[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 58 (Wednesday, May 1, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E687-E688]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  19 MEMBERS OF CROATIAN FRATERNAL LODGE CELEBRATE 50 YEARS OF SERVICE

                                 ______


                        HON. PETER J. VISCLOSKY

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 1, 1996

  Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker. I rise today to congratulate 19 
outstanding individuals who are celebrating 50 years of membership in 
the Croatian Fraternal Union Lodge 170. The festivities will begin this 
Sunday, May 5, with a mass at St. Joseph the Worker Church in Gary, IN, 
followed by a banquet at Lodge 170 in Merrillville, IN. The esteemed 
guest speaker at this celebratory event will be the Hon. John Buncich, 
Sheriff of Lake County, IN.
  At this time, I would like to recognize the following members who be 
will honored on Sunday for their 50 years of membership in the Croatian 
Fraternal Union Lodge 170: Rosemary Adams, Bryan Magdaline; John V. 
Chelich; Alvin Eugene Erbesti; Lillian Gorski; Andy Horvatich; Pauline 
Jocha; Mary Klen; Francis Medved; Jennie Miller; Anna Mordi; Rosemary 
Petrovich; John Pitula; Shirley Pollizatto; Robert Razumich; Anne 
Wagner; Catherine Yavor; Catherine Zitz; and Christine Zivcic. These 19 
members of Lodge 170 have lived up to the highest ideals of their 
solidarity with the people of Croatia and service to the Croatian-
American population.
  I would also like to recognize Ms. Elizabeth Morgavan, who has served 
as president of Lodge 170 for over 10 years. As an honorary lifetime 
member, she has dedicated her efforts to all facets of the Croatian 
Fraternal Union. In 1992, Elizabeth was named ``Woman of the Year'' by 
her peers at Lodge 170 for the countless hours she has dedicated to 
various projects and programs within the Lodge and the Croatian-
American community.
  Over the years, it has been my privilege and honor to work with the 
membership of the Croatian Fraternal Union Lodge 170. They have, in no 
uncertain terms, played a key role in promoting fraternal and cultural 
activity among the Croatian-American population of northwest Indiana. 
Lodge 170, the largest Croatian Fraternal Union lodge in the United 
States, has provided its many members with opportunities to share their 
ethnic heritage with their fellow countrymen. More importantly, Lodge 
170 has provided social assistance and insurance benefits for its 
members, as well as other Croatian-Americans.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge you and my other colleagues to join me in 
commending the dedication and longevity of all those who have served 
for 50 years as members of the Croatian Fraternal Union Lodge 170.

[[Page E688]]



           STATE OCCUPANCY STANDARDS AFFIRMATION ACT OF 1996

                                 ______


                           HON. BILL McCOLLUM

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 1, 1996

  Mr. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing a bill, the ``State 
Occupancy Standards Affirmation Act of 1996'' to assert the rights of 
States in establishing occupancy standards for housing providers. 
Currently, there is no Federal law to establish the number of people 
permitted to live in a housing unit. It is imperative that we ensure 
that States retain the right to set reasonable occupancy standards; my 
bill does just this.
  There is a national consensus that the appropriate level for most 
apartment properties is two-people-per-bedroom. Most States have 
adopted a two-per-bedroom policy, and HUD's own guidelines state that 
this is an appropriate level to maintain public housing and section 8 
housing. Beyond this level, the negative effects of overcrowding can be 
triggered, including decreasing the stock of affordable housing.
  However, HUD's Fair Housing Office has initiated legal actions over 
the past 3 years. And then last July, HUD issued a memorandum, without 
any consultation, that would pressure housing providers to rent to 
substantially more than two-per-bedroom or be potentially subject to 
lawsuits charging discrimination against families.
  All types of housing providers, including managers of seniors housing 
and public housing, were dismayed with HUD's proposal. If this change 
were permitted to stand, it would adversely impact all involved in 
housing, from tenants who could be crowded into inadequate housing, to 
housing providers who would have to provide services for more residents 
than they may be equipped for, and whose property would deteriorate.
  In the fiscal year 1996 VA/HUD appropriations bill, Congress 
disallowed HUD from implementing its July memorandum. But we need to go 
one step further.
  The bill I am introducing is a simple clarification of existing law 
and practice. It says that States, not HUD, will set occupancy 
standards and that a two-per-bedroom standard is reasonable in the 
absence of a State law. American taxpayers have spent billions of 
dollars on HUD programs designed to reduce crowding. It is time to 
ensure that overcrowding will not be a possibility.

                          ____________________