SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 9

BY  SODDERS, JOHNSON, and ANDERSON

A Resolution to recognize the positive impact of the community services block grant program.

   WHEREAS, in state fiscal year 2010, 365,752 Iowans in 140,333 households were helped in their fight against poverty through services funded by the federal Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) program; and
   WHEREAS, more than 96 percent of the families receiving services were at or below 175 percent of the federal poverty level or $35,427 annual family income; and
   WHEREAS, more than 76 percent of the individuals served by the 18 community action agencies were working or received social security as their source of income; and
   WHEREAS, those 18 community action agencies have 127 service centers throughout all 99 Iowa counties; and
   WHEREAS, each community action agency is governed by a community-based volunteer board of directors consisting of elected officials, private sector representatives, and low-income Iowans; and
   WHEREAS, Iowa’s 18 community action agencies employ 3,350 Iowans; and
   WHEREAS, CSBG funding for the 18 community action agencies brought in $2.3 million in local funding, $13.6 million in private funding, $13.9 million in state funding, and $222.9 million in federal funding to Iowa’s local communities; and
   WHEREAS, CSBG funding for Iowa’s 18 community action agencies helped generate $17.7 million in in-kind goods and services and donated items; and
   WHEREAS, the 18 community action agencies received $7,154,281 in CSBG funding enabling the community action agencies to operate their service centers and to administer state and federally funded programs; and
   WHEREAS, President Obama has proposed a 50 percent reduction in CSBG funding and making the allocation of the remaining funds competitive instead of continuing the current allocation formula that brings stability to Iowa’s community and economic development initiatives; and
   WHEREAS, the Iowa Senate supports efforts of the United States Congress to effectively reduce the federal deficit while promoting the current and future economic security of all Iowans; NOW THEREFORE,

   BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE, That the Senate supports the positive impact of the CSBG program in Iowa and opposes federal action to reduce CSBG funding disproportionately compared to the rest of the federal domestic discretionary budget; and

   BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be sent to the President of the United States, the President and Secretary of the United States Senate, the Speaker and Clerk of the United States House of Representatives, and each member of the Iowa congressional delegation.