SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 37

(By Senators Kessler (Acting President), Unger, Browning, Green, Foster, Jenkins, McCabe, Laird, Prezioso, Minard and Williams)

Urging members of the West Virginia Delegation to the United States Congress to oppose any action by Congress or the President to reduce funding for Community Service Block Grants.

    Whereas, Community Service Block Grants (CSBG) are a critical source of funding for Community Action Agencies across the country; and

    Whereas, Community Action Agencies provide housing, nutrition, health care, education and weatherization programs to low-income families, equipping them with the tools they need to become successful members of society; and

    Whereas, West Virginia has sixteen Community Action Agencies that employ 2,180 individuals; and

    Whereas, Our sixteen Community Action Agencies serve all of West Virginia’s fifty-five counties; and

    Whereas, In 2009 close to 112,000 West Virginians, over 55,000 families, received services through Community Action Agencies; and

    Whereas, Community Action Agencies are an essential component of economic recovery, as their main objective is the elimination of poverty; and

    Whereas, In 2009, West Virginia Community Action Agencies leveraged $18,194,807 in Community Service Block Grants into more than $90 million in additional resources for anti-poverty efforts in West Virginia; and

    Whereas, President Obama has proposed a fifty percent reduction of Community Service Block Grants funding and made the remaining funds competitive instead of continuing the current allocation formula; therefore, be it

    Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

    That the Legislature hereby urges the members of the West Virginia Delegation to the United States Congress to oppose any action by Congress or the President to reduce funding for Community Service Block Grants; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That the Clerk of Senate is hereby directed to forward a certified copy of this resolution to the President and Secretary of the United States Senate, the Speaker and Clerk of the United States House of Representatives, members of the West Virginia Congressional Delegation and the President of the United States.