[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 118 (Monday, September 13, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1856]
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, 2000

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                               speech of

                         HON. JAMES H. MALONEY

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 9, 1999

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2684) making 
     appropriations for the Department 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, 2000, and for other 
     purposes:

  Mr. MALONEY of Connecticut. Mr. Chairman, I rise to express my 
concern about the deep cuts in the Veterans Administration-Housing and 
Urban Development annual (VA/HUD) appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 
2000. This legislation not only substantially slashes funds for 
programs that have enhanced economic development and improved housing 
in Connecticut and the 5th Congressional District, but also guts many 
of our important NASA science programs. My support for the VA/HUD 
Appropriations bill is conditioned on a conference agreement which 
restores funding for HUD, the Veterans Administration and NASA.
  If allowed to stand, the cuts to HUD programs will have a significant 
impact on the State of Connecticut and on my own congressional 
district, affecting both economic development initiatives and a variety 
of housing services. The Republican budget cutters have dug deep into 
initiatives that have proven track records of success. There is simply 
no reason to reduce our efforts to provide economic development for our 
towns and cities in the form of Brownfields monies and Community 
Development Block Grants (CDBG) funds. By doing so, we will set our 
communities and our economies backwards, rather than spur them forward.
  The VA/HUD Appropriations legislation also slashes funding for key 
NASA science programs. This shortsighted action jeopardizes our 
country's leadership in space. Unless NASA funding is restored, this 
legislation should not pass Congress.
  My colleagues, I support the VA/HUD Fiscal Year 2000 Appropriations 
in the House because it restores badly needed funds for the Veterans 
Administration. I urge all of you to join me in working to reverse the 
housing, CDBG, economic development and NASA cuts in this bill. If this 
important funding is not restored, I will oppose the House-Senate 
conference agreement on the final version of the bill. I urge you to do 
the same.

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