[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 40 (Wednesday, March 16, 2011)]
[House]
[Page H1850]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          NO JOBS PLAN AND ASSAULT ON MIDDLE CLASS HOMEOWNERS

  (Mr. SIRES asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, the Republicans have had control of this 
Chamber for 11 weeks now, and yet there's still no plan to create jobs 
or spur our economic recovery. Instead of tackling unemployment, my 
Republican colleagues are again targeting vital programs designed to 
keep families in their homes.
  The Republicans are proposing to terminate the Home Affordable 
Modification Program, which provides critical mortgage modifications to 
deserving homeowners who are facing devastating foreclosures. To date, 
more than 600,000 homeowners have received a permanent mortgage 
modification, and tens of thousands of Americans are joining their 
ranks each month.
  The Republicans also want to eliminate the Neighborhood Stabilization 
Program, which works to stabilize areas hard-hit by the housing crisis 
by helping States and cities purchase foreclosed homes and protect the 
value of our communities. My home State of New Jersey is slated to 
receive $11.5 million through this program.
  Mr. Speaker, this is funding that my constituents need to help 
redevelop our communities, create jobs, and grow our local economies. I 
urge my colleagues to stop blindly cutting programs and focus on 
legislation to create jobs and bring the economy around.

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