[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 114 (Friday, July 30, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1496-E1497]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  TRANSPORTATION, HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES 
                        APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2011

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 29, 2010

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 5850) making 
     appropriations for the Departments of Transportation, and 
     Housing and Urban Development, and related agencies for the 
     fiscal year ending September 30, 2001, and for other 
     purposes:

  Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of H.R. 5850, 
the ``Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related 
Agencies Appropriations Act of 2011.'' This bill includes important 
funding and necessary investments in our transportation, housing and 
other critical aspects of this country's infrastructure. This bill also 
provides assistance to the most vulnerable Americans, including the 
homeless, disabled, low-income and elderly. Additionally, this bill 
provides support for our veterans who serve this nation so valiantly 
and who have earned a right to adequate housing.
  Mr. Chair, this bill includes funding for critical transportation 
projects that will improve mobility and stimulate economic activity in 
communities across the country. What I am particularly proud of is the 
funding for two light rail lines in Houston, Texas--the North and 
Southeast lines. These projects have successfully gone through the 
Federal Transit Administration's New Starts review process, and I am 
looking forward to passage of this bill and funding of these projects. 
As the fourth largest city in the country, we are anxiously awaiting 
construction of an integrated rail network that will create jobs, 
provide mobility and spur economic development. Funding for these 
projects will be a significant step towards achieving our goals.
  This bill also invests in National Infrastructure to Support Jobs. It 
includes funding for:

     Highway infrastructure

  There is $45.2 billion in the bill to improve and repair our nation's 
aging highway infrastructure. It is estimated that this increased 
investment will support more than 142,000 additional jobs across all 
sectors of the economy, according to the job model developed by the 
Department of Transportation (DOT). According to the DOT's 2008 
Conditions and Performance Report, an average annual investment of 
$105.6 billion from all levels of government is needed just to sustain 
the current conditions of our highways and bridges, and $174.6 billion 
is needed to improve our current system. In addition, the report of the 
National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission 
issued in December 2007 recommended investing $225 billion annually 
over the next 50 years to maintain, upgrade, and expand our 
transportation networks.

     Public Transportation Investments

  There is also $11.3 billion to support bus and rail projects, 
including capital expenditures. The increase from last year will 
support an estimated 20,000 additional jobs for transit workers around 
the country. The Federal Transit Administration estimates that our 
nation's public transportation system has a state-of-good-repair 
backlog of nearly $78 billion.

     Public Housing Capital Fund

  Additionally, the bill includes $2.5 billion to help Public Housing 
Authorities make critical repairs and improvements to public housing 
units and improve living conditions for residents, including green and 
sustainable rehabilitation. Every dollar invested in the Capital Fund 
produces $2.12 in economic return for local economies.

     HOPE VI

  The bill also includes $200 million for grants to rehabilitate 
distressed public housing neighborhoods by transforming them into 
sustainable mixed-income communities. This transformation will help 
create jobs in the hard-hit construction industry and will revitalize 
distressed neighborhoods.

     Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)

  In addition, the bill provides for $4.35 billion to spur local 
construction and development. The CDBG program works to ensure decent 
affordable housing, to provide services to the most vulnerable in our 
communities, and to create jobs through the expansion and retention of 
businesses. CDBG helps local governments tackle serious challenges 
facing their communities and makes a difference in the lives of 
millions of people across the nation.

     Passenger Rail Grant Program

  Also included in the bill is $1.4 billion to expand and improve 
intercity passenger rail and develop a robust national high speed rail 
system, which will create jobs and reinvigorate our manufacturing base. 
Additionally, this investment will help reduce our dependence
on fossil fuels and decrease congestion
between cities across the country

[[Page E1497]]

by providing a transportation alternative for congested highways and 
air space.

     Amtrak

  There is $1.77 billion in the bill to make capital investments, 
including improvements to Amtrak's fleet and upgrades to Amtrak 
stations to ensure they are accessible for the disabled. This increase 
above FY 2010 will save or create an additional 1,130 jobs.


                         Vulnerable Populations

  This bill includes vital support for vulnerable populations who need 
our help in a difficult economic environment. Included are the 
following:

     Foreclosure Mitigation and Housing Counseling Funds

  The bill includes $113 million to support foreclosure counseling for 
families through NeighborWorks America and $88 million for the 
Department of Housing and Urban Development's housing counseling 
assistance program to provide help for low and moderate income families 
before they purchase a home.

     Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Vouchers

  I am very pleased to know that we are taking care of our veterans by 
including $75 million for housing vouchers for homeless veterans, 
coordinated with supportive services from the VA Medical Centers. This 
funding will support 10,000 new vouchers and supports the effort to end 
veteran homelessness.

     Housing and Services for Homeless Persons Demonstration

  This bill also includes $85 million for a new demonstration 
coordinated between HUD and HHS to couple housing vouchers and 
mainstream health services for 10,000 homeless persons and individuals. 
Homeless individuals need both housing and services to build self-
sufficiency, and integrating the programs of HUD and HHS in a seamless 
manner for these families and individuals will provide comprehensive 
support for long-term housing stability.

     Public Housing Operating Fund

  Also included is $4.849 billion to support public housing units' 
maintenance and energy costs. The public housing inventory consists of 
more than 1.1 million units of housing to support low-income persons, 
whose average income level is $13,346.

     Section 8 Tenant Based Rental Assistance

  This bill also includes $19.4 billion to renew all vouchers currently 
in use and allow more than 2 million low income families to stay in 
their homes. Included in this total is $113 million to renew housing 
vouchers for persons with disabilities and $60 million to support the 
Family Self-Sufficiency program, which helps families increase income 
and move out of assisted housing.

     Section 8 Project-Based Rental Assistance

  Additionally, this bill includes $9.4 billion to support the 1.3 
million units of housing assisted. The average annual income of a 
resident of this form of housing is $11,217, and more than 57 percent 
are either elderly or disabled.

     Housing for the Elderly

  Funding in the amount of $825 million is included in the bill to 
support affordable housing for the elderly by constructing 
approximately 3,200 new units and keeping over 50,000 elderly Americans 
in their homes.

     Housing for the Disabled

  The bill also includes $300 million to support affordable housing for 
the disabled by constructing approximately 1,400 new units and keeping 
over 13,000 Americans with disabilities in their homes.

     Indian Housing

  A very important measure in this bill includes $700 million to 
support and construct affordable housing for American Indians. These 
funds will assist over 540 tribes, provide rental assistance to over 
57,000 families, and add approximately 8,000 housing units to the over 
26,000 housing units constructed and 54,000 housing units rehabilitated 
by this program since 1998.

     Housing for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA)

  Additionally, the bill includes $350 million to prevent homelessness 
among persons with AIDS. Up to 70 percent of all people living with HIV 
or AIDS report a lifetime experience of homelessness or housing 
instability and the HIV/AIDS death rate is seven to nine times higher 
for homeless adults than for the general population. This funding will 
provide housing assistance for over 60,000 households nationwide.

     Homeless Assistance Grants

  The bill also provides $2.2 billion for permanent and transitional 
housing for homeless families and individuals. It is important to note 
that this is the first year of implementation of the HEARTH Act, which 
will support both the prevention of, and rapid resolution of, 
homelessness in America.

     Reverse Mortgages

  Also included is $150 million to support elderly homeowners and 
assist them in keeping their homes rather than forcing them to move to 
expensive assisted living facilities. This funding level is important 
because it will keep the program running in 2011 at expected volume 
levels.


                      Ensuring Safe Transportation

     Aviation Safety Programs

  The bill provides $1.3 billion for the Federal Aviation 
Administration's, FAA, safety enforcement efforts including $17 million 
to hire 122 additional safety inspectors to assist with NextGen 
development and the oversight of foreign repair stations. This 
additional funding will help meet the safety goals established in the 
FAA's Administrator's Call to Action in the aftermath of the tragic 
Colgan air crash.

     Highway Safety Programs

  Also included in the bill is $891.2 million for the programs of the 
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to make America's roads 
safer by encouraging safety belt use, preventing drinking and driving, 
improving child safety, enhancing motorcyclist safety, and other 
initiatives.

     Railroad Safety Technology Program

  There is also $75 million to provide grants to help deploy positive 
train control, PTC, systems, which perform a critical safety function 
on rail lines with mixed freight and passenger traffic. These funds 
will help train operators with the estimated $5.5 billion necessary for 
initial PTC system acquisition and implementation, which is required on 
all lines that jointly operate passenger and freight traffic by 
December 15, 2015.
  Mr. Chair, this bill includes crucial support for our transportation, 
housing and infrastructure that will create jobs for Americans all 
across this country. It also includes vital support for veterans and 
vulnerable populations such as the elderly, low-income, and homeless 
who need a lifeline in the midst of this economic storm. I urge my 
colleagues to support this bill.

                          ____________________