Melvin Watt: “I rise in support of the Black Caucus budget. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the CBC's budget resolution. As a…”

“I rise in support of the Black Caucus budget. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the CBC's budget resolution. As a member of the Subcommittee on Housing and Urban Development, I want to speak specifically about this budget's effect on community growth. Last year, we made some tough choices in order to cut the Federal deficit and redirect our resources to invest in our people. And while we are starting to see the positive effects of these choices in the cities and towns in my district, the scars of the recent recession are still fresh there as well. Now is the time to redouble our efforts to ensure that all of our citizens gain from the recent recovery, including the people in the inner cities who suffered so greatly under the policies of the 1980's. The CBC budget recognizes the magnitude of the need for investment in our communities. It increases funding for community and regional development by about $530 million over the President's request. It provides increased funds for the Community Development Block Grant Program. And it adds $750 million for the Neighborhood Infrastructure Improvement and Inner City Jobs Creation Act, which funds job creation for people in poor communities who are out of work or lack basic skills. The CBC budget is a fiscally responsible approach to investing in our people and our communities. I urge my colleagues to join with me in supporting it.”