[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 64 (Thursday, May 9, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E741]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     TRIBUTE TO FANNIE MAE FOUNDATION AND THE NBA'S HOUSTON ROCKETS

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                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON-LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 8, 1996

  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, on Wednesday afternoon, April 
10, 1996, Fannie Mae Foundation and Clyde Drexler and Chucky Brown, 
star players with the back-to-back World Champion Houston Rockets, 
joined together in their second Work Day to increase home ownership and 
rehabilitate Houston's neighborhoods.
  The Home Team partnership was designed to revitalize Houston's 
neighborhoods and to provide home buying information to help more 
Houstonians achieve their dream of home ownership.
  Houston's ``Home Team'' and the Fannie Mae Foundation held a ribbon-
cutting welcome home ceremony at two newly-landscaped homes which 
Rockets and Fannie Mae Foundation employees began constructing last 
December in Houston's Fifth Ward neighborhood located in the 18th 
Congressional District. The new homeowners are single parents and 
first-time home buyers.
  The Work Day was led by my friend, J.J. Smith, who heads up Fannie 
Mae's partnership office. Fifth Ward Redevelopment Corp., a local 
nonprofit organization dedicated to providing housing to lower income 
and first-time home buyers--also deserves credit for this partnership. 
They are the true heroes behind this effort.
  The best part of this story is that Houston has two new homeowners, 
setting the precedent that home ownership is possible for other local 
families. I will continue to support the good work of the Fannie Mae 
Foundation, and recognize the valuable time the Rockets players and 
staff take out of their busy schedules to make a difference in the 
lives of our local families and send the message that the American 
dream of ownership is possible for every family.

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