[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 84 (Tuesday, May 22, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6477-S6478]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. KOHL (for himself and Ms. Snowe):
  S. 1450. A bill to authorize appropriations for the Housing 
Assistance Council; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban 
Affairs.
  Mr. KOHL. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Housing 
Assistance Council Authorization Act. This legislation will authorize 
appropriations for the Housing Assistance Council, HAC, which has been 
committed to developing affordable housing in rural communities for 
over 35 years.
  The bill provides $10 million for HAC in fiscal year 2008 and then 
$15 million in fiscal year 2009-2014. In the past, the Council has 
received appropriations from the Self Help and Assisted Homeownership 
Opportunity Program. The funding has helped HAC provide loans to 1,875 
organizations across the country, raise and distribute over $5 million 
in capacity building grants and hold regional training workshops. These 
critical services help local organizations, rural communities and 
cities develop safe and affordable housing.
  Throughout the country, approximately one-fifth of the Nation's 
population lives in rural communities. About 7.5 million of the rural 
population is living in poverty and 2.5 million of them are children. 
Nearly 3.6 million rural households pay more than 30 percent of their 
income in housing costs. While housing costs are generally lower in 
rural counties, wages are dramatically outpaced by the cost of housing. 
Additionally, the housing conditions are often substandard and there 
are many families doubled up due to lack of housing. Rural areas lack 
both affordable rental units and homeownership opportunities needed to 
serve the population.
  There are several Federal programs that are aimed at developing 
affordable housing and economic opportunities in rural communities in 
both the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department 
of Agriculture. However, over the past 6 years, funding for these 
programs has been reduced by 20 percent. For the fiscal year 2008 
budget, the administration proposed to eliminate $1.3 billion in rural 
housing assistance. In many regions Federal funding might be the only 
assistance available for housing and economic development. The Housing 
Assistance Council is yet another tool that rural communities can 
utilize when trying to develop affordable housing.
  In Wisconsin, HAC has provided close to $5.2 million in grants and 
loans to 17 nonprofit housing organizations and helped develop 820 
units of housing. Specifically, since 1972 the Southeastern Wisconsin 
Housing Corporation has partnered with the Housing Assistance Council 
to develop 268 units of self-help housing. The presence of the

[[Page S6478]]

Council in Wisconsin has made a huge impact on rural housing 
development in Wisconsin and other rural communities across the 
country.
  I am very honored to work with Senator Snowe this legislation. Its 
passage will allow every State to better serve the needs of the people 
living in rural areas. I look forward to Working with my colleagues to 
ensure the adoption of this bill.
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