[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 59 (Thursday, May 2, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E703-E704]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          PERSONAL EXPLANATION

                                 ______


                          HON. HELEN CHENOWETH

                                of idaho

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 2, 1996

  Mrs. CHENOWETH. Mr. Speaker, on Wednesday, I was unavoidably detained 
and missed rollcall vote 144. Had I been here, I would have voted 
``yes.'' I ask unanimous consent to have my statement appear in the 
appropriate place in the Record. 

[[Page E704]]



               ONE STRIKE YOU'RE OUT FOR ASSISTED HOUSING

                                 ______


                          HON. JAMES P. MORAN

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 2, 1996

  Mr. MORAN. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to introduce legislation 
extending the ``One Strike You're Out'' provisions to screen and evict 
drug and alcohol abusers in public and tenant-based section 8 housing 
to all types of low-income, rent-subsidized housing.
  For too long, drug dealers and other criminals have plagued low-
income housing projects. Despite Federal policies that date back to 
1988, a number of legal loopholes have enabled criminals to evade 
eviction. The new law closes these loopholes and grants housing 
authorities new powers to screen and evict problem tenants. I was 
pleased to see that the Housing Opportunity and Extension Act [S. 1494] 
included my language closing several legal loophole that enabled drug 
dealers and problem tenants to evade the expedited eviction procedures 
in public housing.
  I have a personal interest in the expedited eviction procedure dating 
back to my service as mayor of the city of Alexandria. Unfortunately, 
it took the tragic death of Alexandria police officer Charlie Hill in 
1989 before HUD responded with an expedited eviction procedure for 
public housing residents. I tried to deal with his death in the most 
constructive way possible and sought a waiver from then Secretary Jack 
Kemp to expedite the eviction of known drug dealers from public 
housing.
  The police and the community knew who the drug dealers were, but 
every time they attempted to do something, they were stymied by the 
legal aid advocates. Fortunately, Alexandria was successful and the 
city's public housing units are a far different place to live today. 
The expedited eviction procedure works but it needed to be strengthened 
further.
  The work begun following officer Hill's death, however, is not yet 
complete. The new law fails to cover residents living in federally-
assisted housing. Residents in project-based section 8 and FHA insured 
multifamily housing have no similar protection today when drug dealers 
threaten their health and safety. There are approximately 1.4 million 
public housing units, while there are more than 2.1 million section 8 
publicly assisted housing units. Residents of these 2.1 million units 
deserve equal protection under the law.
  With enactment of this legislation, tenants, victimized by drug 
dealers and others who threaten their safety and well being, will 
receive equal protection. With enactment of this legislation, drug 
dealers in project-based section 8 housing will no longer be able to 
ply their trade outside the project's boundary where they were 
erroneously exempt from the expedited eviction procedure. And, 
ignorance of a fellow tenant's illegal drug activity will no longer be 
exclusive grounds to exempt a lease-holder from the expedited eviction 
procedure. Ignorance of illegal drug activity should not, by itself, be 
grounds for exempting a tenant from the expedited eviction procedure.
  Too often the actual knowledge standard is an easy way out for the 
tenant. It also encourages lease holders to avoid knowing what members 
of their family or other persons under their roof are doing.
  Mr. Speaker, this legislation is good public policy. It's good for 
the tenants, it's good for the neighbors and it's good for the managers 
and owners.
  It is also important that as we shift from Government-run public 
housing to community-based vouchers and assistance, we need to provide 
communities with the tools to enforce the laws and foster good 
responsible neighbors.
  This legislation helps bring us closer to this goal.

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