[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 120 (Monday, July 24, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1501]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                 PROTECTING AMERICA'S HOUSING PROGRAMS

                                 ______


                               speech of

                           HON. LOUIS STOKES

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, July 21, 1995
  Mr. STOKES. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleagues for reserving 
this special order. I am pleased to participate in this discussion 
which is focused on the importance of housing, and the role of the 
Federal Government in ensuring that all Americans have affordable 
housing opportunities. The special order this evening is extremely 
timely and necessary in light of the attacks on the Department of 
Housing and Urban Development by the GOP leadership in this Congress.
  I have a firsthand knowledge of some of the housing problems 
confronting the Nation. I serve as the ranking member of the House 
Appropriations Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs-Housing and Urban 
Development-Independent Agencies. This panel oversees the Nation's 
$25.5 million housing budget. Through our subcommittee hearings, field 
trips, and studies and examinations, we are provided a closeup look at 
the increasingly grave housing situation in this Nation. In order to 
legislate solutions in the Halls of Congress, we all realize that you 
must first have a clear understanding of the problem.
  Mr. Speaker, our Federal housing programs assist 4.7 million 
households through public housing and Section 8 rental assistance. We 
know that: 36 percent of the households are elderly; 15 percent are 
persons with disabilities; and 43 percent are families with children. 
We also understanding that the median income of these households is 
$8,000 per year.
  This week, the Appropriations Committee completed mark-up of the 
fiscal year 1996 VA-HUD-Independent Agencies appropriations bill. As 
the ranking member on the panel, I am deeply disturbed by the funding 
cuts which the Republican leadership has advanced in this bill. When we 
look at cuts to housing programs, we note that hardest hit are those 
programs that provide affordable and decent housing for the elderly and 
poor.
  The appropriations bill cuts HUD's funding by $5.5 billion. They saw 
fit to cut funding for homeless assistance grants by nearly 50 percent. 
In addition, funding for development and severely distressed public 
housing is eliminated, as well as new housing vouchers and certificates 
for the poor. Further, in this bill, modernization funds are cut by 
over $1 billion and operating subsidies are reduced by $400 million.
  These cuts are in addition to damaging legislation that would repeal 
the Brooke amendment. The Brooke amendment is legislation which limits 
the percentage of income that poor people living in federally assisted 
housing can pay. Repealing this amendment increases the costs borne by 
the Nation's poor. Several other harmful provisions with regard to rent 
increases are also in the bill.
  Mr. Speaker, this callous action by the appropriations panel 
represents a critical assault on our Nation's housing programs. The 
bill guts many of the critical safety net and human needs programs upon 
which the elderly, the poor, and low-income families depend. I am 
concerned that we are retreating on our commitment of affordable and 
decent housing as a
 national priority. For this reason, I am pleased to join my colleagues 
for this special order. Our participation this evening demonstrates our 
strong commitment to ensuring a strong and significant role in 
providing housing for all Americans.
             Housing Special Order Tomorrow Night (July 19)

     To members of Dem. Task Force on Housing and other Housing 
         supporters
     Fr Representatives Joe Kennedy, Henry Gonzalez, Vic Fazio, 
         Barbara B. Kennelly
     Re Housing Special Order on Wednesday, July 19
       Dt July 18, 1995
       This is a reminder that tomorrow night after regular 
     business there will be a special order on the importance of 
     housing and the role the Federal government has played in 
     trying to ensure that all Americans have affordable housing 
     opportunities.
       The Appropriations committee has targeted housing for 
     extremely deep and very serious cuts which will undermine 
     this mission.
       We need to move quickly and forcefully to restore these 
     crucial funds for housing, and to explain to the American 
     people how important and successful most federal housing 
     programs have been in serving working and poor Americans.
       Please have your staff contact Jonathan Miller in Rep. 
     Kennedy's office (5-5111) or Nancy Libson of the Housing 
     Subcommittee (5-7054) if you would like to participate in 
     this special order.
     

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