Congressional Correspondence Requesting Programming SupportCity of Dubuque
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Description
Supporting Documentation
Copyrighted
April 6, 2020
Consent Items # 10.
Congressional Correspondence Requesting Programming
Support
Mayor Roy D. Buol's correspondence to U.S.
Congressional representatives requesting financial support
of certain programs.
Suggested Disposition: Receive and File
Type
Supporting Documentation
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
March 31, 2020
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
Dubuque
AII•America City
N I1 n,u.i
1111,
2007*2012.2013
2017*2019
Office of the Mayor
City Hall
50 West 13' Street
Dubuque, IA 52001-4805
www.cityofdubuque.org
As Mayor and on behalf of my City Council colleagues and the citizens of Dubuque, we turn to you for
leadership and support as we face this global pandemic. As partners, we serve the same constituents
from different vantage points. Here are programs we hope you will include in the third supplemental:
• $35 billion for HUD Community Development Block Grants: CDBG is well established and well -
functioning, flexible, and broad in eligible uses that can meet local housing and economic needs.
Congress/HUD should suspend the 15% cap on using CDBG on public services.
• $10 billion for EDA Economic Adjustment Services: The Economic Development Administration
provides critical support for public works, infrastructure, and economic adjustment resources
including planning, technical assistance, disaster recovery, Revolving Loan Funds for businesses,
and local economic development projects.
• Transportation Funding to Keep Localities Moving: Funding will be needed more than ever to
keep local and regional public transit services operating effectively, and to fund critical local
infrastructure projects to keep citizens and freight moving. Congress should provide $35 billion more
for the Surface Transportation Block Grant Program for state and local projects, expand funding for
U.S. DOT BUILD grants to at least $1.5 billion, and enhance FTA funding for local transit operations.
• $10 billion for Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG): EECBG provides
direct grants to communities with population over 35,000 for grater energy efficiency, renewable
energy and energy conservation projects. Projects such as lighting and HVAC retrofits, rehabbing
homes with energy efficient products and other energy conservation measures are eligible. The
program supports new, planned and existing energy savings projects.
• Provide direct funding and financing for local water infrastructure projects: Local
governments fund 95% of all local water infrastructure needs, primarily through user fees. To ensure
that low income households are not unduly burdened by rates that are unaffordable, Congress
should provide direct funding and financing to local governments for drinking water, wastewater and
stormwater management. This should include the State Revolving Funds (including the
encouragement of grants and zero interest loans to local governments), WIFIA, sewer overflow
control grants, water workforce development grants, and grants for lead treatment, remediation and
replacement.
• Federal Historic Tax Credits: In order to revive and support the economy and put hundreds of
thousands of people to work we urge Congress to invest in the Federal Historic Tax Credit. The tax
credit would be strengthened by a blanket increase to 30% tax credit for QREs expended in 2020
and 2021 for all projects.
• Low Income Housing Tax Credit: Doubling the Low Income Housing Tax Credit will not only put
people to work, but it will create affordable housing, and provide leverage with the historic
preservation tax credits to rehabilitate buildings.
Thank you for your consideration of our request. We are grateful for this our partnership, especially during
these times of crisis.
Sin ely, i
Ro�. Buol
Ma or
The Honorable Joni Ernst
United States Senate
111 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
The Honorable Charles Grassley
United States Senate
135 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510-1501
The Honorable Abby Finkenauer
House of Representatives
124 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515