Joseph Knollenberg: “As we debate the reform of our Nation's welfare system, our deliberations must include a close examination of the…”

“As we debate the reform of our Nation's welfare system, our deliberations must include a close examination of the federally mandated system of calculating rents paid by residents of America's public housing. The evidence is striking. The current system of establishing rents in public housing is set by bureaucrats in Washington. It provides no flexibility to provide incentives for residents to make a better wage or even find work. In most cases, if a resident of public housing obtains gainful employment, they end up with less disposable income than if they had stayed on welfare. That is right, less money by going to work. Is it any wonder we have generations of people who are addicted to the public dole? In the last Congress, this body passed a housing bill which included a provision which I sponsored, entitled the Rent Reform and Empowerment Act, which would reduce these disincentives through a system of income disallowances and ceiling rents. Unfortunately, it was killed in the other body. Mr. Speaker, today I am reintroducing this important legislation. It is time we applied a little common sense. And keep in mind it has been this Government that has imposed some of the highest tax rates on America's poor.”