Letter: Block grants fund essential services

Monday, April 11, 2005 | 9:18 a.m.

Residents of Las Vegas should be aware that Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., failed to support a key program that provides vital resources for Nevada's communities when he voted against two amendments to the Senate budget resolution that were offered to support the Community Development Block Grant program.

Across the nation, CDBG is an important source of funding for affordable housing, public services, and infrastructure improvements. The president's proposed budget, however, would eliminate this successful program and endanger Las Vegas' ability to continue to provide much-needed social services.

Fortunately, 68 other senators voted to support an amendment offered by Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn. Thanks to them, the CDBG program will not be eliminated. The Coleman amendment, however, did not go far enough. Sen. Paul Sarbanes, D-Md., had introduced an amendment that would have fully funded CDBG and also raised domestic spending levels so that funding for CDBG was not taken from other vital HUD programs.

We have cleared the first hurdle in the fight to protect our communities; now we must be sure that Congress does not fund the CDBG program by taking resources from Section 8 housing vouchers or public housing -- two other programs that are vital to the community.

JOHN BOHM Washington, D.C.

Editor's note: John Bohm heads the Legislation and Programs Department of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials.