[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 7 (Thursday, January 17, 2008)]
[House]
[Page H298]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            SUPPORT HOPE VI

  (Mr. CUELLAR asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. CUELLAR. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3524, the 
HOPE VI Improvement Reauthorization Act of 2007. I commend 
Representative Waters and the members of the Financial Services 
Committee for supporting a bill with such valuable enhancement and 
improvement to the HOPE VI grant program.
  This legislation reauthorizes a program that represents one of our 
government's best efforts to provide quality housing for low-income 
families. Again, I am particularly pleased with one provision of this 
legislation that will help communities rebuild in the wake of severe 
natural disasters and emergencies.
  For example, in my congressional district there is one particular 
county public housing unit in Starr County that has been destroyed by 
flood waters when it rose to dangerous levels. This was not the first 
time the Housing Authority of Starr County has had to manage severe 
flooding damage and subsequent resident displacement. In fact, since 
1981, this public housing unit has experienced major unit-destroying 
flooding seven different times.
  This legislation gives the Secretary of the Department of Housing and 
Urban Development the latitude to waive the public housing authority's 
fund-matching requirements in cases of extreme distress and emergency.
  This is a good piece of legislation. I ask for support of this 
legislation.

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