Thompson, Bonamici Introduce Legislation to Strengthen Community Services Block Grant Program

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representatives Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA) and Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) today introduced the Community Services Block Grant Improvement Act of 2025 to update the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) program.

The CSBG program is the only federal program with the singular mission of fighting poverty. The program supports more than 1,000 Community Action Agencies (CAAs) in nearly every county across the United States.
 
For more than 60 years, CAAs have provided a range of holistic services to low-income individuals and communities across the country, including education, skills development, financial literacy, and other services promoting economic independence. CAAs serve an estimated 10 million low-income individuals annually, representing nearly 5 million families across the U.S., providing a critical “first stop” for those in need to navigate the resources available to them. 

"The Community Services Block Grant fulfills a core American value: neighbors helping neighbors in need," Rep. Thompson said. "This bipartisan legislation reaffirms our commitment to reducing poverty to strengthening communities across the country, provides much needed reforms to ensure community action agencies across the country can continue to serve vulnerable populations, and ultimately will help put those in poverty on the path to independence.” 

“Congress created the Community Services Block Grant program to assist low-income individuals and families during challenging times while addressing the causes and conditions of poverty,” Rep. Bonamici said. “The program funds Community Action Agencies and benefits millions of people across the country. I am pleased to join my colleague Rep. Glenn "GT" Thompson in leading this bipartisan update to CSBG to provide Oregonians and Americans with opportunities that will help them achieve stability so they can thrive rather than struggle.”
 
"Representatives Thompson and Bonamici have a proven record of putting Americans first, and we thank them for their leadership on this bipartisan bill. It supports strong, successful community programs nationwide and brings local solutions, innovation, opportunity and hope to every corner of the country. The bill also reinforces Community Action's commitment to performance, accountability and using every federal dollar wisely. Thanks to the steadfast, bipartisan leadership of Representatives Thompson and Bonamici, this bill will be a breath of fresh air for every American community when it passes."- David Bradley, National Community Action Foundation CEO

COMMUNITY SUPPORT
“I am deeply thankful for Congressman GT Thompson, who has consistently been a true champion for Central Pennsylvania Community Action, Inc. and the Community Services Block Grant. His unwavering support ensures that we can continue to provide vital programs and services like the Weatherization Assistance Program, Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, sixteen (16) food pantries, Medical Assistance Transportation Program, and four (4) HUD subsidized housing projects to individuals and families across Clearfield and Centre Counties (10,312 individuals in 2024). Without his advocacy, our ability to meet the growing needs of the community would be severely limited. We are fortunate to have a representative who truly understands and values the impact of community action.” - Michelle Stiner, Executive Director, Central Pennsylvania Community Action
 
"Congressman Glenn Thompson has been a steadfast advocate for Armstrong County Community Action Partnership (ACCAP), consistently recognizing the vital role local organizations play in improving lives and creating stronger, more resilient communities. His support ensures that Armstrong County families have access to the tools, resources, and opportunities they need to thrive, including access to nutritious food, which is fundamental to health and stability. ACCAP operates the Armstrong County Foodbank; we have 16 food pantries spread throughout the county. In 2023, our foodbank distributed nearly 12,000 boxes of food, and in 2024, that number rose to nearly 19,000 boxes. That is a 63% increase in one year. Congressman Thompson understands these types of challenges communities face, especially in rural counties like Armstrong. We’re grateful for his continued commitment to the work our agency does every day - lifting people up, fostering self-sufficiency, and building a brighter future for everyone." - Marlene Petro, Executive Director, Armstrong Country Community Action Partnership
 
"For the last sixty years, the Community Services Block Grant has been a catalytic tool employed across the United States to improve conditions for people with low incomes, empowering them to gain the skills needed to live stable, economically secure lives and be active and engaged members of their local communities. Organizations who steward the block grant in their local service territories have helped set the foundations for individuals and communities to flourish and thrive. Our agency has chosen to adopt food security and agricultural services as a foundational pillar of community health and vitality. Food security work is not simply concerned with the availability of food, but it is also concerned with the nutritional health of that food and how it contributes to the ability of a human being to grow and flourish. We believe that food, farms, and farmers are not only foundational to an individual’s ability to grow and flourish, but also to community health and prosperity. Representative G.T. Thompson’s interest in both agriculture and the Community Services Block Grant speaks to his leadership in these areas and his commitment to ensuring that communities across the nation maintain access to all the resources available that contribute to community and individual prosperity." - Sandra Curry, Executive Director, Community Partnership, Inc.
 
"Congressman Thompson has been a steadfast advocate for Community Action, Inc. and the vital work we do to assist low-income individuals striving for self-sufficiency. His leadership as Vice Chair of the Congressional Community Action Caucus and his dedication to reauthorizing and improving the Community Services Block Grant Program demonstrate his unwavering commitment to fighting poverty. Congressman Thompson’s community-oriented approach, including his active participation in local events and openness to discussing collaborative projects, highlights his role as a true friend of the community. His efforts to expand resources and eligibility for CSBG ensure that the essential services we provide like emergency shelter, weatherization, food assistance and veteran housing assistance remain accessible to those who work hard but need a helping hand. His bipartisan advocacy continues to strengthen the foundation of Community Action, Inc. and uplift countless lives." - Misty Fleming, CEO, Community Action, Inc.

ABOUT THE BILL
The Community Services Block Grant Improvement Act of 2025 will reauthorize this critical program for ten years and make long-overdue updates to improve federal efforts to reduce poverty. Updates to the CSBG program include:

• Reauthorizing the CSBG Act for 7 years and increases the resources available to CAAs to fulfill the program’s mission
• Permanently raising income eligibility for participation in the CSBG program to 200 percent of the poverty line, which is the current, temporary threshold for the program
• Increasing transparency and accountability for federal CSBG dollars, ensuring states and CAAs are maximizing federal investments
• Authorizing a Broadband Navigator Program to respond to the broadband and digital needs of low-income families and communities
• Requiring federal and state training and technical assistance to be responsive to local economic conditions, including natural disasters, that may create economic insecurity

To read the full bill text, click here.