[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 338 Introduced in House (IH)]






108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 338

 Commemorating the 15th anniversary of Rebuilding Together, commending 
   Rebuilding Together for its service, and encouraging Americans to 
volunteer with Rebuilding Together and similar community organizations.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           November 21, 2003

 Ms. Carson of Indiana submitted the following concurrent resolution; 
       which was referred to the Committee on Financial Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
 Commemorating the 15th anniversary of Rebuilding Together, commending 
   Rebuilding Together for its service, and encouraging Americans to 
volunteer with Rebuilding Together and similar community organizations.

Whereas more than 24,000,000 homeowners in the United States live in dilapidated 
        or substandard houses because their advanced age, disability, or 
        insufficient income makes it impossible for them to maintain safe and 
        habitable homes;
Whereas more than 55,000,000 Americans, or nearly 1 in 5 United States citizens, 
        are disabled, and 33,000,000 Americans have severe disabilities;
Whereas nearly 1,500,000 elderly homeowners lack the basic elements of housing 
        security such as complete and functional plumbing, a reliable source of 
        heating and cooling, and necessary safety features such as grab bars and 
        wheelchair ramps;
Whereas 61% of the Nation's lowest-income homeowners are elderly, and the 
        elderly population of the United States is expected to double by 2025;
Whereas 92% of elderly Americans want to remain as long as possible in their own 
        affordable, safe, and structurally sound housing;
Whereas the Federal Government promotes and encourages sustainable and strong 
        neighborhoods by preserving and rehabilitating existing housing stock in 
        partnership with State and local governments and with the critical 
        assistance of volunteer organizations;
Whereas improving existing housing and community facilities strengthens 
        neighborhoods, restores the pride of homeowners, and sustains and 
        nurtures the families who reside in these neighborhoods;
Whereas home equity is the best way for lower-income families to build wealth 
        and for lower-income communities to rebuild their neighborhoods;
Whereas preserving existing houses and community facilities is a cost-effective 
        way of meeting the housing needs of low-income and elderly households;
Whereas home improvement and rehabilitation strengthens the national economy by 
        promoting the production and sale of goods and services, encouraging 
        ongoing investment, promoting economic and civic responsibility that 
        rejuvenates communities, and enhancing the value of most Americans' 
        largest investments, their homes;
Whereas the community-building activities of neighborhood-based nonprofit 
        organizations empower individuals to improve their lives and make 
        communities safer and healthier for families;
Whereas Rebuilding Together, the largest volunteer nonprofit housing 
        rehabilitation organization, was founded in 1988 to rehabilitate houses 
        for low-income homeowners who are elderly, disabled, or families with 
        children and who are unable to do the work themselves;
Whereas Rebuilding Together rehabilitates and improves community centers, 
        nonprofit facilities, and neighborhood parks that provide support to 
        low-income and elderly residents;
Whereas Rebuilding Together is the Nation's leading expert in delivering 
        voluntary home safety modification services that prevent accidents and 
        hospitalizations;
Whereas Rebuilding Together is organized in all 50 States and the District of 
        Columbia and has 252 local affiliates, each of which is an organization 
        described under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 
        and exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of such Code and has a 
        locally-elected voluntary board of directors;
Whereas in its 15-year history, Rebuilding Together has rehabilitated more than 
        80,000 houses and expects to complete work on another 50,000 houses by 
        the year 2010;
Whereas Rebuilding Together provides opportunities for people from every segment 
        of society to volunteer to help those in need of basic home maintenance 
        assistance; and
Whereas Rebuilding Together helps keep low-income homeowners who are elderly, 
        disabled, or families with children living in safe, warm, and dry 
        conditions: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That Congress--
            (1) commemorates the 15th anniversary of Rebuilding 
        Together;
            (2) commends Rebuilding Together, its 252 affiliate 
        chapters, and the nearly 2,300,000 volunteers who have helped 
        rehabilitate more than 80,000 houses since 1988;
            (3) recognizes the importance of volunteer organizations 
        such as Rebuilding Together in meeting the growing challenge of 
        providing housing rehabilitation assistance to low-income and 
        elderly homeowners;
            (4) calls upon State and local governments to cooperate 
        with Rebuilding Together in preserving, rehabilitating, and 
        improving existing housing;
            (5) asks all Americans to recognize the value of preserving 
        existing housing and to consider volunteering with Rebuilding 
        Together and other similar organizations to rebuild and sustain 
        our local communities; and
            (6) encourages Members of Congress, their families, and 
        their staffs to participate in home rehabilitation activities 
        of Rebuilding Together in their own States and Congressional 
        Districts.
                                 <all>