[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 106 (Friday, July 31, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1491]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


DEPARTMENTS OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AND HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, AND 
             INDEPENDENT AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1999

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. BARBARA B. KENNELLY

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 29, 1998

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 4194) making 
     appropriations for the Departments of Veterans Affairs and 
     Housing and Urban Development, and for sundry independent 
     agencies, boards, commissions, corporations, and offices for 
     the fiscal year ending September 30, 1999, and for other 
     purposes:

  Mrs. KENNELLY of Connecticut. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to 
the Hilleary Amendment which would cut critical funding for the Housing 
Opportunities for People with Aids program. While I certainly 
understand the need to support our veterans, this amendment looks to 
cut funding from the wrong place. It would result in an approximately 
ten percent cut in a program that makes housing available to the over 
100,000 veterans living with AIDS. The HOPWA program is the only 
federal housing program designed to address the housing crisis of the 
AIDS epidemic and it provides vital assistance to 52,000 individuals in 
29 states. HOPWA is cost effective and provides needed care and housing 
for individuals who would otherwise be without a place to live.
  Even with last year's increase in funding, Connecticut and the 
Hartford and New Haven areas actually saw a decrease of $480,000 in 
funding because new areas became eligible for funds. A further cut in 
funding will make precious HOPWA dollars even more scarce particularly 
since seven new jurisdictions are expected to qualify for funds in 
fiscal year 1999.
  Connecticut is a leader in AIDS housing, and at one time boasted the 
only statewide AIDS residence coalition in the nation. But even in a 
state that runs an effective AIDS housing program, the need for funding 
is great. In 1997, as many as 400 requests for housing in Connecticut 
were denied solely on the basis of the lack of space. The alternative 
for many of those denied housing is homelessness, something none of us 
should feel comfortable with.
  Finally, let me talk about the cost of AIDS housing. The average cost 
of an acute care hospital bed for an AIDS patient is $1,085 per day, 
while the cost of HOPWA community housing is far cheaper at a cost of 
only between $55 to $110 a day. In fact, HOPWA programs save an 
estimated $47,000 per person per year on emergency medical expenses. 
The HOPWA program is cost-effective, while providing quality care for 
people living with AIDS.
  I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment, and to support funding 
for this important housing program.

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