[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 20 (Wednesday, February 3, 2016)]
[House]
[Pages H504-H505]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HUD OVER-INCOME HOUSING

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Woodall). The Chair recognizes the 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Jolly) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. JOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of bipartisan 
legislation that the House recently passed, H.R. 3700, the Housing 
Opportunity Through

[[Page H505]]

Modernization Act, and specifically section 103 that addresses a 
disturbing trend in taxpayer federally subsidized housing.
  Last summer, HUD's inspector general published an audit revealing 
that over 25,000 recipients of taxpayer-supported housing actually 
exceeded the maximum allowable income to qualify for housing 
assistance. Importantly, roughly triple that number is on a wait list 
for housing. In fact, those on the wait list are economically 
qualified.
  Worse, to pay for these over-income tenants, American taxpayers--you 
and I--are on the hook for $104 million next year. While hundreds of 
thousands of desperate low-income American families legitimately in 
need of taxpayer-supported housing today sit on those lists idly 
waiting for much-needed help, tens of thousands of over-income tenants 
sit in taxpayer-supported housing.
  In one instance, a New York family with an income of nearly $500,000 
is receiving taxpayer-subsidized public housing. In Nebraska, an 
individual with double the income limit and $1.6 million in assets is 
living in taxpayer-supported housing, paying $300 a month. In my home 
State of Florida, we have many cases as well.
  It is very clear that eliminating this kind of waste, fraud, and 
abuse is the reason that we serve today. It is critical that we do so.
  A combination of inadequate congressional directives and an 
indifferent Federal bureaucracy has let down the American people--the 
people who trust Congress to responsibly and effectively allocate tax 
dollars. It has also let down the low-income families on the wait list 
who are hoping for an opportunity to climb out of poverty.
  I am pleased that the House acted responsibly yesterday to pass 
legislation to stop this failed policy. Section 103 of the Housing 
Opportunity Through Modernization Act sets clear requirements for HUD 
and, now, for local housing authorities.
  Under this section, households currently in public housing whose 
income exceeds 120 percent of the median income level for 2 consecutive 
years will no longer be permitted to receive taxpayer assistance. 
Further, public housing authorities will be required to report annually 
to Congress and the American people on tenant incomes so that we might 
maintain proper oversight of this program.
  These are reasonable reforms that bring accountability to a Federal 
program that desperately needs it, ensures a smooth pathway for over-
income households to a reasonable transition off of taxpayer 
assistance, and should create new opportunities for those on the wait 
list.
  I am also pleased to see that HUD is finally taking steps to address 
this matter. It is far too late, but at least they are. Just yesterday, 
the agency announced that it will consider a much-needed new rule to 
strengthen oversight of over-income tenancy in public housing.
  Mr. Speaker, we should not rest until we can be sure that taxpayer 
dollars, those of the men and women who entrust us to represent them, 
are going to support only those American families most in need of 
assistance.
  We still have much work remaining, but with passage of the Housing 
Opportunity Through Modernization Act, we have made a very important 
first step. Let us, together, hope that the Senate and the President 
will join with us in this important work on behalf of the American 
taxpayers that we represent.

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