[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 105 (Thursday, July 22, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1631]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO JAMES BUCKLEY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOSE E. SERRANO

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 22, 1999

  Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate and to pay tribute 
to Mr. James Buckley, Executive Director of University Neighborhood 
Housing Program in my South Bronx district. He was selected to receive 
a James A. Johnson Community Fellowship from the Fannie Mae Foundation 
for his significant contributions to the fields of affordable housing 
and community development. Mr. Buckley is one of only six individuals 
selected through a national nomination process to receive this 
fellowship in the inaugural year of this program.
  Mr. Speaker, James Buckley founded the University Neighborhood 
Housing program (UNHP) in 1989 and has served as its Executive Director 
since then. As a Fordham University student in 1975, Mr. Buckley 
interned with the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition 
(NBCCC) as a community organizer, and he later served as its Executive 
Director. As a result of his organizing efforts at NBCCC, the Fordham 
Bedford Housing Corportion (FBHC) was formed, which has reclaimed 
thousands of units of housing and presently owns and/or manages 70 
multi-family apartment buildings.
  As the Director of the Reinvestment Project at the NBCCC, Mr. Buckley 
attracted over $100 million in public and private funds to area 
neighborhoods, which led to the creation of 1,500 units of safe, 
sanitary, affordable housing units for community residents. As a result 
of these efforts, two additional non-profit community housing 
corporations were created that went on to develop residential 
properties with tenant or community ownership.
  Mr. Speaker, the Johnson fellows Program was created to honor the 
leadership and distinguished service of former Fannie Mae Foundation 
Chairman James A. Johnson. The Fellows program is designed to reward 
and recognize outstanding leaders and promote innovation in the 
affordable housing and community development fields. Each fellow will 
receive a $70,000 grant and plus a $20,000 educational travel/study 
stipend to pursue a self-designed course of professional development to 
enhance the individual's skills and field experiences and to explore 
new solutions to current affordable housing or community development 
challenges.
  Mr. Speaker, being selected for this program indicates that James 
Buckley has demonstrated that he has the ability and the desire to be 
an asset and a role model in our community. We are proud of his 
accomplishments and I know he will take full advantage of the 
opportunity presented to him. He is a terrific example for community 
leaders.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Mr. 
James Buckley for his outstanding accomplishments, and in commending 
the Fannie Mae Foundation for honoring these six outstanding leaders 
and giving them the opportunity to do even more for their communities.

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