[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 63 (Tuesday, April 28, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H4862-H4864]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1400
                  FAMILY SELF-SUFFICIENCY ACT OF 2009

  Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 46) to provide for payment of an administrative fee to public 
housing agencies to cover the costs of administering family self-
sufficiency programs in connection with the housing choice voucher 
program of the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                H.R. 46

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Family Self-Sufficiency Act 
     of 2009''.

     SEC. 2. ADMINISTRATIVE FEES FOR FAMILY SELF-SUFFICIENCY 
                   PROGRAM COSTS.

       Subsection (h) of section 23 of the United States Housing 
     Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437u(h)) is amended by striking 
     paragraph (1) and inserting the following new paragraph:
       ``(1) Section 8 fees.--
       ``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall establish a fee 
     under section 8(q) for the costs incurred in administering 
     the self-sufficiency program under this section to assist 
     families receiving voucher assistance through section 8(o).
       ``(B) Eligibility for fee.--The fee shall provide funding 
     for family self-sufficiency coordinators as follows:
       ``(i) Base fee.--A public housing agency serving 25 or more 
     participants in the family self-sufficiency program under 
     this section shall receive a fee equal to the costs of 
     employing one full-time family self-sufficiency coordinator. 
     An agency serving fewer than 25 such participants shall 
     receive a prorated fee.
       ``(ii) Additional fee.--An agency that meets minimum 
     performance standards shall receive an additional fee 
     sufficient to cover the costs of employing a second family 
     self-sufficiency coordinator if the agency has 75 or more 
     participating families, and a third such coordinator if it 
     has 125 or more participating families.
       ``(iii) Previously funded agencies.--An agency that 
     received funding from the Department of Housing and Urban 
     Development for more than three such coordinators in any of 
     fiscal years 1999 through 2008 shall receive funding for the 
     highest number of coordinators funded in a single fiscal year 
     during that period, provided they meet applicable size and 
     performance standards.
       ``(iv) Initial year.--For the first year in which a public 
     housing agency exercises its right to develop an family self-
     sufficiency program for its residents, it shall be entitled 
     to funding to cover the costs of up to one family self-
     sufficiency coordinator, based on the size specified in its 
     action plan for such program.
       ``(v) State and regional agencies.--For purposes of 
     calculating the family self-sufficiency portion of the 
     administrative fee under this subparagraph, each 
     administratively distinct part of a State or regional public 
     housing agency shall be treated as a separate agency.
       ``(vi) Determination of number of coordinators.--In 
     determining whether a public housing agency meets a specific 
     threshold for funding pursuant to this paragraph, the number 
     of participants being served by the agency in its family 
     self-sufficiency program shall be considered to be the 
     average number of families enrolled in such agency's program 
     during the course of the most recent fiscal year for which 
     the Department of Housing and Urban Development has data.
       ``(C) Proration.--If insufficient funds are available in 
     any fiscal year to fund all of the coordinators authorized 
     under this section, the first priority shall be given to 
     funding one coordinator at each agency with an existing 
     family self-sufficiency program. The remaining funds shall be 
     prorated based on the number of remaining coordinators to 
     which each agency is entitled under this subparagraph.
       ``(D) Recapture.--Any fees allocated under this 
     subparagraph by the Secretary in a fiscal year that have not 
     been spent by the end of the subsequent fiscal year shall be 
     recaptured by the Secretary and shall be available for 
     providing additional fees pursuant to subparagraph (B)(ii).
       ``(E) Performance standards.--Within six months after the 
     date of the enactment of this paragraph, the Secretary shall 
     publish a proposed rule specifying the performance standards 
     applicable to funding under clauses (ii) and (iii) of 
     subparagraph (B). Such standards shall include requirements 
     applicable to the leveraging of in-kind services and other 
     resources to support the goals of the family self-sufficiency 
     program.
       ``(F) Data collection.--Public housing agencies receiving 
     funding under this paragraph shall collect and report to the 
     Secretary, in such manner as the Secretary shall require, 
     information on the performance of their family self-
     sufficiency programs.
       ``(G) Evaluation.--The Secretary shall conduct a formal and 
     scientific evaluation of the effectiveness of well-run family 
     self-sufficiency programs, using random assignment of 
     participants to the extent practicable. Not later than the 
     expiration of the 4-year period beginning upon the enactment 
     of this paragraph, the Secretary shall submit an interim 
     evaluation report to the Congress. Not later than the 
     expiration of the 8-year period beginning upon such 
     enactment, the Secretary shall submit a final evaluation 
     report to the Congress. There is authorized to be 
     appropriated $10,000,000 to carry out the evaluation under 
     this subparagraph.
       ``(H) Incentives for innovation and high performance.--The 
     Secretary may reserve up to 10 percent of the amounts made 
     available for administrative fees under this paragraph to 
     provide support to or reward family self-sufficiency programs 
     that are particularly innovative or highly successful in 
     achieving the goals of the program.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Baca) and the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Biggert) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.


                             General Leave

  Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
on this legislation and to insert additional materials thereon.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise today in support of H.R. 46, the Family Self-Sufficiency Act 
of 2009. I thank the gentlewoman from Illinois, Representative Biggert, 
for introducing this critical legislation which provides housing 
agencies with much-needed administrative funds.
  H.R. 46 provides public housing agencies with a funding source to 
cover the costs of administering Family Self-Sufficiency, or FSS, 
programs in connection with HUD's section 8 voucher program.
  This legislation enhances the FSS programs by providing housing 
authorities with additional coordinator funding so that they can help 
more families participate in the programs. It establishes a minimal 
ratio of coordinators to participants to ensure that there is adequate 
assistance to provide all of the families enrolled in the FSS program.
  H.R. 46 requires HUD to establish and implement performance measures, 
collect data on FSS programs, and report to Congress on the 
effectiveness of these programs.
  With this additional funding, HUD will have the flexibility needed to 
reward innovative and successful FSS programs. And that is important 
for a lot of us, to have the flexibility to reward those programs that 
are doing a good job. Mr. Speaker, as someone who comes from a district 
that has been one of the hardest hit by the foreclosure crisis--and 
that is in the Inland Empire--I can tell you that there is greater need 
now than ever before for public housing.
  The FSS program works. It provides struggling families with the 
assistance they need, while also lessening their reliance on public 
housing so that they can eventually become self-sufficient homeowners 
and renters.
  In my district, the waiting list for affordable housing for some 
families is as long as 10 years, and that is a shame that it has to be 
as long as 10 years. In this time of economic difficulty, we must 
support legislation that provides funds for public housing agencies 
that put more families on the path back to economic security.
  Again, I want to thank Representative Biggert for her hard work on 
H.R. 46 and her commitment to this issue. Thank you for your commitment 
to this issue on behalf of all the families that will be impacted.
  I urge my colleagues to support the Family Self-Sufficiency Act.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

[[Page H4863]]

  Mrs. BIGGERT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, as the author of H.R. 46, the Family Self-Sufficiency 
Act, I encourage all my colleagues to support this important 
legislation which will help more disadvantaged families gain 
independence from government assistance.
  Thanks to the support of my colleague from California (Ms. Waters) 
last Congress as a part of the larger section 8 voucher reform package 
and as a stand-alone measure, twice the House passed the Family Self-
Sufficiency Act. Today, we will again consider the same measure.
  The Senate didn't act on section 8 reform legislation last Congress, 
which is why we are moving this legislation again. The Family Self-
Sufficiency Program, also called FSS, is offered in connection with the 
Department of Housing and Urban Development Section 8 Housing Choice 
Voucher Program.
  Local public housing authorities employ FSS coordinators and 
administer these programs. In addition to rental housing assistance, 
FSS programs connect families to housing counseling, job training, 
child care, education, and other services to help them reduce their 
dependence on public assistance. FSS also helps families save for 
homeownership.
  The FSS program is well worth it. Let me give you a quick example of 
an FSS success story from my congressional district.
  After 6 years of service, a Navy veteran and a single mom of two 
secured a part-time job, and thanks to the GI Bill, enrolled as a full-
time student. Despite struggling to make ends meet, she received her 
degree and enrolled in the DuPage County Housing Authority Family Self-
Sufficiency Program. This program connected her to a resume writing 
class at the University of Illinois' Employment Training Center. Within 
a week of posting her newly polished resume, she secured interviews and 
eventually a full-time job that doubled her salary. She also worked 
with a financial planner to improve her budgeting and management 
skills. Today, this single mother and veteran is an independent and 
self-sufficient homeowner, a long way from public housing.
  So what is the problem? Well, in fiscal year 2004, HUD changed its 
FSS coordinator funding process, and the result, in a 20-month period: 
the number of FSS coordinators dropped by about two-thirds, and 4,000 
fewer families participated in the program. HUD has attempted to fix 
the mistake, but without success. So that is why H.R. 46 is necessary, 
to ensure that public housing authorities have consistent coordinator 
funding necessary to administer the program and serve people who choose 
the FSS path to independence.
  H.R. 46 establishes a minimum ratio of program coordinators to 
participants; ensures the Public Housing Authority gets funding for one 
coordinator for 25-plus families enrolled in its FSS program; with 75 
or more families enrolled, funding for two coordinators; and with 125 
or more families enrolled, funding for three coordinators. It also 
requires HUD to establish and implement performance measures, collect 
data on FSS programs, evaluate their effectiveness, and report to 
Congress on its findings. Finally, the bill provides some funding 
flexibility to reward innovative and successful programs.
  FSS works. It is a helping hand, not a handout, to American families 
who are working to become independent of government assistance. With 
the challenges American families face in this economy, the Family Self-
Sufficiency Program, and those like my constituent who have benefited 
from it, are a glimmer of hope. With this program, families can 
successfully make ends meet, raise children, get an education, secure a 
job, and achieve the dream of homeownership. It is a simple, bipartisan 
step that we can take now to ensure that a brief period of economic 
hardship doesn't turn into a lifetime of poverty and dependence for 
many of our Nation's most vulnerable families. It does so by addressing 
the lack of consistent Federal funding for administering FSS services.
  Mr. Speaker, these are good, flexible programs that help put 
disadvantaged families on the path to independence. Public housing can 
be an important safety net, but it is not a permanent solution. Let's 
give these individuals all the support we can to help them stand on 
their own two feet.
  As I conclude, I would like to thank everyone who made this bill 
possible, including John Day, president of the DuPage Housing 
Authority; Jeffrey Lubell, executive director of the Center for Housing 
Policy; and the folks at the American Association of Service 
Coordinators, the National Housing Conference, the New America 
Foundation, and the Corporation for Enterprise Development. And of 
course I would like to thank my constituent for her courage and 
willingness to let me share her success story with all of you today, 
and the gentleman from California (Mr. Baca) for managing this bill.
  At this time, I would like to insert into the Record a 2008 letter 
from the American Association of Service Coordinators.

                                               September 24, 2008.
     Hon. Judy Biggert,
     Ranking Member, Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit 
         Subcommittee of the House Financial Services Committee, 
         House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Ranking Member Biggert: On behalf of the undersigned 
     organizations, we write to thank you for the introduction of 
     the Family Self-Sufficiency Act of 2007 and for your support 
     of stabilized funding for the HUD Family Self-Sufficiency 
     program (FSS).
       We appreciate your recognition of the importance of stable, 
     predictable funding for the FSS program. The improvements 
     prescribed in the FSS Act will enable agencies to run 
     effective FSS programs and ultimately provide more families 
     with the opportunity to build assets and work toward self-
     sufficiency.
       As you know, changes in the way Section 8 FSS funding has 
     been allocated for FSS coordinators in recent years has 
     caused many housing agencies to experience sudden funding 
     cut-offs and declining enrollment. Moreover, many 
     participants have been left without the necessary program 
     coordinators who are critical to their access to services and 
     support and mentorship for their progress toward self-
     sufficiency.
       The FSS Act of 2007 addresses this problem and places the 
     FSS program back on its original path as a proven approach 
     for helping families in the Housing Choice Voucher program 
     lift themselves out of poverty and achieve their dream of 
     education, entrepreneurship or homeownership in a safe, 
     viable way.
       We also support the Section 8 Voucher Reform Act of 2007 
     (SEVRA), H.R. 1851, voucher reform legislation, that proposed 
     similar changes to the FSS administrative funding process and 
     also makes critical improvements to the overall Section 8 
     voucher program. By stabilizing funding for the Section 8 
     voucher program, SEVRA not only allows the voucher program to 
     run more efficiently and effectively but ensures that funding 
     is available for the asset-building escrow accounts provided 
     through FSS.
       Together, the FSS Act and SEVRA can help restore the 
     strength to the Section 8 voucher program, the nation's 
     leading source of housing assistance for low-income people 
     and a critical base for the FSS program.
       Again, we thank you for the introduction of the Family 
     Self-Sufficiency Act of 2007 and for your continued support 
     of the FSS program. We look forward to your continued 
     leadership in support of FSS and the Section 8 voucher 
     program.
           Sincerely,
     American Association of Service Coordinators.
     Corporation for Enterprise Development.
     National Housing Conference.
     New America Foundation.

  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support 
of H.R. 46, ``The Family Self-Sufficiency Act of 2009.'' This bill 
expresses the importance of providing payment for an administrative fee 
to public housing agencies to cover the cost of administering family 
self-sufficiency programs in connection with the housing choice voucher 
program of the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
  Housing choice vouchers allow low-income families to choose and lease 
or purchase safe, decent, and affordable privately-owned rental 
housing. Since housing assistance is provided on behalf of the family 
or individual, participants are able to find their own housing, 
including single-family homes, townhouses and apartments. The 
participant is free to choose any housing that meets the requirements 
of the program and is not limited to units located in subsidized 
housing projects. Housing choice vouchers are administered locally by 
public housing agencies (PHAs). The PHAs receive federal funds from the 
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to administer 
the voucher program.
  A family that is issued a housing voucher is responsible for finding 
a suitable housing unit of the family's choice where the owner agrees 
to rent under the program. This unit may include the family's present 
residence. Rental

[[Page H4864]]

units must meet minimum standards of health and safety, as determined 
by the PHA. A housing subsidy is paid to the landlord directly by the 
PHA on behalf of the participating family. The family then pays the 
difference between the actual rent charged by the landlord and the 
amount subsidized by the program. Under certain circumstances, if 
authorized by the PHA, a family may use its voucher to purchase a 
modest home.
  Eligibility for a housing voucher is determined by the PHA based on 
the total annual gross income and family size and is limited to U.S. 
citizens and specified categories of non-citizens who have eligible 
immigration status. In general, the family's income may not exceed 50 
percent of the median income for the county or metropolitan area in 
which the family chooses to live. By law, a PHA must provide 75 percent 
of its voucher to applicants whose incomes do not exceed 30 percent of 
the area median income.
  Since the demand for housing assistance often exceeds the limited 
resources available to HUD and the local housing agencies, long waiting 
periods are common. In fact, a PHA may close its waiting list when it 
has more families on the list than can be assisted in the near future.
  PHAs may establish local preferences for selecting applicants from 
its waiting list. For example, PHAs may give a preference to a family 
who is (1) homeless or living in substandard housing, (2) paying more 
than 50 percent of its income for rent, or (3) involuntarily displaced. 
Families who qualify for any such local preferences move ahead of other 
families on the list who does not qualify for any preference. Each PHA 
has the discretion to establish local preferences to reflect the 
housing needs and priorities of its particular community.
  When the voucher holder finds a unit that it wishes to occupy and 
reaches an agreement with the landlord over the lease terms, the PHA 
determines a payment standard that is the amount generally needed to 
rent a moderately-priced dwelling unit in the local housing market and 
that is used to calculate the amount of housing assistance a family 
will receive. However, the payment standard does not limit and does not 
affect the amount of rent a landlord may charge or the family may pay. 
A family which receives a housing voucher can select a unit with a rent 
that is below or above the payment standard. The housing voucher family 
must pay 30 percent of its monthly adjusted gross income for rent and 
utilities, and if the unit rent is greater than the payment standard, 
the family is required to pay the additional amount. By law, whenever a 
family moves to a new unit where the rent exceeds the payment standard, 
the family may not pay more than 40 percent of its adjusted monthly 
income for rent. The PHA calculates the maximum amount of housing 
assistance allowable. The maximum housing assistance is generally the 
lesser of the payment standard minus 30 percent of the family's monthly 
adjusted income or the gross rent for the unit minus 30 percent of 
monthly adjusted income.

  The family self-sufficiency (FSS) is a HUD program that encourages 
communities to develop local strategies to help voucher families obtain 
employment that will lead to economic independence and self-
sufficiency. Public housing agencies work with welfare agencies, 
schools, businesses, and other local partners to develop a 
comprehensive program that gives participating FSS family members the 
skills and experience to enable them to obtain employment that pays a 
living wage. FSS was established in 1990 by section 554 of the National 
Affordable Housing Act. It is a successor program to project self-
sufficiency and operation bootstrap. FSS program services may include, 
but are not limited to: child care, transportation, education, job 
training and employment counseling, substance/alcohol abuse treatment 
or counseling, household skill training, and homeownership counseling.
  For the most part, PHAs must rely on their own or other local 
resources to operate FSS programs. However, under the authority of 
annual appropriations acts, HUD has been able to provide some funding 
for FSS program coordinators to assist PHAs in operating housing choice 
voucher FSS programs. With this act, the secretary shall establish a 
fee for the costs incurred in administering the self-sufficiency 
program under this section to assist families receiving voucher 
assistance through section 8. A public housing agency serving 25 or 
more participants in the family self-sufficiency program under this 
section shall receive a fee equal to the costs of employing one full-
time family self-sufficiency coordinator. An agency serving fewer than 
25 such participants shall receive a prorated fee. An agency that meets 
minimum performance standards shall receive an additional fee 
sufficient to cover the costs of employing a second family self-
sufficiency coordinator if the agency has 75 or more participating 
families, and a third such coordinator if it has 125 or more 
participating families. An agency that received funding from the 
Department of Housing and Urban Development for more than three such 
coordinators in any of fiscal years 1999 through 2008 shall receive 
funding for the highest number of coordinators funded in a single 
fiscal year during that period, provided they meet applicable size and 
performance standards. For the first year in which a public housing 
agency exercises its right to develop a family self-sufficiency program 
for its residents, it shall be entitled to funding to cover the costs 
of up to one family self-sufficiency coordinator, based on the size 
specified in its action plan for such program.
  The family self-sufficiency program will truly benefit those who 
really need a helping hand out of poverty. However, there needs to be 
monetary assistance given to the Department of Housing and Urban 
Development so that they might hire the needed staff to maximize the 
use of federal funds and improve the lives of others. The family self-
sufficiency act will ensure that these objectives are met. I urge my 
colleagues to join me in supporting ``The Family Self-Sufficiency Act 
of 2009.''
  Mrs. BIGGERT. With that, I have no further speakers, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, first of all, I would like to thank again Judy 
Biggert for her leadership in preventing homelessness. I urge my 
colleagues to support H.R. 46, the Families Self-Sufficiency Act of 
2009.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Baca) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 46.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a 
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not 
present.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

                          ____________________