Nydia M. Velazquez: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank the ranking member for her leadership on this issue. Mr. Chair, I rise in…”

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the ranking member for her leadership on this issue. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to H.R. 5735, the THRIVE Act. H.R. 5735 has a worthy goal. Helping individuals struggling with addiction to access treatment and recovery services is certainly important, but despite these intentions, H.R. 5735 has significant flaws which, in the end, make the bill unworkable. My primary concern is that H.R. 5735 carves out 10,000 existing Section 8 vouchers for use in this pilot program without authorizing new funding for any additional vouchers. This essentially decreases the number of Section 8 vouchers in circulation and increases wait times for millions of other households already seeking a voucher. Those forced to wait will include low-income families, seniors, people with disabilities, veterans, and those experiencing homelessness. You cannot just change words in the law. You need to open your checking account or your checkbook. Currently, only one in four households who are eligible for Federal affordable housing assistance receive it. In New York City, we have more than 150,000 people waiting for a voucher. While I fully support helping all people with substance abuse disorders and recognize the important role affordable housing plays in an individual's recovery process, providing affordable housing for individuals with substance use disorders should not come at the expense of others in need.…”