30-year history, the CDBG program has been a partnership among the federal, state and local governments, business, and the nonprofit sector which carry out activities that improve the lives and neighborhoods of low and moderate income families; and

WHEREAS, according to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), in fiscal year 2004, CDBG provided funds for thousands of activities, assisting over 23 million persons and households through such activities as expanding homeownership activities, eliminating slums and blighting influences, improving infrastructure such as roads, water and sewer systems, libraries, community centers, adult day care and after school care for children, homeless housing facilities, employment training, transportation services, crime awareness, and business and job creation; and

WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Government, through the Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency (MDHA), has appropriated over $13 million in CDBG funds since 2002, which have been used for affordable housing activities, youth initiative projects, and community projects associated with park improvements, neighborhood commercial revitalization, and slum and blight removal; and

WHEREAS, the President's fiscal year 2006 budget proposes to completely eliminate the CDBG program; and

WHEREAS, should such a proposal be enacted, it would have a devastating effect on many of the programs administered by MDHA.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:

Section 1. That the Metropolitan County Council hereby calls on President George W. Bush, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, Senator Lamar Alexander, and the United States Congress to preserve the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program within the Department of Housing and Urban Development and provide a fiscal year 2006 funding level of at least $4.7 billion overall, with no less than $4.35 billion in formula funding.

Section 2. The Metropolitan Clerk is directed to send a copy of this Resolution to President George W. Bush, to U.S. Senators Bill Frist and Lamar Alexander, and to each member of the Tennessee Congressional Delegation.

Section 3. That this resolution shall take effect from and after its adoption, the welfare of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.

Sponsored by: Ludye Wallace