[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 62 (Tuesday, April 4, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H4109-H4110]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         LEGISLATION TO STIMULATE URBAN ECONOMIC REDEVELOPMENT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 4, 1995, the gentlewoman from Florida [Mrs. Meek] is recognized 
during morning business for 2 minutes.
  Mrs. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to introduce a bill 
to stimulate urban economic redevelopment through environmental 
cleanup. This bill, without adding to the Federal budget, attacks 
unemployment in urban cities on several fronts. My bill provides 
business and job opportunities by providing low-interest loans to 
stimulate voluntary cleanup of contaminated sites; it provides 
incentives to individuals to establish environmental businesses in 
targeted urban areas through the reduction of the Social Security tax 
burden; it provides training to fill the positions created by the new 
businesses; and my bill authorizes Federal agencies to give preference 
to qualified businesses that hire targeted urban area dwellers.
  Mr. Speaker, as we move to enact welfare reform, we must find 
creative 
[[Page H4110]] ways to lessen the need for welfare. My bill, Mr. 
Speaker, does just that.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in this fight to 
revitalize our urban communities.
  My bill creates meaningful jobs for the unemployed and those about to 
enter the work force.
  Passage of this bill will significantly increase the pace of 
environmental cleanup by establishing a low-interest loan program to 
stimulate voluntary cleanup of industrial sites. The cleanup of these 
sites will benefit public health and welfare, and the environment by 
returning contaminated sites to economically productive uses.
  This bill stimulates the creation of environmental jobs and business 
opportunities by individuals and small businesses in target urban areas 
through reduction of the Social Security tax burden.


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