Political Quotes

“as I have previously discussed, I remain very concerned about HUD's ability and capacity to administer its programs effectively, and in some cases, fairly. In early 1995, Senator Mack and I requested the HUD IG to review the HUD's procedures and decisionmaking in selecting and designating six urban empowerment zones. As you know, the use of empowerment zones to revitalize decaying urban centers has a long history, with perhaps its greatest proponent in Jack Kemp, when he was Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Secretary Kemp never had an opportunity to implement his vision of empowerment zones. Empowerment zone legislation was finally enacted as part of the Omnibus Budget and Reconciliation Act of 1993 on August 10, 1993. This legislation proposed the establishment of nine empowerment zones, six urban and three rural zones, in distressed communities. Empowerment zones received some funding of $100 million as well as significant tax benefits designed to encourage employment in the empowerment zone. On December 21, 1994, President Clinton announced the designation of six urban empowerment zones and three rural empowerment zones. Another 66 urban communities and 30 rural communities were designated as enterprise communities with reduced benefits. The urban zones were New York City, Camden/Philadelphia, Atlanta, Chicago, Baltimore, and Detroit.”