[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 15]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 21317]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



DEPARTMENTS OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AND HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, AND 
              INDEPENDENT AGENCIES APPROPRIATION ACT, 2000

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. CORRINE BROWN

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 9, 1999

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2684) making 
     appropriations for the Department of Veterans Affairs and 
     Housing and Urban Development, and for sundry independent 
     agencies, boards, commissions, corporations, and offices for 
     the fiscal year ending September 30, 2000, and for other 
     purposes:

  Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Chairman, once again, the Republican 
leadership is attempting to cut housing programs that assist our 
nation's most vulnerable citizens. In the midst of one of the greatest 
economic expansions our country has ever known, we should be doing 
everything we can to help people move from homelessness to home 
ownership, and public housing is critical in this transition.
  All the talk about revitalization and economic integration becomes 
mere rhetoric when we see such drastic funding cuts proposed for our 
nation's most impoverished communities.
  While the President's budget would have increased vital investments 
in families and communities by $2 billion, the Republican version of 
this bill, if passed, would have a devastating impact on these same 
communities nationwide.
  In my district, Florida's third, the effects of these cuts could 
prove disastrous. Jacksonville stands to lose more than $5 million if 
the VA-HUD bill passes, Orlando could lose $1.9 million, and Daytona 
could lose $842,000.
  These cuts would be devastating to the families that rely on public 
housing services. The number of families with worst case housing 
needs--defined as paying more than 50 percent of income on rent--
remains at an all-time high. Furthermore, families in the transition 
from welfare to work have a special need for assistance since housing 
is typically their greatest financial burden.
  The slight increase in section 8 funding is not enough, since 
virtually all other housing programs designed to help the needy, such 
as HOPE VI, Community Development Block Grants, and of particular 
concern to me are the funding cuts for Brownfields clean up and 
development, and lead based paint abatement, especially since there is 
a new superfund site in my district!
  Overall, the cuts represent an estimated 156,000 fewer housing units 
for low-income families; 16,000 homeless families and persons with AIDS 
who will not receive vital housing and related services; and 97,000 
jobs that will not be generated in communities that need them.
  For these reasons, I urge my colleagues to vote against H.R. 2684.

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