On the recordNovember 8, 2017
Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Espaillat for leading this important Special Order. It is no secret that many cities in our country face an affordable housing crisis. That crisis is particularly acute in California, as everyone in my State, from the Bay Area to Los Angeles to the Inland Empire, will tell you. California is a desired destination for people from all over the world, many of them skilled, tech-savvy young people who moved to California for our climate, culture, or commerce. This is especially true for my home city of Los Angeles, which boasts cultures and cuisines from all over the globe, allowing anybody to feel at home. Unfortunately, the growth of affordable housing has not kept pace with the population growth. This disconnect has created a housing affordability crisis that is exacerbating economic inequality and forcing lifelong Angelinos out of neighborhoods they grew up in. The lack of housing raises rents on working families, which, in turn, threatens the vibrant hubs of Latino, Black, and Asian culture throughout my district, potentially stripping these neighborhoods of their character that made them so unique and desirable to live in in the first place. Our affordable housing crisis has left more than 400,000 households in the city of Los Angeles and 900,00 in L.A. County in what they call a precarious housing situation.…





