Nancy L. Johnson: “Mr. Chairman, my amendment, which has been included in today's en bloc amendment, would ban violent sexual predators…”

“Mr. Chairman, my amendment, which has been included in today's en bloc amendment, would ban violent sexual predators from public housing in this country. These are people who have been convicted of the worst crimes imaginable, and who have been identified as likely to repeat the offense. It is simply wrong for taxpayer dollars to be used to allow people who have stalked and attacked women and children to live where the majority of tenants are children and single mothers. At a public housing project in Chicago recently, according to press reports, a previously convicted sex offender was charged with assaulting and molesting a 9-year-old girl who lived in the same building. First, he allegedly abducted her as she was walking upstairs. Then he took her into an apartment, molested her, choked her until she was unconscious. He poured poisonous liquid down her throat and left her. Mr. Chairman, my legislation will not eliminate violence against children. I wish it were that easy. But it will send a clear message that Congress is not going to use taxpayers' hard-earned money to provide subsidized public housing to people who have committed unspeakable acts of evil against children.”