[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.

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