AAMA SUPPORTS FULL FEDERAL FUNDING FOR PROGRAMS IN FY24 APPROPRIATIONS
Published on October 10, 2023
(Washington, DC) – The African American Mayors Association (AAMA) submitted a letter last week to the Chairs and Ranking Members of the House and Senate Appropriations Committee to express support of full federal funding for several programs in the Transportation Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies FY24 Appropriations bill and programs contained in the Commerce, Justice, Science (“CJS”) and Related Agencies FY24 Appropriations bill. AAMA represents mayors in urban and rural communities across the U.S. that depend on federally funded transportation, housing and urban development, public safety, and economic development programs supported by the THUD and CJS budgets.
AAMA outlined the programs it says are vital to their mayors in their respective cities, including community development, investment partnership, rental assistance, and homeless programs through the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), highway, bridge and other infrastructure programs through the Department of Transportation (DOT), as well as programs funded through the CHIPS and Science Act that flow through the National Science Foundation, Economic Development Administration.
“We cannot afford to pass up on funding programs that are vital to our cities and their residents' success,” said AAMA President and Mount Vernon, NY Mayor Patterson-Howard. “As mayors, these key programs aimed at increasing affordable housing and building up our cities infrastructure must be fully funded in order to create economic opportunities and growth for our cities.”
AAMA also shared its concern over significant reductions in the Department of Justice’s budget as the Department grapples with voting and civil rights challenges across the country, redistricting, and public safety challenges that require federal support and investment. The organization requested that any final budget fully honor the President’s $41.4B request for the Department of Justice.
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The African American Mayors Association (AAMA) is the only organization dedicated to representing over 500 African American mayors across the United States. AAMA seeks to empower local leaders for the benefit of their citizens. The role of the AAMA includes taking positions on public policies that impact the vitality and sustainability of cities; providing mayors with leadership and management tools; and creating a forum for member mayors to share best practices related to municipal management.