[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 6 (Wednesday, January 11, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H183]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                       PUBLIC HOUSING RENT REFORM

  (Mr. KNOLLENBERG asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. KNOLLENBERG. Mr. Speaker, as we debate the reform of our Nation's 
welfare system, our deliberations must include a close examination of 
the federally mandated system of calculating rents paid by residents of 
America's public housing.
  The evidence is striking. The current system of establishing rents in 
public housing is set by bureaucrats in Washington. It provides no 
flexibility to provide incentives for residents to make a better wage 
or even find work.
  In most cases, if a resident of public housing obtains gainful 
employment, they end up with less disposable income than if they had 
stayed on welfare. That is right, less money by going to work. Is it 
any wonder we have generations of people who are addicted to the public 
dole?
  In the last Congress, this body passed a housing bill which included 
a provision which I sponsored, entitled the Rent Reform and Empowerment 
Act, which would reduce these disincentives through a system of income 
disallowances and ceiling rents. Unfortunately, it was killed in the 
other body.
  Mr. Speaker, today I am reintroducing this important legislation. It 
is time we applied a little common sense. And keep in mind it has been 
this Government that has imposed some of the highest tax rates on 
America's poor.

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