Political Quotes

“Let me start with the fact that I choose to believe that Mr. Latham does not like this bill. Mr. Latham's not listening to me. Mr. Chairman, I wanted to say that I start my debate, that I choose to believe that you do not like this bill. I know you. I've worked with you over a long period of time. This bill is insufficient to meet the obligations of this subcommittee. It is unworthy of the support of this House. Mr. Chairman, there are many things wrong with the 2014 Transportation-Housing and Urban Development appropriation bill, but perhaps none more egregious than its severely painful cuts to the Community Development Block Grants. Now, let me start with this observation. This is not about a poor people's program. It helps some poor people, but it helps communities-- rich, moderate, and poor. This is not about the 47 percent. This is about the 100 percent. The Community Development Block Grant program was enacted on a bipartisan basis in 1974 and signed into law by the President, Gerald Ford, former minority leader of this House, President of the United States. From its beginning, it has served as a model of how bipartisan compromise in Congress can help tackle important challenges on the local level. For nearly 40 years, these grants have been awarded on a formula basis to State and local governments for infrastructure development, the creation and maintenance of affordable housing units, anti-poverty initiatives. It makes communities better.…”