Lincoln Diaz-Balart: “We have taken a responsible and thorough approach to HUD's funding. We have actually reduced HUD's budget by $487…”

“We have taken a responsible and thorough approach to HUD's funding. We have actually reduced HUD's budget by $487 million below last year. We have done so while keeping as a priority, for example, housing assistance to the most needy among us: the elderly, the disabled, our veterans. This amendment would potentially hurt some of these vulnerable citizens. Again, the across-the-board approach goes against, frankly, what I think we have to be doing in government, which is do the tough work and go line by line and identify lower priority or functioning programs for reductions so that we can then target resources to where they are actually most needed. Let me just give you a few examples, Mr. Chairman, of where we have targeted resources: CDBG, veterans' voucher renewals, vouchers for the disabled. I cannot agree to an amendment that would, again, cut those programs across the board. Also, another issue, which I know is not the Honorable Member's intent, but I understand CBO has scored this amendment at zero savings. If we had a lot of time, we could talk about why. So, again, it is actually not even achieving what the gentleman is trying to achieve. I do thank him for his passion in looking out for the taxpayers. I think that is a very needed thing here in Congress. But I respectfully urge a ``no'' vote on this amendment. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time. The Acting CHAIR.…”