Melvin Watt: “my colleagues, especially those on the Republican side, have made a significant point that many of us agree on a…”

“my colleagues, especially those on the Republican side, have made a significant point that many of us agree on a bipartisan basis is a valid point; that we should not continuously pass along to State and local governments and entities of State and local governments mandates which mandate that they take certain action without passing along to them the funds to pay for those mandates. This bill, sections 105 and 106, in combination, pass such a mandate along. Sections 105 and 106, in combination, according to the Congressional Budget Office, impose an unfunded mandate of approximately $65 million. Section 105, according to the Congressional Budget Office, would require local governments to expend an additional $35 million annually. Section 106 would require local governments and public housing agencies to expend an additional $35 million annually. These provisions, in combination, should not be passed along to our local housing authorities because we are not funding them.”