Torres Opposes Trump Budget, Cuts to Transit and Community Development
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Rep. Norma J. Torres (D-Pomona) issued the following statement on President Trump's budget plan and the harmful impact it would have on California's Inland Empire:
"While Donald Trump's budget plan claims to make America great, it decimates the programs that keep us competitive, protect our security, and help communities thrive. In addition to egregious cuts to social programs, environmental protection, and education, I am especially concerned by the $2.4 billion in proposed cuts to the Department of Transportation and the elimination of the Community Development Block Grant program.
"The Inland Empire is a growing region with the potential for significant economic growth, but we're also facing increasing challenges. Every day, our roads are becoming more congested, and it is becoming more and more difficult for people to get around and for businesses to remain competitive. As Mayor of Pomona, I saw first-hand the impact that CDBG can have in strengthening communities and creating more economic opportunities. Cutting CDBG and transit programs only makes it harder for communities like mine to get the federal help we depend on to expand public transit, build roads and rail systems, and create more livable communities.
"President Trump said that he would make funding infrastructure a priority, and many of us thought that would be an area where we could work with the new administration, but this budget proves that once again, it was nothing more than empty rhetoric and another broken promise."
Under the President's budget, the TIGER grant program, which funds multi-modal, multi-jurisdictional projects not eligible for funding through traditional DOT programs, is eliminated, and only transit programs that have full funding grant agreements would be financed, putting several ongoing projects in the LA and Inland Empire area at risk. Torres sent a letter to House appropriators requesting $1.25 billion in FY17 TIGER grant funding, which could help fund projects in and around the 35th district that are eligible for these grants.
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