Eva M. Clayton: “I rise in support of the Forbes amendment. Unlike the bill before us and many of the amendments we have considered, this…”

“I rise in support of the Forbes amendment. Unlike the bill before us and many of the amendments we have considered, this amendment takes us in the right direction. I know that the chairman and the ranking member indeed were working with constraints, but nonetheless, this bill takes us in the wrong direction. I listened to the debate in the Mollohan amendment. The Mollohan amendment was timely and urgent. I regret a point of order was raised against it, and I regret my colleagues raise a point of order against this amendment. It is for that reason that I intend to oppose the bill. The bill does not go far enough, deep enough. It is not about spending but it is about the priorities of the American people. It is not deep enough in addressing the serious and growing housing problem confronting this Nation. For some, Mr. Chairman, this is the best of times. The United States is enjoying the longest sustained period of economic growth in the history of the Nation. Despite these rosy economic pictures, many are being left out. For those, these are the worst of times. For at least 20 years now, there has been a troubling trend, a trend that affects the very quality of life for most Americans. It is an alarming and disturbing trend because fewer Americans can afford healthy meals, fewer can afford health care, fewer can afford education, fewer can afford decent housing and other means to a better life. Housing is basic.…”