[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 127 (Tuesday, September 13, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: September 13, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
  CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 4624, DEPARTMENTS OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AND 
HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, AND INDEPENDENT AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS 
                               ACT, 1995

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                               speech of

                          HON. BILL RICHARDSON

                             of new mexico

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 12, 1994

  Mr. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the 
conference report on H.R. 4624, VA/HUD and independent agencies 
appropriations fiscal year 1995. I would like to commend Chairman 
Stokes and the conferees for putting together an excellent bill that 
wisely invests in every American's need for safe, clean housing, 
addresses the needs of our veterans, and addresses the management of 
our environment. I strongly support this conference report which 
addresses the critical needs of New Mexicans and other Americans.
  H.R. 4624 expands funding for assisted housing, low-income housing, 
and homeownership programs. These expanded programs will benefit 
moderate and low-income people of northern New Mexico who are faced 
with escalating home prices. The $1.5 million for affordable housing in 
Santa Fe, NM will allow hundreds of hardworking families to realize the 
American dream of owning their own home.
  I commend the conferees for recognizing the importance of keeping the 
promises that we have made to the millions of men and women who have 
risked their lives to defend this country. I would like to thank 
Chairman Stokes and the conferees for their commitment to primary care 
services for veterans in rural areas. We cannot provide medical care 
300 miles from a veterans home and claim that the veteran has 
accessible health care. In fiscal year 1994 the committee provided for 
a clinic in Clovis, NM. The Veterans Health Administration subsequently 
found over 11,000 veterans in the area who were not being served. I 
want to thank the committee for providing another $550,000 to expand 
the Clovis Veterans Clinic to serve rural veterans of eastern New 
Mexico and west Texas who for decades have been denied the basic health 
care they earned fighting for this country. The committee has also 
provided $178,000 for a rural health care in Clayton, NM. These 
services will provide much needed care to our veterans in the tristate 
area of New Mexico, Texas and Oklahoma who are now forced to travel for 
150 to 400 miles to receive veterans care.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4624 will serve our Nation's longterm interest by 
investing in essential housing, veterans, and environment needs. I am 
ready to support the conference agreement on HUD/VA and independent 
agencies fiscal year 1995 appropriations and urge my colleagues to do 
the same.

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