Danny Davis: “I rise to commend the conferees, especially the gentleman from California (Mr. Lewis), the gentleman from Ohio (Mr.…”

“I rise to commend the conferees, especially the gentleman from California (Mr. Lewis), the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Stokes), the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Kennedy) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Lazio) for the outstanding work that they did on the housing report. Gone are the heavy-handed provisions that would have mandated community service for unemployed residents of public housing. In its place this bill requires either 8 hours of community service or 8 hours a month of participation in an economic self-sufficiency program. This is real problem-solving without the insensitive and stoic responsibilities to existing circumstances in public housing that we witnessed earlier in the process. When I look at my congressional district in Chicago, where only 18 percent of the residents of Dearborn Homes are employed, where only 9 percent of the residents of Robert Taylor A are working; where only 9 percent of the residents of Stateway Gardens are working, there is clearly a need for job training. I believe that this is where we need to direct our focus. This is a most welcome undertaking and is proof positive of the type of agreements this body can reach. I thank the conferees for an outstanding piece of work.”