James A. Leach: “I rise in support of H.R. 2406 and want to thank Mr. Lazio for his leadership on this bill. The Banking Committee, the…”

“I rise in support of H.R. 2406 and want to thank Mr. Lazio for his leadership on this bill. The Banking Committee, the House, and indeed the American people, are indebted to the gentleman from New York for the hard work and intellect he has put into this major reform legislation. Let me speak to several aspects of the bill. The chief goal of the legislation is to expand housing choices for low and moderate income people and to devolve power from Washington to local communities. The legislative intent is to move away from reliance on highrise public housing projects and encourage the use of housing vouchers. It is the assumption of the committee that it is cost effective, as well as compassionate, to give low and moderate income people the ability to get away from projects which too often are infested with crime and drugs and move into communities where they can raise their families in safer, cleaner environments and where they will have an enhanced ability to improve their lives.”