Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, this VA-HUD conference report is certainly an improvement over the House version. However, the funds are still terribly inadequate to fulfill HUD's mission to support the most needy people in this country. This report cuts funding for public housing, terminating $310 million for the successful drug elimination program, and $157 million for the capital fund that provides for the rehabilitation of housing units to bring them up to today's standards. This bill will also cut all of the jobs of public housing residents that are associated with the rehabilitation. In addition, this conference report cuts funding for proven economic development programs that are sorely needed to stimulate the economy. For example, the Community Development Block Grant has been cut by $58 million; Empowerment Zones funding has been cut by $45 million; the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund has been cut by $38 million. Funding for these programs should be increased, rather than decreased. These programs inject capital into communities that need it the most, creating jobs and stimulating the economy.”