Rick Lazio: “Mr. Speaker, S. 1494, the Housing Opportunity Program Extension Act of 1996, is an important bill and, with the…”

“Mr. Speaker, S. 1494, the Housing Opportunity Program Extension Act of 1996, is an important bill and, with the amendment being offered by the Banking Committee, will avoid inappropriate and unnecessary hardship. The Senate passed this legislation on January 24, 1996, to provide guidance to the administration and extend programs left in question following President Clinton's veto of H.R. 2099, the VA-HUD and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act. Although the Senate initiatives are well intentioned, it is important that the legislation address initiatives that the House has already passed earlier in this Congress. S. 1494 includes provisions similar to those included in H.R. 117, which passed on October 24, 1995, with a recorded vote of 415 to 0. Other provisions of S. 1494 incorporate initiatives from H.R. 1691 passed by voice vote under suspension just 6 days later. Our amendment to S. 1494 recognizes the efforts of several Members of this House, such as Congressman Blute and Congressman Ney, whose hard work on H.R. 117 helped bring about stronger protection for older Americans in our Nation's public housing system.”