[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 1 (Wednesday, January 4, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E14]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


     USE OF UNDERUTILIZED BUILDINGS IN ECONOMICALLY DEPRESSED AREAS

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                      HON. JAMES A. TRAFICANT, JR.

                                 of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, January 4, 1995
  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to reintroduce legislation 
that I sponsored in the 103d Congress that would require the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration to take advantage of abandoned and 
underutilized buildings and grounds in economically depressed areas of 
the country when selecting new site facilities. I invite all Members to 
cosponsor this legislation.
  I believe that in this age of reinvestment in our large cities, 
programs such as Enterprise Zone and HUD grants offer economically 
depressed communities the opportunity to pick themselves up and forge 
ahead with their recovery. I also believe, however, that Federal 
agencies, such as NASA, should look at those same communities when 
looking to expand their facilities. Much like a major sports team, NASA 
expansion into an economically depressed area would boost the area's 
financial status, self-esteem, and morale. Often these last two simply 
cannot be fixed with a simple Government-sponsored grant.
  My legislation would also allow older buildings and underused 
facilities in decaying cities the chance to be fully utilized, thereby 
furthering the economic and cosmetic recovery of those cities. And 
because those facilities would already be in place, NASA would not have 
to spend a fortune on constructing all new buildings and support 
infrastructure.
  Mr. Speaker, NASA's operations should not just be something we see 
pictures of on television. I urge my colleagues to cosponsor this 
legislation so that all Americans can take advantage of this country's 
space program.


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