Harry Reid said "But as I told the Senator from New York, I have done something he has not done, and that is, I have spent a night in a homeless shelter in Las Vegas. Truly one of the remarkable experiences of my life--I do not know if "remarkable" is the right word--but interesting and educational experiences of my life. And I just want to confirm what the Senator from New York has said on a number of occasions--that the homeless problem did not come about accidentally. The homeless problem came about as a result of the Federal Government, in effect, emptying what we used to refer to as the "insane asylums," mental institutions, as we now refer to them. We, in effect, emptied them." @ PoliticalQuotes.com

On the recordSeptember 6, 1995

But as I told the Senator from New York, I have done something he has not done, and that is, I have spent a night in a homeless shelter in Las Vegas. Truly one of the remarkable experiences of my life--I do not know if "remarkable" is the right word--but interesting and educational experiences of my life. And I just want to confirm what the Senator from New York has said on a number of occasions--that the homeless problem did not come about accidentally. The homeless problem came about as a result of the Federal Government, in effect, emptying what we used to refer to as the "insane asylums," mental institutions, as we now refer to them. We, in effect, emptied them.

Said by

Harry Reid

Democratic · Nevada

Source

govinfo.gov

Editor's note · Context

Discussing the causes of homelessness during a debate on related legislation.

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