Cities Congratulate Dr. Ben Carson on Confirmation as HUD Secretary

WASHINGTON, March 2, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, the U.S. Senate confirmed the appointment of Ben Carson as the 16th secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). On behalf of the nation's 19,000 cities, towns and villages, the National League of Cities (NLC) congratulates Secretary Carson on his confirmation and looks forward to continuing its partnership with HUD in efforts to protect public housing and community development.

"We look forward to continuing our work with the Trump Administration and welcome Secretary Carson," said NLC President Matt Zone, councilmember, Cleveland. "The nation's local elected officials are at the forefront of community development and housing needs of their citizens and look forward to continuing the long-standing partnership cities have had with HUD."

Local governments nationwide implement numerous HUD programs, including Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), the HOME Investment Partnerships Program, and the ConnectHome program. HUD plays a key role in helping cities provide access to affordable housing and reinvest in the infrastructure needed to create economic growth.

Zone added, "America's cities are the strength of the nation, and encourage the administration to reinvest in our infrastructure, our communities and our people. We call on Secretary Carson to be a strong champion of cities within the administration, and to protect federal programs like CDBG that serve as bridges to economic opportunity and mobility."

Cities are on the front lines of responding to the needs of the country's most distressed areas and cannot afford inaction at any level of government. Cities need federal housing policies that encourage affordable homeownership, promote affordable rental housing, and provide special needs housing and transitional housing for the homeless.

America's cities will look to Secretary Carson and President Trump for leadership in identifying community development challenges and formulating solutions that do not place the economic burden on local governments.

The National League of Cities (NLC) is dedicated to helping city leaders build better communities. NLC is a resource and advocate for 19,000 cities, towns and villages, representing more than 218 million Americans. www.nlc.org

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SOURCE National League of Cities