Ensuring Continued Access to Funding for Colonias Along the U.S.-Mexico Border

Strategic Insights -

Congressman Vicente Gonzalez and other Texas Border Members of Congress have introduced the Ensuring Continued Access to Funding for Colonias Act (H.R. 4498) to protect federal funding sources for colonias along the U.S.-Mexico border. Colonias, often unincorporated and outside city limits, face high poverty rates and inadequate water, sewer, and housing infrastructure. The proposed legislation raises the population eligibility for the Community Development Block Grant Colonia Set-Aside Program from 1 million to 2 million residents, ensuring colonia communities in larger metropolitan statistical areas remain eligible for targeted CDBG federal funding. Texas has the most colonias of the four southern border states.

Key Takeaways:

  • H.R. 4498 aims to protect federal funding sources for colonias along the U.S.-Mexico border by raising the population eligibility for the Community Development Block Grant Colonia Set-Aside Program from 1 million to 2 million residents.
  • This legislation seeks to prevent colonia grant funds from lapsing, ensuring colonias continue to have access to vital federal resources for self-sufficiency and economic development.
  • Colonias along the border have historically lacked basic necessities like water and sewage, but federal grant funding exists to address these needs.
  • Congressman Vicente Gonzalez and Congressman Tony Gonzales introduced the bill, which has been co-sponsored by Congressman Henry Cuellar, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar, and Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz.
  • Texas has the most colonias of the four southern border states, with many colonias located in larger metropolitan statistical areas like El Paso and McAllen.
  • The current population standard for the Community Development Block Grant Colonia Set-Aside Program has not been revised since 1990, posing a risk to colonia communities that have seen population growth.
  • This bipartisan bill corrects the issue by adjusting the eligibility criteria, ensuring colonias remain eligible for targeted federal funding.

Statistics:

  • Since 1991, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has set aside a dedicated percentage of grant funding for colonias along the border under the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program.
  • H.R. 4498 aims to correct the outdated population standard, which has not been revised since 1990.
  • Texas has the most colonias of the four southern border states, with numerous communities facing high poverty rates and inadequate water, sewer, and housing infrastructure.
  • 23% of the Texas population resides in colonias, with many of these communities located in larger metropolitan statistical areas like El Paso and McAllen.
  • The Community Development Block Grant Colonia Set-Aside Program aims to improve access to basic needs like clean water, safe housing, and modern infrastructure for colonia communities.

Sources:

  • "Texas Members of Congress Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Protect Funding for Colonias" (U.S. House of Representatives, TX-34)
  • "Ensuring Continued Access to Funding for Colonias Act" (H.R. 4498, U.S. House of Representatives)
  • "Community Development Block Grant Colonia Set-Aside Program" (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development)