Congressman Childers Urges Congress to Prohibit ACORN Funding 

October 6, 2009

Washington, DC – Congressman Travis Childers (D-MS) today joined with colleagues in urging THUD (House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies) to pass legislation preventing ACORN (the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now) from receiving federal funds. Along with 36 other Members, the Congressman sent a letter to THUD Chairman John Olver and Ranking Member Tom Latham asking that they include preventive language in the THUD Appropriations Bill.

“Any organization engaging in illegal and immoral activities must be immediately disqualified from receiving hard-earned taxpayer dollars,” said Congressman Childers. “Just two weeks ago, I proudly voted for the Defund ACORN Act included in the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act (SAFRA), which prohibits any federal funds from going towards ACORN. I believe this was an important step towards ensuring fiscal responsibility and accountability to taxpayers. It’s essential that we maintain similar language in THUD Appropriations Bill, and I hope that my colleagues on the Committee will act accordingly.”

On September 14, the Senate passed an amendment in the FY 2010 THUD Appropriations Act to prohibit ACORN from receiving taxpayer-funded HUD grants. This amendment passed with overwhelming bipartisan support by a vote of 83 to 7. The letter urges THUD to maintain this language in the final conference report.

A pro-gun, pro-life Mississippian, Congressman Travis Childers (D-MS) represents the First Congressional District in North Mississippi. He is a member of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition and serves on the House Agriculture and Financial Services Committee. Congressman Childers co-chairs the reestablished bipartisan Congressional Rural Caucus and was appointed to the bipartisan Second Amendment Task Force. For more information, visit www.childers.house.gov.

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