HomeMy WebLinkAboutSenator Conrad BurnsCONRAD BURNS
MONTANA
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(202) 224-2644
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The Honorable Kenneth E. Olson Jr.
Mayor
City of Laurel
PO Box 10
Laurel, MT 59044-0010
May 1, 2006
Dear Th~Honorable Olsom
Thank you for contacting me regarding Community Development Block Grants (CDBG)
and their importance for your community. I appreciate hearing from you.
As you are aware, the President's Budget for Fiscal Year 2007 has eliminated funding for
CDBG and proposed moving its administration from Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to
the Department of Commerce creating a new grant initiative called Strengthening America's
Communities. Although similar proposals were made for Fiscal Year 2006, I fought to keep the
program funded at over $3.7 billion and administered through HUD.
On March 8, 2006, I joined 52 of my colleagues in sending a letter to the Chairman and
Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee urging continued support for CDBG through
a budget allocation of $4.3 billion.
I have always been a strong supporter of creating opportunities for families in Montana,
and have advocated for affordable housing since I have served as a County Commissioner.
Affordable housing for families in Montana and across the nation is increasingly difficult to find,
but it must be made available for those with few options. I have and will continue to support
bitls that I feel are positive and supportive of Montana' s f~amilies_
Thanks again for contacting me. Please do not hesitate to contact my office with any
other questions or concerns that you may have.
Sincerely,
United States Senator
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htr p:llburns.$enate.gov