With Congress currently debating the federal budget for fiscal year 2012, over fifty national organizations have once again come together in support of the Partnership for Sustainable Communities. By issuing this joint letter to leadership in both the House and Senate, Smart Growth America and our partner organizations have sent the message to Congress that we support the Partnership’s programs that help rebuild local economies, make the most of federal investments and build strong, healthy, and vibrant communities.
| The Honorable Daniel K. Inouye Chairman Senate Committee on Appropriations United States Capitol, Room S-128 Washington, DC 20510 |
The Honorable Thad Cochran Ranking Member Senate Appropriations Committee United States Capitol, Room S-206 Washington, DC 20510 |
| The Honorable Patty Murray Subcommittee Chair Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing, Urban Development, and Related Agencies 133 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 |
The Honorable Susan Collins Subcommittee Ranking Member Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing, Urban Development, and Related Agencies 123 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 |
Dear Chairman Inouye, Ranking Member Cochran, Subcommittee Chair Murray, and Subcommittee Ranking Member Collins:
As Congress considers the fiscal year 2012 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies appropriations, we, the undersigned group of concerned organizations, urge you to support the programs that help communities across America rebuild their local economies and improve their fiscal stability.
We urge you to support the Partnership for Sustainable Communities and related grant programs in the fiscal year 2012 T-HUD Appropriations Bill. The Partnership for Sustainable Communities helps community leaders get the most out of each federal or state dollar invested in their neighborhoods. These programs make federal investments go even further by helping local leaders leverage private sector investment, save money in municipal budgets, and help families with housing and transportation costs – all while creating jobs.
Specifically, we support continued funding for the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Sustainable Communities Initiative, which provides Regional Planning Grants and Community Challenge Grants. These grants help communities streamline regulatory barriers and make strategic investments with limited taxpayer dollars. Additionally, we support continued funding for the Department of Transportation’s Transportation Investments Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant program, which strengthens the economy, creates jobs, reduces
gridlock, and provides safe, low-cost transportation choices for our citizens.
We acknowledge that this year’s budget decisions are difficult and that Congress needs to cut wasteful spending, but the Partnership for Sustainable Communities helps the federal government work more efficiently and effectively. The Partnership is a vital opportunity to effectively coordinate and leverage federal programs for the greatest long-term benefit to our communities. Cutting these programs would be a shortsighted solution to the budget shortfall, and one that would stunt the economic growth of regions that could benefit from these programs.
We urge you to support the Partnership for Sustainable Communities in the FY2012 T-HUD Appropriations bill.
Sincerely,
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Alliance for Bicycling and Walking Amalgamated Transit Union America Bikes America Walks American Farmland Trust American Institute of Architects American Planning Association American Society of Landscape Architects Apollo Alliance Audubon International Brownfields Coalition Center for Community Progress Center for Neighborhood Technology Center for Rural Strategies CEOs for Cities Coalition of Urban Serving Universities Enterprise Community Partners Environmental Defense Fund Global Green USA Institute for Transportation and Development Policy International Downtown Association Local Initiatives Support Corporation LOCUS: Responsible Real Estate Developers and Investors Low Income Investment Fund Mercy Housing Metropolitan Planning Council |
National Association of Area Agencies on Aging National Association of Development Organizations National Association of Local Government Environment Professionals National Complete Streets Coalition National Fair Housing Alliance National Housing Conference National Low Income Housing Coalition National Housing Trust National Trust for Historic Preservation Partnership for Working Families Policy Link Prevention Institute Project for Public Spaces Reconnecting America Safe Routes to Schools National Partnership Sierra Club Smart Growth America Stewards of Affordable Housing for the Future Strategic Alliance for Healthy Food and Activity Environments Transportation Equity Network Transportation For America TransForm Upstream Public Health U.S. Green Building Council U.S. PIRG |
Click here to download the letter to Senate leadership (PDF)
Click here to download the letter to House leadership (PDF)
Learn more about the Sustainable Communities Network and what you can do to support the Partnership.
Would you like to add your organization to this list? Contact Jessica at jholmberg [at] smartgrowthamerica [dot] org to sign on.