[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 58 (Wednesday, May 7, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E864-E865]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 OPPOSITION TO H.R. 2--THE HOUSEING OPPORTUNITY AND RESPONSIBILITY ACT

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                           HON. BOBBY L. RUSH

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 7, 1997

  Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to vigorously call for defeat of 
H.R. 2--The Housing

[[Page E865]]

Opportunity and Responsibility Act--or, more appropriately, Dooms Day 
Legislation. H.R. 2 is another example of the ``Contract on America.'' 
And we know that the Contract on America is a contract on poor people--
more than 1.4 million families who live in public housing across our 
country.
  I oppose this draconian bill for many reasons. They include the new 
power that the bill gives to local public housing authorities to raise 
rents. This will drive thousands of low-income working families out of 
public housing. Public housing must be preserved for low-income people 
who need it most.
  But let me discuss a major reason I oppose H.R. 2. It does absolutely 
nothing to move public housing residents closer to real jobs at real 
wages. Section 105--one of the more vicious parts of this bill--is the 
provision to require forced volunteerism and to establish ``self-
sufficiency contracts.'' H.R. 2 requires that nonelderly and 
nondisabled residents of public housing who cannot find jobs have to 
perform 8 hours a month of something called ``community service.'' The 
bill also requires that residents and the public housing authority sign 
an agreement as part of the lease. This ``agreement'' is supposed to 
set goals for self-sufficiency. And one of the goals is a timetable for 
families to leave public housing when they become self-sufficient.
  But how are millions of public housing residents supposed to become 
self-sufficient, when Congress refuses to appropriate money to rebuild 
our communities? Now that would create real jobs at real wages. Instead 
of passing H.R. 2, this Congress ought to be holding hearings this week 
on H.R. 950--The Job Creation and Infrastructure Restoration Act of 
1997. This bill, cosponsored by more than 45 Members of Congress and 
over 100 organizations, including city councils, calls for $250 billion 
to launch a major public works program that could put millions of 
people to work rebuilding schools, roads, hospitals, and highways.
  Self-sufficiency contracts make no sense. No public housing residents 
should be forced to sign such contracts when H.R. 2 contains no money 
for jobs or supportive services to help people find jobs. And why is 
this Congress considering a law that requires community work in return 
for receiving Federal assistance? Do we require ``volunteer work'' in 
exchange for the right to receive other types of Federal assistance 
such as farm subsidies, LIHEAP, corporate welfare, or loan guarantees?
  Section 105 of H.R. 2 is a threat to working people, especially low-
wage workers. The ``forced volunteers'' required by section 105 
threatens to displace thousands of low wage workers currently employed 
by public housing authorities. If Congress passes a law that requires 
millions of hours of free labor by public housing residents, then 
public housing authorities will find no need to pay wages and benefits 
to other workers who currently perform vital security, maintenance, and 
other jobs.
  Mr. Speaker, you can count on my vote against H.R. 2. And you can 
count me in to continue to fight with public housing residents across 
this country to preserve the people's right to affordable housing. 
Thank you very much.

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