[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 3]
[House]
[Page 3539]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        HUD FY08 BUDGET REQUEST

  (Mr. SIRES asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share my thoughts on the 
Department of Housing and Urban Development fiscal year 2008 budget. In 
my opinion, it is disgraceful. This budget cuts vital housing 
assistance programs, leaving low-income families, elderly and the 
disabled out in the cold.
  The President's request cuts the Community Development Block Grant by 
20 percent, cuts public housing programs by 7 percent, cuts disabled 
housing programs by 47 percent, and cuts elderly housing programs by 22 
percent. The budget eliminated entirely the HOPE VI housing program, 
among others.
  At the same time, the President also cuts the Low-Income Home Energy 
Assistance Program by 56 percent. So with both cuts to housing and the 
heating assistance programs, the President will leave the most 
vulnerable out in the cold. I hope that this Congress will act with 
more thought by appropriating more funding for these vital programs.

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