[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 45 (Tuesday, April 11, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E527-E528]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      AMERICAN HOMEOWNERSHIP AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY ACT OF 2000

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. BILL PASCRELL, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 6, 2000

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 1776) to 
     expand homeownership in the United States:

  Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of this amendment by my 
estimable colleague from California, Congresswoman Waters.
  As a former Mayor of a large city, I know a thing or two about 
depending on Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) and the HOME 
Investment Partnership Program (HOME) to pay for services and housing 
for

[[Page E528]]

poor communities. And let me tell you--there is never enough money in 
the pot to meet the needs of those communities.
  I think the proposals made here today are great. I think creating 
incentives for teachers and police officers to move into distressed 
communities is a great idea. Mixed income communities provide lower 
income neighborhoods with much-needed role models and opportunities.
  But let us be very clear about the funding for these changes. The 
money for these proposals we are discussing here today will have to 
come from the same pot of money that is currently set aside for the 
very neediest of Americans.
  And there isn't enough of it to go around.
  Today the floor is filled with talk about the need to reinvest in our 
communities. What I want to know is--when we are all back here in the 
fall debating the budget, will we be as committed to these programs--to 
these communities--as we are today?
  Will we be willing to put our money where our mouth is today?
  I support this underlying legislation. We should work together to 
revitalize those areas that need our attention.
  If we are going to take these programs beyond their intended mission, 
we should be prepared to increase the funding necessary to add each of 
the groups we want to make eligible.
  We cannot stretch dollars too thin at the expense of the people we 
say we are trying to lift up. I look forward to working with the 
sponsors of this legislation to ensure that the funding is in place to 
meet our shared goals.

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