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• Community Development Block Grand Funds in Disaster Relief and Recovery [January 28, 2010]

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  "In the aftermath of presidentially declared disasters, Congress has used a variety of programs to help states and local governments finance recovery efforts, among them the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. Over the years, Congress has appropriated supplemental CDBG funds to assist states and communities recover from such natural disasters as hurricanes, earthquakes, and tornadoes. In addition, CDBG funds supported recovery efforts in New York City following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001; in Oklahoma City following the bombing of the Alfred Murrah Building in 1995; and in the city and county of Los Angeles following the riots of 1992. In response to those calamities, CDBG funds were made available for short-term relief efforts, mitigation actions, and long-term recovery, and to provide housing and business assistance, infrastructure reconstruction, and public services. The Gulf Coast hurricanes of 2005 (Katrina, Rita, and Wilma) resulted in the largest appropriation of CDBG funds for disaster relief and recovery in the program's history. Since December 2005, Congress has provided $19.85 billion in CDBG disaster-related assistance to the five states (Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas) affected by the Gulf Coast hurricanes of 2005. This included $11.5 billion in CDBG assistance appropriated in the Defense Appropriations Act for FY2006, P.L. 109-148; $5.2 billion in the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Hurricane Recovery Act of 2006, P.L. 109-234; and $3 billion (exclusively for Louisiana's Road Home Program) appropriated in the Department of Defense Appropriations Act for FY2008, P.L. 110-116."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Boyd, Eugene; Gonzales, Oscar R.

  2010-01-28
• Community Development Block Grants: Funding Issues in the 112th Congress and Recent Funding History [July 13, 2011]

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  "In the coming weeks and months Congress will consider legislation appropriating funds for FY2012. The budget debate will establish national priorities and takes place within the context of growing concerns about the need to address federal budget deficits, the national debt, and a sluggish economic recovery following the longest and deepest recession since the Great Depression. The Obama Administration and the 112th Congress may consider and debate a number of approaches to spur economic activity and job growth, including federal public works and community and economic development programs. In addition, the Administration and Congress must arrive at a consensus on how to address long term deficit reduction, including spending cuts. The Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Community Development Fund (CDF), which includes the Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), are among the accounts that Congress may consider candidates for funding reduction or elimination. […] The President's proposed budget recommends $3.804 billion for the CDF account. This is 8.6% higher than the account's FY2011 funding level. The Administration has proposed a restructuring of the CDF account by minimizing, through transfer or termination, activities not directly related to the CDBG program by authorizing statute. The Administration's FY2012 budget proposes to: (1) increase funding for CDBG formula grants by 10.5% from $3.303 billion appropriated in FY2010 to $3.691 billion; (2) eliminate funding for the Neighborhood Initiative and Economic Development Initiative programs; (3) eliminate funding for Section 107 activities; (4) transfer its Sustainable Communities Initiative to a new stand alone account; and (5) convert Section 108 loan guarantees to a fee-based program. This report will be updated as events warrant."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Boyd, Eugene

  2011-07-13
• Community Development Block Grants: Funding Issues in the 112th Congress and Recent Funding History [May 1, 2012]

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  "The FY2013 budget debate will take place within the context of growing concerns about the need to address federal budget deficits, the national debt, and a sluggish economic recovery following the longest and deepest recession since the Great Depression. The Obama Administration and the 112th Congress will continue to consider and debate a number of approaches to spur economic activity and job growth, including federal public works and community and economic development programs. On February 13, 2012, the President released the Administration's proposed federal budget for FY2013. The Administration's budget proposal includes $3.143 billion for activities funded under the Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Community Development Fund (CDF) account. This includes $2.948 billion for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) formula grants awarded to states, entitlement communities, and insular areas; and $60 million for Indian tribes. The Administration is also requesting $100 million for its Sustainable Communities Initiative (SCI), which did not receive an appropriation for FY2012, and $35 million for capacitybuilding grants awarded to three national intermediaries to provide technical assistance to local community development organizations. In addition, the President's budget request included $500 million in CDBG Section 108 loan guarantee authority to support large scale housing and economic development activities. The FY2013 budget will be the third appropriations cycle undertaken during the 112th Congress."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Boyd, Eugene

  2012-05-01
• FY2013 Appropriations: District of Columbia [August 10, 2012]

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  "On February 13, 2012, the Obama Administration released its detailed budget request for FY2013. The Administration's proposed budget includes $677.8 million in special federal payments to the District of Columbia, which is $12.2 million more than the District's FY2012 appropriation of $665.6 million in special federal payments. Approximately 78% ($526.7 million) of the President's proposed budget request for the District would be targeted to the courts and criminal justice system. The President's budget request also includes $95.6 million in support of education initiatives. This represents 14% of the Administration's federal payment budget request for the District of Columbia."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Boyd, Eugene

  2012-08-10
• Community Development Block Grant Funds in Disaster Relief and Recovery [November 1, 2012]

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  "In the aftermath of presidentially declared disasters, Congress has used a variety of programs to help states and local governments finance recovery efforts, among them the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. Over the years, Congress has appropriated supplemental CDBG funds to assist states and communities recover from such natural disasters as hurricanes, earthquakes, and tornadoes. In addition, CDBG funds supported recovery efforts in New York City following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001; in Oklahoma City following the bombing of the Alfred Murrah Building in 1995; and in the city and county of Los Angeles following the riots of 1992. In response to those calamities, CDBG funds were made available for short-term relief efforts, mitigation actions, and long-term recovery, and to provide housing and business assistance, infrastructure reconstruction, and public services. The Gulf Coast hurricanes of 2005 (Katrina, Rita, and Wilma) resulted in the largest appropriation of CDBG funds for disaster relief and recovery in the program's history. Since December 2005, Congress has provided $19.85 billion in CDBG disaster-related assistance to the five states (Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas) affected by the Gulf Coast hurricanes of 2005. This included $11.5 billion in CDBG assistance appropriated in the Defense Appropriations Act for FY2006, P.L. 109-148; $5.2 billion in the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Hurricane Recovery Act of 2006, P.L. 109-234; and $3 billion (exclusively for Louisiana's Road Home Program) appropriated in the Department of Defense Appropriations Act for FY2008, P.L. 110-116."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Boyd, Eugene

  2012-11-01
• Community Development Block Grant Funds in Disaster Relief and Recovery [September 21, 2011]

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  "In the aftermath of presidentially declared disasters, Congress has used a variety of programs to help states and local governments finance recovery efforts, among them the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. Over the years, Congress has appropriated supplemental CDBG funds to assist states and communities recover from such natural disasters as hurricanes, earthquakes, and tornadoes. In addition, CDBG funds supported recovery efforts in New York City following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001; in Oklahoma City following the bombing of the Alfred Murrah Building in 1995; and in the city and county of Los Angeles following the riots of 1992. In response to those calamities, CDBG funds were made available for short-term relief efforts, mitigation actions, and long-term recovery, and to provide housing and business assistance, infrastructure reconstruction, and public services. The Gulf Coast hurricanes of 2005 (Katrina, Rita, and Wilma) resulted in the largest appropriation of CDBG funds for disaster relief and recovery in the program's history. Since December 2005, Congress has provided $19.85 billion in CDBG disaster-related assistance to the five states (Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas) affected by the Gulf Coast hurricanes of 2005. This included $11.5 billion in CDBG assistance appropriated in the Defense Appropriations Act for FY2006, P.L. 109-148; $5.2 billion in the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Hurricane Recovery Act of 2006, P.L. 109-234; and $3 billion (exclusively for Louisiana's Road Home Program) appropriated in the Department of Defense Appropriations Act for FY2008, P.L. 110-116."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Boyd, Eugene

  2011-09-21
• Community Development Block Grant Funds in Disaster Relief and Recovery [Updated May 6, 2008]

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  "In the aftermath of presidentially declared disasters, Congress has used a variety of programs to help states and local governments finance recovery efforts, among them the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. Over the years, Congress has appropriated supplemental CDBG funds to assist states and communities recover from such natural disasters as hurricanes, earthquakes, and tornadoes. In addition, CDBG funds supported recovery efforts in New York City following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001; in Oklahoma City following the bombing of the Alfred Murrah Building in 1995; and in the city and county of Los Angeles following the riots of 1992. In response to those calamities, CDBG funds were made available for short-term relief efforts, mitigation actions, and longterm recovery, and to provide housing and business assistance, infrastructure reconstruction, and public services. […] This additional appropriation brought the total amount of CDBG supplemental assistance for Gulf Coast recovery activities to $16.7 billion. It also included provisions that limit the amount states can use for administrative expenses to 5%; allow states to seek waivers of program requirements, except those related to fair housing, nondiscrimination, labor standards, and environmental review; sets aside $1 billion for housing rehabilitation and repair activities, including public and assisted housing; prohibits the use of funds for activities that are reimbursable by or made available by Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) or the Army Corp of Engineers; and require states to develop and HUD to approve state recovery plans that give priority in the use of funds for infrastructure development and rehabilitation and the development and rehabilitation of affordable rental housing."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Boyd, Eugene

  2008-05-06
• Economic Development Administration: Reauthorization and Funding Issues in the 112th Congress [March 1, 2012]

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  "The primary focus of the Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA) is to help regions experiencing long-term economic distress or sudden economic dislocation attract private-sector capital and create higher-skill, higher-wage jobs through investments in public infrastructure, the provision of technical assistance and research, and the development and implementation of Comprehensive Economic Development Strategies (CEDS). […] Congress may consider a number of changes in the structure of EDA assistance programs. At least one bill, S. 782, the Economic Development Revitalization Act, has been reported by a congressional committee. The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works reported the bill on May 2, 2011. The bill includes several provisions intended to encourage regional and interagency cooperation, expand the role of regional Economic Development Districts, and modify the factors used to determine the federal share of EDA-funded projects and activities. […] In an effort to end debate and bring the bill to a floor vote, a cloture motion was filed on June 16, 2011. Successful adoption of the cloture motion would have limited time for debate on the bill, prohibited consideration of non-germane amendments, and allowed the Senate to vote on passage of S. 782. On June 21, 2011, the chamber rejected the cloture motion, 49-51. Currently, the bill has been set aside and may be considered at a future date in the 112th Congress. The reauthorization of EDA and its programs will take place within the context of more prominent policy debates regarding efforts to reduce federal spending to address growing budget deficits and the national debt; concerns about the duplication, fragmentation, and effectiveness of federal economic development assistance; and efforts to support economic recovery and job creation following the worst economic recession since the Great Depression. […] This report will be updated as events warrant." This report also contains maps and tables.

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Boyd, Eugene

  2012-03-01
• Federal Regional Authorities and Commissions: Their Function and Design [Updated September 21, 2006]

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  "This report examines the legislative history and design structure of the nation's four federally chartered regional commissions: the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), the Denali Commission (DC), the Delta Regional Authority (DRA), and the Northern Great Plains Regional Authority (NGPRA). For each of the four entities, this report includes a summary of the legislative history leading to its creation, its funding history, and a listing by state of political subdivisions included in its designated service areas. The report also identifies criteria a jurisdiction must meet in order to be designated as a recipient of funding, the structure of the governing authority charged with administering funds, and current funding and legislative issues, if any."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Boyd, Eugene

  2006-09-21
• Community Development Block Grants: Funding Issues in the 112th Congress and Recent Funding History [June 28, 2012]

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  "The FY2013 budget debate will take place within the context of growing concerns about the need to address federal budget deficits, the national debt, and a sluggish economic recovery following the longest and deepest recession since the Great Depression. The 112th Congress will continue to consider and debate a number of approaches to spur economic activity and job growth, including federal public works and community and economic development programs. On February 13, 2012, the President released the Administration's proposed federal budget for FY2013. The Administration's budget proposal includes $3.143 billion for activities funded under the Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD's) Community Development Fund (CDF) account. This includes $2.948 billion for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) formula grants awarded to states, entitlement communities, and insular areas; and $60 million for Indian tribes. The Administration is also requesting $100 million for its Sustainable Communities Initiative (SCI), which did not receive an appropriation for FY2012, and $35 million for capacity-building grants awarded to three national intermediaries to provide technical assistance to local community development organizations."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Boyd, Eugene

  2012-06-28
• Community Development Block Grants: Funding Issues in the 113th Congress [March 20, 2014]

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  "On March 4, 2014, the Obama Administration released its FY2015 budget request which includes $2.870 billion for activities under the Community Development Fund (CDF) administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Of the amount requested for CDF activities $2.800 billion is requested for formula-based Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) to be allocated to eligible entitlement communities, states, and insular areas; and $70 million is requested for CDBG competitively awarded funds to Indian tribes. On January 17, 2014, President Obama signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act for FY2014, P.L. 113-76, which included $3.100 billion in funding for the CDF. Of the total amount appropriated for CDF activities $3.030 billion is appropriated for formula-based Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) to be allocated to CDBG entitlement communities, states, and insular areas. The act also appropriated $70 million in CDBG competitively awarded funds to Indian tribes and converted Section 108 loan guarantees from a federal credit subsidy to a feebased program. On July 30, 2013, the House began floor consideration of H.R. 2610, a bill that would have appropriated funds for the Departments of Transportation and Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies for FY2014 (THUD). On July 31, 2013, the Senate began consideration of S. 1243, its version of the THUD Appropriations Act for FY2014. The bill, which was reported by the Senate Appropriations Committee on July 27, 2013 (S.Rept. 113-45), recommended $3.295 billion for activities funded under the CDF account."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Boyd, Eugene

  2014-03-20
• Block Grants: Perspectives and Controversies [April 15, 2014]

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  "Block grants are a form of grant-in-aid that the federal government uses to provide state and local governments a specified amount of funding to assist them in addressing broad purposes, such as community development, social services, public health, or law enforcement. Block grant advocates argue that block grants increase government efficiency and program effectiveness by redistributing power and accountability through decentralization and partial devolution of decision-making authority from the federal government to state and local governments. Advocates also view them as a means to reduce the federal deficit. For example, Representative Paul Ryan, chair of the House Committee on the Budget, has recommended that the federal share of Medicaid be converted into a block grant 'tailored to meet each state's needs' as a means to improve 'the health-care safety net for low-income Americans' and to 'save $810 billion over 10 years.' […] This report provides an overview of the six grant types, provides criteria for defining a block grant and uses those criteria to provide a list of current block grants, examines competing perspectives concerning the use of block grants versus other grant mechanisms to achieve national goals, provides an historical overview of the role of block grants in American federalism, and examines recent changes to existing block grants and proposals to create new ones."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Boyd, Eugene; Dilger, Robert Jay, 1954-

  2014-04-15
• Community Development Block Grants and Related Programs: A Primer [April 30, 2014]

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  From the introduction: "This report is intended as an introduction to the laws and rules governing the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and related programs. The CDBG program, administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), was first authorized by Title [1] of the Housing and Community Development Act (HCDA) of 1974, P.L. [Public Law] 93-383. The program is one of the largest and longest-standing federal block grants in existence, annually allocating billions of dollars in federal assistance to state and local governments in support of community and economic development efforts. During the program's 40-year existence, Congress has appropriated approximately $145 billion in CDBG-formula grants to help state and local governments undertake housing, economic development, neighborhood revitalization, and other community development activities. Congress has also appropriated approximately $50 billion in supplemental CDBG funds to address extraordinary events, including economic recessions, and manmade and natural disasters. In FY2013, the latest data available at this writing, the CDBG program was the largest source of federal assistance to state and local governments for community development activities, and the 20th largest source of grant assistance to states and local governments, ranking behind such programs as Federal Aid to Highways, Transit Assistance, Aid for the Education of the Disadvantaged, School Improvements, Special Education, Medicaid and Medicare, and Temporary Assistance to Children and Families."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Boyd, Eugene

  2014-04-30
• Block Grants: Perspectives and Controversies [July 15, 2014]

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  "Block grants are a form of grant-in-aid that the federal government uses to provide state and local governments a specified amount of funding to assist them in addressing broad purposes, such as community development, social services, public health, or law enforcement. […] This report provides an overview of the six grant types, provides criteria for defining a block grant and uses those criteria to provide a list of current block grants, examines competing perspectives concerning the use of block grants versus other grant mechanisms to achieve national goals, provides an historical overview of the role of block grants in American federalism, and examines recent changes to existing block grants and proposals to create new ones."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Dilger, Robert Jay, 1954-; Boyd, Eugene

  2014-07-15
• Community Development Block Grants: Funding Issues in the 113th Congress [August 11, 2014]

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  "The Obama Administration's budget request for FY2014, released on April 10, 2014, included $3.143 billion for activities funded under HUD's [Department of Housing and Urban Development] CDF [Community Development Fund] account. The Administration's FY2014 budget proposal would have increased total funding for CDF activities by a modest $8 million from $3.135 billion in FY2013 to $3.143 billion. The proposed budget would have reduced funding for CDBG [Community Development Block Grants] formula grants by $280 million to $2.798 billion and would have redirected most of those funds to two other activities within the CDF account: (1) $75 million for regional planning grants, which was a component of the Administration's Sustainable Communities Initiative; and (2) $200 million for a new Neighborhood Stabilization Initiative that was intended to assist local governments to identify and demolish an oversupply of abandoned and foreclosed properties. In addition, the Administration's FY2014 budget included a proposal that doubled the Section 108 loan guarantee program's loan commitment ceiling from $229 million in FY2013 to $500 million in FY2014. In addition to an increase in the loan commitment ceiling, the Administration proposed revamping the program by charging a fee-based assessment to borrowers accessing the program, which would have eliminated the need for an appropriated credit subsidy. The House Appropriations Committee report accompanying H.R. 2610 supported the Administration's Section 108 loan guarantee proposals that recommended an increase in the loan commitment ceiling and conversion of the program to a fee-based approach."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Boyd, Eugene

  2014-08-11
• FY2014 Appropriations: District of Columbia [October 15, 2013]

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  "On April 10, 2013, the Obama Administration released its detailed budget request for FY2014. The Administration's proposed budget includes $676.3 million in special federal payments to the District of Columbia, which is slightly higher than the $674.1 (excluding sequester) appropriated for FY2013. Approximately 80% ($543.4 million) of the President's proposed budget request for the District would be targeted to the courts and criminal justice system. The President's budget request also includes $87.2 million in support of education initiatives. This represents 12.9% of the Administration's federal payment budget request for the District of Columbia. On May 22, 2013, the District of Columbia Council approved an FY2014 budget that included $12.1 billion in total operating funds and $2.1 billion in capital outlays. The mayor signed the measure (A20-0127) on July 24, 2013. Included in the act are provisions that would grant the District significant autonomy over its budgetary and legislative affairs. Specifically, the act would repeal portions of the District's code governing congressional review of all acts passed by the District of Columbia Council, including the District's annual budget and those acts approved by voters through the referendum process. On July 25, 2013, the Senate Appropriations Committee reported S. 1371, its version of the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act for FY2014, with an accompanying report (S.Rept. 113-80). As reported, the bill recommended $674.8 million in special federal payments to the District."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Boyd, Eugene

  2013-10-15
• Community Development Block Grants: Funding Issues in the 113th Congress [September 4, 2013]

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  "The 112th Congress began, but did not complete, consideration of appropriation measures that would have provided full-year funding for the Departments of Transportation and Housing and Urban Development [HUD] and Related Agencies for FY2013, before adjourning. The 113th Congress took up consideration of HUD's FY2013 appropriations as part of a large measure providing consolidated appropriations for a number of federal departments. On March 26, 2013, the President signed into law P.L. 113-6, the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013. The act included $3.1 billion for CDF [Community Development Fund] activities. In late January 2013, Congress approved and the President signed P.L. 113-2, a disaster supplemental appropriation that included $15.2 billion for CDBG [Community Development Block Grant] disaster relief and recovery activities in response to Hurricane Sandy and other disasters. Both the CDF FY2013 regular appropriation and the CDF disaster funds were subject to 5% sequestration mandated by the Budget Control Act. This report will be updated as events warrant."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Boyd, Eugene

  2013-09-04
• Overview of the Administration's Strengthening America's Communities Initiative [March 7, 2006]

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  "For the second consecutive year, the Administration has included in its budget request, a proposal that would eliminate a number of federal economic and community development programs. Last year, the Administration's FY2006 budget recommendations included a proposal that would have consolidated the activities of at least 18 existing community and economic development programs into a two-part grant proposal called the 'Strengthening America's Communities Initiative' (SACI). Responsibility for the18 programs now being carried out by five federal agencies (the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Economic Development Administration in the Department of Commerce, the Department of the Treasury, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Department of Agriculture) would have been transferred to the Commerce Department, which currently administers the programs of the Economic Development Administration. Under the Administration's FY2006 proposal, the Department of Commerce would have administered a core program and a bonus program. The bonus program would have awarded additional funds to communities that demonstrated efforts to improve economic conditions."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Boyd, Eugene; Mulock, Bruce K.; Smale, Pauline . . .

  2006-03-07
• Economic Development Administration: FY2016 Appropriations [July 29, 2016]

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  "The Economic Development Administration (EDA) was created pursuant to the enactment of the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965, with the objective of fostering growth in economically distressed areas characterized by high levels of unemployment and low per-capita income levels. EDA, an agency within the Department of Commerce, is the primary federal agency charged with implementing and coordinating federal economic development policy. For FY2016, the Obama Administration requested significant increases in funding for EDA activities and salaries and expenses. Under the Administration's proposal, EDA funding would have increased by 9.2%, from $250 million to $273 million over the last fiscal year, including significant increases in funding for the following: Salaries and expenses, from $37 million to $45.5 million; Regional Innovation Program grants, from $10 million to $25 million; Economic Adjustment Assistance, from $45 million to $53 million; and Planning Grants, from $30 million to $39.5 million."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Boyd, Eugene

  2016-07-29
• Overview of the Administration's Strengthening America's Communities Initiative [Updated January 26, 2006]

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  "On February 7, 2005, the Bush Administration released its budget recommendations for FY2006. Included in the budget was a proposal that would consolidate the activities of at least 18 existing community and economic development programs into a two-part grant proposal called the 'Strengthening America's Communities Initiative' (SACI). As outlined by the Administration, the proposal would realign several, but not all, federal economic and community development programs. Responsibility for the programs now being carried out by five federal agencies would be transferred to the Commerce Department, which presently administers the programs of the Economic Development Administration. The Department of Commerce would administer the core program and a bonus program, which would award additional funds to communities that demonstrated efforts to improve economic conditions. The Administration has stated that this new program will emphasize flexibility, will be results oriented, and will be targeted to communities based on need, but it has not yet submitted a detailed proposal for congressional consideration. […] The Administration has also appointed an advisory committee to assist in developing its legislative proposal. It issued its first report in July 2005. This report will be updated as the Administration offers new details and as Congress reviews the proposal."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Boyd, Eugene; Mulock, Bruce K.; Smale, Pauline . . .

  2006-01-26
• Block Grants: Perspectives and Controversies [January 16, 2014]

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  "Block grants are a form of grant-in-aid that the federal government uses to provide state and local governments a specified amount of funding to assist them in addressing broad purposes, such as community development, social services, public health, or law enforcement. Block grant advocates argue that block grants increase government efficiency and program effectiveness by redistributing power and accountability through decentralization and partial devolution of decision-making authority from the federal government to state and local governments. Advocates also view them as a means to reduce the federal deficit. For example, Representative Paul Ryan, chair of the House Committee on the Budget, has recommended that the federal share of Medicaid be converted into a block grant 'tailored to meet each state's needs' as a means to improve 'the health-care safety net for low-income Americans' and to 'save $810 billion over 10 years.' […] This report provides an overview of the six grant types, provides criteria for defining a block grant and uses those criteria to provide a list of current block grants, examines competing perspectives concerning the use of block grants versus other grant mechanisms to achieve national goals, provides an historical overview of the role of block grants in American federalism, and examines recent changes to existing block grants and proposals to create new ones."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Dilger, Robert Jay, 1954-; Boyd, Eugene

  2014-01-16
• Community Development Block Grants: Funding Issues in the 113th Congress [March 11, 2015]

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  "On March 4, 2014, the Obama Administration released its FY2015 budget request, which included $2.870 billion for activities under the Community Development Fund (CDF) administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), including $2.8 billion for formula grants. On June 5, 2014, the Senate Appropriations Committee reported S. 2438, its version of the Departments of Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Bill for FY2015 (THUD), which recommended $3.090 billion for activities funded under the Community Development Fund (CDF) account, including $3.020 billion for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) formula grants. On June 10, 2014, the House approved its version of the THUD bill for FY2015, H.R. 4745, which recommended $3.060 billion for CDF activities, including $3.0 billion for CDBG formula grants. On December 16, 2014, the President signed into law the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act of FY2015 (P.L. [Public Law] 113-235), which included $3.066 billion for the CDBG program and a $500 million loan commitment ceiling for the CDBG Section 108 loan guarantee program. On January 17, 2014, President Obama signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act for FY2014, P.L. 113-76, which included $3.100 billion in funding for the CDF, including $3.030 billion for formula allocations to CDBG entitlement communities, states, and insular areas. The act also appropriated $70 million in competitively awarded funds to Indian tribes and converted Section 108 loan guarantees to a fee-based program."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Boyd, Eugene

  2015-03-11
• Flood-Risk Reduction and Resilience: Federal Assistance and Programs [November 13, 2017]

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  "Recent flood disasters have raised congressional and public interest in not only reducing flood risks, but also improving flood resilience, which is the ability to adapt to, withstand, and rapidly recover from floods. Congress has established various federal programs that may be available to assist U.S. state, local, and territorial entities and tribes in reducing flood risks. Among the most significant current federal programs assisting communities with improvements to reduce their flood risks and improve their flood resilience are (1) programs that assist with flood-risk reduction infrastructure and other flood mitigation activities, and (2) programs of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) that provide incentives to reduce flood risks."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Carter, Nicole T.; Horn, Diane P.; Brown, Jared T. . . .

  2017-11-13
• Federally Supported Water Supply and Wastewater Treatment Programs [November 28, 2017]

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  "This report provides background information on the types of water supply and wastewater treatment projects traditionally funded by the federal government and the several existing programs to assist communities with water supply and wastewater treatment. For more than four decades, Congress has authorized and refined several programs to help communities address water supply and wastewater problems. The agencies that administer these programs differ in multiple ways. For example, in terms of funding mechanisms, projects developed by the Bureau of Reclamation and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers typically require direct, individual project authorizations from Congress."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Ramseur, Jonathan L.; Boyd, Eugene; Carter, Nicole T. . . .

  2017-11-28
• Federally Supported Water Supply and Wastewater Treatment Programs [Updated May 3, 2019]

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  From the Introduction: "This report provides background information on the types of water supply and wastewater treatment projects traditionally funded by the federal government and the several existing programs to assist communities with water supply and wastewater treatment. For more than four decades, Congress has authorized and refined several programs to help communities address water supply and wastewater problems. The agencies that administer these programs differ in multiple ways. For example, in terms of funding mechanisms, projects developed by the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) typically require direct, individual project authorizations from Congress."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Ramseur, Jonathan L.; Boyd, Eugene; Cowan, Tadlock . . .

  2019-05-03
• Community Development Block Grants: Recent Funding History [February 6, 2014]

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  "The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), under the Community Development Fund (CDF) account, was first authorized by Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act (HCDA) of 1974, P.L. 93-383. During the program's nearly 40-year existence, Congress has allocated approximately $138 billion to help state and local governments undertake housing, economic development, neighborhood revitalization, and other community development activities. In addition to its annual appropriations, Congress, as events have warranted, has used the program's framework to provide supplemental and special appropriations to assist states and communities in responding to various economic crises and manmade and natural disasters. This report is a review of the CDF account's funding history from FY2000 to FY2013, as well as current funding in FY2014. It includes a discussion of the three primary components of the CDF account: (1) CDBG formula grants; (2) CDBG-related set-asides and earmarks; and (3) CDBGlinked supplemental and special appropriations. It is intended to provide recent historical background as the 113th Congress considers CDF funding levels and composition. For information on CDF appropriation legislation considered during the 113th Congress, the reader should consult CRS Report 'Community Development Block Grant Funding Issues in the 113th Congress'."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Boyd, Eugene

  2014-02-06
• Homelessness: Targeted Federal Programs [October 18, 2018]

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  "Federal assistance targeted to homeless individuals and families was largely nonexistent prior to the mid-1980s. Although the Runaway and Homeless Youth program was enacted in 1974 as part of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (P.L. 93-415), the first federal program focused on assisting all homeless people, no matter their age, was the Emergency Food and Shelter (EFS) program, established in 1983 through an emergency jobs appropriation bill (P.L. 98-8). The EFS program was and continues to be administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to provide emergency food and shelter to needy individuals."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Perl, Libby; Boyd, Eugene; Duff, Johnathan H. . . .

  2018-10-18
• Flood Resilience and Risk Reduction: Federal Assistance and Programs [Updated December 17, 2019]

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  From the Summary: "Recent flood disasters have raised congressional and public interest in reducing flood risks and improving 'flood resilience', which is the ability to adapt to, withstand, and rapidly recover from floods. Federal programs that assist communities in reducing their flood risk and improving their flood resilience include programs funding infrastructure projects (e.g., levees, shore protection) and other flood mitigation activities (e.g., nature-based flood risk reduction) and mitigation incentives for communities that participate in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Carter, Nicole T.; Horn, Diane P.; Boyd, Eugene . . .

  2019-12-17
• Community Development Block Grant Funds in Disaster Relief and Recovery [March 23, 2006]

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  "In the aftermath of presidentially declared disasters, Congress has used a variety of programs to help states and local governments finance recovery efforts, among them the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. Over the years, Congress has appropriated supplemental CDBG funds to assist states and communities recover from such natural disasters as hurricanes, earthquakes, and tornadoes. In addition, CDBG funds supported recovery efforts in New York City following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, in Oklahoma City following the bombing of the Alfred Murrah Building in 1995, and in the city and county of Los Angeles following the riots of 1992. In response to those calamities, CDBG funds were made available for short-term relief efforts, mitigation actions, and long-term recovery, and to provide housing and business assistance, infrastructure reconstruction, and public services. Most recently, Congress has provided $11.5 billion in CDBG assistance to the five states (Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas) affected by the Gulf Coast hurricanes of 2005. The funds were included in the Defense Appropriations Act for FY2006 and are to be used for 'necessary expenses related to disaster relief, long-term recovery, and restoration of infrastructure in the most impacted and distressed areas.' Funds were allocated among the five states based on the degree of unmet housing needs and the degree of concentrated distress...This report provides an overview of the use of the CDBG program in disaster relief. It will be updated as events warrant."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Boyd, Eugene

  2006-03-23
• Community Development Block Grant Funds in Disaster Relief and Recovery [July 12, 2010]

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  "In the aftermath of presidentially declared disasters, Congress has used a variety of programs to help states and local governments finance recovery efforts, among them the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. Over the years, Congress has appropriated supplemental CDBG funds to assist states and communities recover from such natural disasters as hurricanes, earthquakes, and tornadoes. In addition, CDBG funds supported recovery efforts in New York City following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001; in Oklahoma City following the bombing of the Alfred Murrah Building in 1995; and in the city and county of Los Angeles following the riots of 1992. In response to those calamities, CDBG funds were made available for short-term relief efforts, mitigation actions, and long-term recovery, and to provide housing and business assistance, infrastructure reconstruction, and public services. The Gulf Coast hurricanes of 2005 (Katrina, Rita, and Wilma) resulted in the largest appropriation of CDBG funds for disaster relief and recovery in the program's history. Since December 2005, Congress has provided $19.85 billion in CDBG disaster-related assistance to the five states (Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas) affected by the Gulf Coast hurricanes of 2005. This included $11.5 billion in CDBG assistance appropriated in the Defense Appropriations Act for FY2006, P.L. 109-148; $5.2 billion in the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Hurricane Recovery Act of 2006, P.L. 109-234; and $3 billion (exclusively for Louisiana's Road Home Program) appropriated in the Department of Defense Appropriations Act for FY2008, P.L. 110-116."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Boyd, Eugene

  2010-07-12