Rick Lazio: “I think this is a very valid, very progressive amendment. I think the gentleman speaks to some of the concerns that many…”

“I think this is a very valid, very progressive amendment. I think the gentleman speaks to some of the concerns that many of us have in terms of assuring that more Americans have the benefit of public housing. I should say, I am concerned a bit about the fact that we were not able to move last year's bill through conference to the President's desk for signature. I think we tried to certainly develop some broad reforms that boldly moved forward and helped to transform the entire population in public housing. I am a little concerned about the amendment offered by the gentleman. While I think it is a very good amendment, I am only concerned that it not be sort of veto bait, or it would stop the momentum of the reforms we have in this bill, because we are trying so desperately in this bill to create that sense of self-sufficiency, self-reliance, of building work skills, of transitioning back to the work force where people can have the choice of moving out of public housing and into the work force, where they make their own choices for housing, employment, and different choices for their family.”