[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 139 (Thursday, October 27, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2202]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  REGISTERING OPPOSITION TO H.R. 1461

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. GEORGE MILLER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 27, 2005

  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I would like to 
register my opposition to H.R. 1461. Yesterday, while rushing between 
two Committee markups I inadvertently voted in favor of H.R. 1461. I 
intended to vote against it.
  While I supported the underlying premise of the bill, its aims of 
helping new homebuyers were hijacked by right-wing extremists who 
inserted language into the bill that will restrict non-profit 
organizations that apply for Federal housing grants from engaging in 
nonpartisan voter registration. That provision is undemocratic and 
completely misplaced.
  I would like to associate myself with the remarks of Rep. Barney 
Frank of Massachusetts. As the senior Democrat on the House Financial 
Services Committee, he was originally a supporter of the bill. But, 
like me, he could not look the other way and support one aspect of the 
bill while ignoring other noxious provisions that are unjustified.
  Rep. Frank said yesterday that, ``The restrictive language being put 
forward, which would say no faith-based group could participate, has 
never been debated in this committee. . . It was brought up in a 
private session between the Republican Study Committee and the then-
majority leader [DeLay]. That is not an appropriate forum to be the 
only place where we discuss things.''
  I regret the error that has occurred but wish the Record to clearly 
reflect my views on this bill. If given the opportunity again, I would 
vote to defeat H.R. 1461 in its present form.

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