[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 101 (Thursday, July 28, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: July 28, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
     VOTES MISSED ON H.R. 3838, HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT 
                             AUTHORIZATION

                                 ______


                            HON. MIKE SYNAR

                              of oklahoma

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 28, 1994

  Mr. SYNAR. Mr. Speaker, last week my colleagues voted to support the 
final passage of H.R. 3838, Housing and Community Development 
Authorization. This legislation reauthorized for 1995 and 1996, most 
existing housing programs administered by the Department of Housing and 
Urban Development and the Farmer's Home Administration [FmHA]. Included 
were measures that would provide loans to families in need, allow HUD 
to provide incentives for tenants to get jobs and continue working, and 
regulatory relief for soundly run local public housing authorities. 
H.R. 3838 embodies the ideas central to reform efforts: work, 
responsibility, and flexibility for State programs.
  During the last days of debate on H.R. 3838, my attendance was 
required in Oklahoma and I was unable to vote on an amendment by 
Congressman Jay Kim of California which would have prohibited illegal 
immigrants from receiving benefits under the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency's emergency food and shelter programs; an amendment 
by Congresswoman Marge Roukema of New Jersey which would not apply 
Congressman Kim's amendment during federally declared disasters; 
Congressman Serrano's amendment which required Federal funding to 
States to enforce Congressman Kim's amendment; and on final passage of 
H.R. 3838. Had I been present, I would have voted for final passage of 
H.R. 3838, Congresswoman Roukema's amendment, and Congressman Serrano's 
amendment. I would not have voted for Congressman Kim's amendment. The 
Roukema and Serrano amendments would continue to allow relief to States 
which in times of emergency must deal with the needs of all families. 
Without these amendments to Mr. Kim's amendment, the cost shift to 
States and local charities during times of need, like when floods raged 
through the Midwest last year, would be unbearable.
  The fact that people are immigrating illegally to this country is a 
big problem. In 1990, Congress created the bipartisan Commission on 
Immigration Reform. The Commission is to report recommendations to 
Congress September 30 of this year. The solution to the illegal 
immigration problem is not to take financial options away from States 
during times of emergency, but to better enforce our boarders and 
immigration laws that prevent illegal immigrants from entering and 
remaining in the country. I look forward to the recommendations from 
the bipartisan Commission.

                          ____________________