Hon. Michael G. Oxley: “I rise today in support for H.R. 2, the Housing Opportunity and Responsibility Act. As a cosponsor of this important…”

“I rise today in support for H.R. 2, the Housing Opportunity and Responsibility Act. As a cosponsor of this important legislation I believe that it will go a long way toward reforming our current public housing system. I am particularly enthusiastic about Title IV, the Home Rule Flexible Grant Option, portion of the overall legislation. The provisions included in Title IV would provide local government leaders with the flexibility to implement new locally developed proposals for meeting the specific housing needs of their communities. Whereas under our current system Public Housing Authorities administer all aspects of sometimes highly regulated Federal housing programs, this new grant would give interested localities the flexibility to implement new innovative programs targeted to meet the housing needs of their own citizens. In the city of Lima, a town in my district, a situation has developed recently that has divided local housing authorities and local government leaders.”