Jerry Lewis: “with that kind of automatic increase, therefore, it is even more important that we plan for the future. The section 8…”

“with that kind of automatic increase, therefore, it is even more important that we plan for the future. The section 8 certificate, voucher and project-based programs serve some 2,750,000 households. Of these families, 40 percent are elderly and disabled. If the assistance for these families is decreased or is unavailable, the impact is undeniable. The families lose their assistance immediately. The 202 program is a grant program for nonprofits to renovate or build new apartment buildings for elderly residents. Because of the nature of the program, it takes at least 18 months before the money is obligated and sometimes more than 24 or 36 months before the elderly households are actually assisted under the program. It is absolutely imperative that the Members recognize that we are facing a crisis here and that crisis is going to fall on the heads and the backs of those families already desperately in need and who are receiving assistance currently. This problem is not going to go away by some short-term fix that meets very short-term needs that may not be able to be spent by the administration in terms of their present availability of workload as well as opportunity. I strongly urge a no vote on this very well-intentioned but, I think, misguided amendment.”