[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 67 (Tuesday, May 14, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E786-E787]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        U.S. HOUSING ACT OF 1996

                                 ______


                               speech of

                             HON. JACK REED

                            of rhode island

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 8, 1996

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2406) to 
     repeal

[[Page E787]]

     the United States Housing Act of 1937, deregulate the public 
     housing program and the program for rental housing assistance 
     for low-income families, and increase community control over 
     such programs, and for other purposes.

  Mr. REED. Mr. Chairman, I regret that I must vote against H.R. 2406, 
the Housing Act of 1995. While I support the provisions which reduce 
burdensome regulations for public housing authorities and consolidate 
numerous programs, I do not support the provisions which will limit 
housing options for our Nation's most vulnerable residents and 
families.
  During House debate, I spoke in favor of Representative Frank's 
amendment to retain the Brooke amendment, an amendment which would have 
ensured that residents in public housing do not pay more than 30 
percent of their limited income toward rent. Although the House was 
successful in retaining this important provision for our Nation's 
elderly and disabled, and those with incomes below 30 percent of the 
area median, H.R. 2406 still contains language which will effectively 
shut out low-income working Americans from affordable, decent housing. 
I have long held that we need meaningful welfare reform and that there 
ought to be a safety net for those Americans trying to get their feet 
back on the ground. Repealing the Brooke amendment will severely hurt 
our Nation's low-income, working residents who are struggling to afford 
a home, food, clothing, and medicine.
  In addition to repealing the Brooke amendment, the House bill also 
changes regulations regarding income targeting. I commend Chairman 
Lazio for his efforts on compromise language with Representative 
Kennedy from Massachusetts to reserve more public and assisted housing 
for the very poor. I also share the goal of integrating a broader range 
of incomes for people in public housing, but I remain concerned that 
many low-income Americans will still be cut off from housing assistance 
while housing authorities seek to attract people with higher incomes. 
It is my hope that the House-Senate conference will result in an 
agreement to ensure that those who are in dire need of housing are able 
to receive assistance.
  Mr. Speaker, I heard from hundreds of Rhode Islanders who expressed 
serious concerns about this bill and the repeal of the Brooke 
amendment. At a time when Americans are already coping with drastic 
budget cuts, it does not make sense to disadvantage working residents 
and families by placing affordable, decent housing out of their reach.
  Mr. Speaker, everyone needs a place to live, and, as such, housing 
legislation should be a bipartisan effort. The Senate has taken this to 
heart and passed bipartisan legislation which preserves the Brooke 
amendment. It is my hope that the final bill will be more like the 
Senate version, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to 
ensure safe, decent, affordable housing for all Americans.

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