[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 112 (Friday, July 25, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1653-E1654]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

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                            HON. ZOE LOFGREN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 25, 2003

  Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Speaker, as the House prepares to go out on recess, 
I leave dumbfounded by many of the actions this House has taken in 
these last days. Last night, this Republican led House took the first 
steps in the destruction of an important program whose aim is to help 
the children of low income parents be better prepared to succeed when 
they go to school and ultimately succeed in their lives. Instead of 
making these changes that can only hurt this program, we should have 
been working together, regardless of party, to strengthen a program 
that has served so many children so well for almost forty years. Many 
in this House talk a great game about being ``Compassionate 
Conservatives''. What they did last night to Head Start was neither.
  If this was the only mistake we were going to make this week, it 
would be one thing. Yet today, this House is poised to step up its 
attack on the lives and hopes of our most precious resource, the young 
people of this country. President Bush often speaks about the need to 
expand another program that directly benefits many of our younger 
constituents. That program is AmeriCorps.
  President Bush often speaks about his respect and devotion to the 
concept of national service. Indeed in his last two State of the Union 
addresses and in numerous speeches around the country, this president 
has urged Americans to devote time and energy to community projects. In 
issuing this challenge he pledged his best efforts to expand government 
programs of national service.
  It is difficult to understand how the main instrument of such 
service--the AmeriCorps program--could possibly be allowed to shrink on 
his watch. Indeed, the program is wildly popular among many local and 
faith-based agencies that often place AmeriCorps workers to help 
organize and coordinate local volunteers. We know that governors and 
mayors of both parties praise AmeriCorps daily. When President Bush was 
Governor Bush he often praised AmeriCorps.
  Yet today, this House will be asked to approve a supplemental 
spending package that contains no additional funding for Americorps. I 
wonder why President Bush has not used his leadership skills to 
convince his Republican colleagues that having a vibrant, properly 
funded Americorps is indeed vital to our national interest.
  If these two actions were not bad enough, today we will vote on a 
bill that dramatically skimps on programs for Americans who have 
answered our country's call to arms, our proud veterans. We should 
never break our promises to veterans. This VA-HUD Appropriations bill 
will not meet our veterans' needs. Its increase from last year is $1.4 
billion, and does not even keep pace with hospital inflation or the 
growth in the numbers of veterans enrolled.
  Mr. Speaker, I wonder if my fellow Americans know that an average of 
200,000 veterans are forced to wait six months or more for an 
appointment at Veterans Administration hospitals. Some even die before 
they get to see a doctor. A new report, released by the American Legion 
this month reminds this Congress that veterans are waiting six months 
or more for medical care, as the overburdened Veterans Affairs health 
system fails to keep pace with an ever growing demand. All members of 
this House should be ashamed to face veterans when we return to our 
districts for considering this awful budget for our veterans.
  Even the President's own Task Force to Improve Health Care Delivery 
for Our Nation's Veterans acknowledged the problem, stating ``there is 
persistent concern about the inability of VA to provide care to 
enrolled veterans . . .''
  The President's Task Force also noted that ``the Federal Government 
has been more ambitious in authorizing veteran access to health care 
than it has been in providing the funding necessary to match declared 
intentions.''
  The VA-HUD bill that we will consider today contains a very 
disappointing but not surprising outcome for housing programs. 
Appropriators assert that if anyone is to blame it is HUD for an 
inadequate request, but Congress approved the budget request after 
hearing from advocates that the Department's request was inadequate.
  This bill provides inadequate funding to address rising housing costs 
and the increasing number of low income people who are unable to afford 
a home. Funding for the Housing Choice Voucher program will not fully 
fund all vouchers currently in use. Two of the President's much-touted 
initiatives were not fully funded: The American Dream Downpayment 
initiative received only $125 million of the $200 million the President 
had requested, and his Samaritan Housing Initiative received no funding 
at all.
  While public housing programs would receive slightly more than what 
the President requested we know that the funding needed for capital 
needs remains wholly inadequate, given the $20 billion estimated 
backlog in capital needs.
  I am happy that the HOME production and rental assistance program was 
increased by $77 million from last year's funding level. Unfortunately, 
the committee lacked the funds needed to match the Administration's 
request of $2.2 billion, instead funding the program at $2.064 billion.
  Mr. Speaker, in this time of increasing unemployment and economic 
turmoil, more people need our help in making certain that they have the 
opportunity to live in a home they can afford. Yet for some reason, 
this House is

[[Page E1654]]

unwilling to face reality and provide adequate funding to address this 
nation's housing needs.
  Mr. Speaker, perhaps it is time for Congress to adjourn for the 
August recess. This way we can be assured that this Republican led 
House will not be able to inflict anymore of its ``Compassionate 
Conservativism'' on America.
  Sadly, President Bush's promises to America are just talk, not 
action. He should be ashamed.

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