[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 80 (Thursday, June 18, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H4824-H4825]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
NASHVILLE'S HOUSE THAT CONGRESS BUILT
(Mr. Clement asked and was given permission to address the House for
1 minute, revise and extend his remarks and include extraneous
material.)
Mr. CLEMENT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to report on my experience
with the House that Congress Built and to urge all my colleagues to
participate in this project.
Last year Congress passed House Resolution 147, which encourages all
Members to participate in and to support activities to provide homes
for low income families. So far 361 Members of Congress have agreed to
participate in the House that Congress Built to make the American dream
of home ownership a reality for low income families.
On Friday, June 12, I teamed up with the Nashville Area Habitat for
Humanity and the Homebuilders Association of Middle Tennessee to break
the world's record for building a habitat home. We not only broke the
record, we shattered it. With 250 builders and 50 supervisors. Working
tirelessly, the 3 bedroom 1,000 square foot home was built in an
amazing 4 hours 39 minutes and 8 seconds. It was an unbelievable
experience that I had the opportunity to participate in.
I also had opportunity to meet Millard Fuller, the founder of Habitat
for Humanity International. It appears now we will be in the Guinness
Book of World Records. I urge all my colleagues to join Habitat for
Humanity in building homes in their districts. And let me mention it
again--we built that home in an amazing 4 hours 39 minutes and 8
seconds.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to report on my experience with ``The House
That Congress Built'' and to urge ALL my colleagues to participate in
this project.
On Friday, June 12, 1998, I teamed up with the Nashville Area Habitat
for Humanity and the Homebuilders Association of Middle Tennessee to
break the world record for building a Habitat home. We not only broke
that record . . . we shattered it. The record had been 5 hours, 57
minutes and 13 seconds. With over 250 framers, builders, drywallers,
electricians, plumbers and landscapers working tirelessly, the three
bedroom, 1000-square-foot home was built in an amazing 4 hours, 39
minutes and 8 seconds.
I was very proud to be a part of this team. The hard work that
Habitat for Humanity and the Homebuilders Association of Middle
Tennessee devoted to this build is inspirational and heart warming.
Witnessing the hard work of 250 builders and 50 supervisors who worked
on the house was truly a sight to behold.
This project was a blessing to participate in because it gave me an
opportunity to get to know the family who now owns the Habitat house.
This personal contact is extremely important because it puts a face on
poverty. When we give poverty a name and not merely a statistic, the
problem reaches into our hearts and we feel compelled to do our part in
helping to eliminate poverty housing in our country.
This home was built for Marilyn Winston and her 12-year-old son
Ramonze. They had never owned a home and were living in a drug-infested
and violence-filled neighborhood. Ramonze could not go outside to play.
Marilyn, a registered medical assistant, is very devoted to the
education and safety of her son and works very hard to provide for him.
In their new home, Ramonze has his own room, a yard to play in and a
safe neighborhood to live in.
At this building, I had the privilege to meet Millard Fuller, the
founder and president of Habitat for Humanity International. Millard
was a self-made millionaire at age 29, when he and his wife, Linda,
sold all their possessions, gave their money to the poor and struck out
on a search for a focus in their lives. Their experiences led Millard
to create Habitat for Humanity International, dedicated to providing
homes for low-income families.
Today, Habitat has over 1,400 affiliates in North America and
partners in more than 50 nations. The 70,000th home will be built in
September.
I think we can all agree with the principal benefits of home
ownership. A home is not merely a shelter--it provides a family with an
opportunity for growth, prosperity and security.
[[Page H4825]]
Home ownership promotes economic independence for our citizens and
provides stability for our neighborhoods.
The United States is the first country in the world to make owning a
home a reality for a vast majority of its families; however, more than
one-third of the families in this country are not homeowners. A
disproportionate percentage of non-homeowning families are low-income
families. Owning a home is like owning a piece of the rock. If we all
join together, we can help ensure that this nation becomes a nation of
homeowners.
Last year, Congress passed House Resolution 147, which encourages all
members to participate in and support activities to provide homes for
low-income families. So far, 361 members of Congress have agreed to
participate in the House that Congress Built, to make the American
dream of homeownership a reality for low-income families. When we voted
on this resolution last year, I thought it was a good idea. After
participating in the world-record breaking build on Friday, I'm
convinced that this is one of the greatest events I've ever had the
privilege to be part of since becoming a member of Congress. I urge all
of you to join Habitat for Humanity in building homes in your
districts. I promise you that if you participate in a habitat for
Humanity build, it will be one of the most rewarding experiences of
your life.
I also urge my colleagues to ensure that this effort does not end
with one symbolic house in each congressional district. Our goal is to
eliminate poverty housing across the United States. This has to be the
beginning of the fulfillment of the American dream for each and every
American.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I yield back the balance of my time.
____________________