Legislation & Politics

Letter to members of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Treasury, the Judiciary and Housing and Urban Development about the FY 2006 Transportation, Treasury, the Judiciary and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations bill

June 7, 2005

Note: A similar letter was sent to members of House of Representatives Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Treasury and Housing and Urban Development, the Judiciary, District of Columbia

Members of Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Treasury, the Judiciary and
Housing and Urban Development
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senator:

As Congress considers the Fiscal Year (FY) 2006 Transportation, Treasury, the Judiciary and Housing and Urban Development FY 2006 Appropriations Bill, I am writing on behalf of the 1.4 million members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) to request that you strongly support the Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) housing and community development programs, especially the Community Development Block Grant, Public Housing Capital Fund, Public Housing Operating Fund, and HOPE VI.

AFSCME strongly supports full funding for the Federal Transit Administration and the Federal Highway program in order to help strengthen America's transportation network. These investments are needed to modernize our transit infrastructure and to increase national economic competitiveness. AFSCME also supports funding for the Highway Traffic Safety Grant Program; the Motor Carrier Safety Operations and Programs; and Hazardous Materials Safety Program (HAZMAT).

Department of Housing and Urban Development

HUD has a vital role in strengthening America's communities by promoting affordable housing and community development. To effectively promote and ensure strong, stable, and supportive neighborhoods for all Americans, we need strong investments in low-income and moderate-income communities.

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Formula Grants

AFSCME requests $4.732 billion for FY 2006 CDBG funding. We strongly support retaining CDBG as a distinct program at HUD and AFSCME opposes President Bush's proposal to move CDBG to the Commerce Department and consolidate it with a variety of separate programs. The CDBG program has always received bipartisan support since President Nixon signed it into law in 1974. It provides state and local communities vital investment funds to address local needs, based on local priorities and decision-making. Most CDBG funds are delivered via a formula grant and a small percentage via set asides for several narrowly targeted programs. AFSCME strongly supports the formula grant component.

Public Housing

As the affordable housing crisis continues to harm impoverished and low-income families, our nation urgently needs to preserve, operate, renovate, and develop a variety of housing options. To succeed, we must continue our long-standing investment in the permanent inventory of 1.2 million public housing units that house 3.2 million Americans. Although their incomes are below average, those renting and living in public housing represent America's full diversity, including more than one million children and one million seniors — more than any other housing program. To ensure seniors, children, and working families have affordable housing, we must invest adequately and assist Public Housing Authorities (PHAs). This will help ensure public housing benefits residents and surrounding communities. As public housing employees and residents, many AFSCME members have direct experience and first hand knowledge of these circumstances.

Public Housing Operating Fund

AFSCME requests $4.2 billion for the Public Housing Operating Fund. These funds are needed to operate and maintain the quality of public housing and are supported by the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities (CLAPHA) and the National Association of Housing Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO). President Bush's proposal underfunds needed operating costs and will undermine the public housing and numerous related successful private/public partnerships. If adequate funding is not provided, PHAs will fail to deliver tens of thousands of housing units to needy families - many who have been languishing on waiting lists for many years.

Public Housing Capital Fund

AFSCME requests $3.5 billion for the Public Housing Capital Fund. The Council of Large Public Housing Authorities and the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials agree with AFSCME's request. These funds are needed to renovate and modernize public housing. President Bush's proposal underfunds needed capital costs; threatens nearly $1 billion in private capital investments; and fails to address the $21 billion capital repair backlog. Underfunding will actually increase future costs for basic capital repairs such as roofs, heating systems and elevators because investments in simple capital repairs sooner typically prevent larger capital repair costs later.

Severely Distressed Housing (HOPE VI)

AFSCME requests $525 million for Severely Distressed Public Housing (HOPE VI). These funds are needed to revitalize distressed communities and help impoverished families raise themselves out of poverty. HOPE VI is widely recognized as one of the most effective federal programs for using a comprehensive mixed-income, mixed finance approach to revitalize communities and reduce concentrated poverty.

Resident Opportunities and Supportive Services (ROSS)

AFSCME requests $55 million for Resident Opportunities and Supportive Services (ROSS). The ROSS program provides grants for service coordinators to work in public housing to address seniors' unique needs.

Highway and Transit

Increased funding for transportation programs over the past few years have helped improve the condition of our nation's transportation infrastructure. Despite this success, more needs to be done. Our nation's economic growth is directly linked to the investments in our transportation systems. Increased funding for highway and transit programs stimulates the economy, improves transportation safety, reduces travel congestion and boosts state and local economies. In addition, improved highway and transit infrastructure leads to new development, increased property values, and reduced travel time.

Recognizing that Congress is still in the process of reauthorizing the Transportation Equity Act, we are hopeful that the Senate funding levels will prevail. While these levels are still below what is needed, we support the Senate levels as passed in the TEA21 reauthorization bill, which would provide more than $40 billion for highway spending and $9 billion for transit spending in FY 2006. We also support full funding for the Highway Traffic Safety Grant Program; the Motor Carrier Safety Operations and Programs; and Hazardous Materials Safety Program (HAZMAT).

We thank you for your continued leadership and for your serious consideration of our funding requests for these vital programs.


     Sincerely,

     Charles M. Loveless
     Director of Legislation

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