JOINT RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES TO INCREASE FUNDING FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANTS

your Memorialists, the Members of the One Hundred and Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Maine now assembled in the First Regular Session, most respectfully present and petition the President of the United States and the Members of the Congress of the United States as follows:

WHEREAS,  the primary objective of the Community Development Block Grant program is the development of viable communities by providing decent housing and a suitable living environment and expanding economic opportunities, principally for persons of low income and moderate income; and

WHEREAS,  the State of Maine and the Maine entitlement communities receive direct allocations from the Community Development Block Grant program annually for a wide variety of community and economic development activities that principally benefit low-income and moderate-income persons, including the elderly, children and those who are at risk; and

WHEREAS,  in Maine and in communities throughout the nation, 33 years of Community Development Block Grant program funding has developed a strong network of relationships among local governments, residents, businesses and nonprofit organizations; and

WHEREAS,  the Community Development Block Grant program has been cut every year since fiscal year 2001, and President Bush has released his fiscal year 2008 federal budget to Congress proposing only $2,986,000,000 in formula funding for the Community Development Block Grant program, a reduction of $736,000,000 from last year that would present a severe hardship to Maine communities; now, therefore, be it

That We, your Memorialists, on behalf of the people we represent, take this opportunity to indicate that this valuable program has made a tremendous contribution to the viability of the housing stock, infrastructure, public services and economic vitality of the State and that we respectfully urge and request that the President of the United States and the Congress of the United States recognize the outstanding work being done locally and nationally by the Community Development Block Grant program by supporting increased funding for the program in fiscal year 2008; and be it further

That suitable copies of this resolution, duly authenticated by the Secretary of State, be transmitted to the Honorable George W. Bush, President of the United States, to the President of the Senate of the United States, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States and to each Member of the Maine Congressional Delegation.