| March 1, 2005
BUDGET CALL-IN DAYS, February
23 and 24, 2005
The Problem: In President Bush's fiscal
year 2006 budget request, he proposes to eliminate
or cut hundreds of programs, including key housing
programs such as Housing for Persons With Disabilities
(Section 811) and the Community Development Block
Grant (CDBG). In addition to cutting or eliminating
key low income programs, the President proposes 5-year
spending caps that would freeze funding for low income
programs at low FY06 funding levels. The budget includes
language to extend his tax cuts and protect them from
Congressional budget enforcement rules.Within the
overall budget, the President proposes $28.5 billion
for the entire HUD budget. This is an 11.5% cut from
FY05 levels, which was already inadequate.
Catholic Social Teaching:
Catholic Social Teaching has long recognized housing
as a basic human right. “The Lack of safe, affordable
housing is a national crisis. We support a recommitment
to the national pledge of ‘safe and affordable housing’
for all and effective policies that will increase
the supply of quality housing and preserve, maintain,
and improve existing housing.” An excerpt from the
2003 statement by the Administrative Committee of
the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops,
“Faithful Citizenship, A Catholic Call to Political
Responsibility.”
What can you do on February 23 and 24:
-
Call 1-888-818-6641 and ask to
be connected to your Representative’s office
-
Ask to speak to the Legislative
Assistant responsible for Budget Issues
-
Call again to speak to your Senator’s
office
The Message:
Representative/Senator: Please oppose
the President's FY06 budget proposal because:
- The overall funding level for HUD is inadequate
to fund ALL housing programs.
- Ask for an increase in the entire HUD budget.
- The proposed budget will cap spending on housing
programs and other key low income programs, causing
a deeper cut to vital low income programs over
time.
- Please oppose the President's FY06 budget.
Information from an action alert from
Bob Palmer
Statewide Housing Action Coalition
11 E. Adams #1501
Chicago, IL 60603
(312) 939-6074 (phone)
(312) 939-6822 (fax)
www.statewidehousing.org
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