CDBG Public Services Flexibility Act of 2013

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Apr 25, 2013

CDBG Public Services Flexibility Act of 2013 - Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 to revise requirements for activities eligible for community development block grant (CDBG) assistance.

Increases from 15% to 25% the limitation on the amount of CDBG assistance that may be used to provide public services (e.g., those concerned with employment, crime prevention, child care, health, drug abuse, education, energy conservation, welfare or recreation needs).

(Currently, only the city and county of Los Angeles, California, and the city of Miami, Florida, are favored with the 25% limit on the amount of CDBG assistance that may be used to provide public services.)

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Nelson, Bill [D-FL] · D–FL

Committees

Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee

1 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]

Legislative record

Actions

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Apr 25, 2013
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
Apr 25, 2013
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in Senate · Apr 25, 2013 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

HR 1758 · CDBG Public Services Flexibility Act of 2013

Source last updated: Dec 5, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Analyze S.855 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Discuss S.855, 113th Congress: CDBG Public Services Flexibility Act of 2013

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/senate-bill/855

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2013-04-25.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/113/bills/s855/BILLS-113s855is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-12-05T20:49:51Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze S.855 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine S.855 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

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Discuss S.855, 113th Congress: CDBG Public Services Flexibility Act of 2013

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/senate-bill/855

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2013-04-25.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/113/bills/s855/BILLS-113s855is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-12-05T20:49:51Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.855 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

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Conservative lens

Examine S.855 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

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Discuss S.855, 113th Congress: CDBG Public Services Flexibility Act of 2013

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/senate-bill/855

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2013-04-25.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/113/bills/s855/BILLS-113s855is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-12-05T20:49:51Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.855 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

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Examine S.855 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.855, 113th Congress: CDBG Public Services Flexibility Act of 2013

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/senate-bill/855

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2013-04-25.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/113/bills/s855/BILLS-113s855is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-12-05T20:49:51Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.855 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.