Political Quotes

“I rise today to object to yet another attack by the Republicans on America's most vulnerable citizens. This time, the target is low income and elderly Americans who rely on public housing assistance. Last week, House Republicans reported a rescission package totaling $17.3 billion dollars. Forty percent of the cuts came from one Department; the Department of Housing and Urban Development. These Housing rescissions cut across virtually all of the Department's housing programs, from public housing projects to elderly housing, and from tenant-based rental assistance to homeownership initiatives for working families. Rhode Island stands to lost $73.5 million dollars. In Rhode Island alone, we are expected to lose over $9 million dollars in modernization funds and operating subsidies for housing authorities throughout the State. This will severely hurt city and town officials because these reductions come in the middle of the fiscal year. Without warning, they will be left with less money to run and maintain public housing buildings where mostly elderly, low income and disabled people live. Without proper funding, many households will be displaced throughout Rhode Island and the Nation. In addition, Republicans have cut $2.7 Billion in the Incremental Rental Assistance Program. This means 69,000 rental certificates and vouchers will be denied to low-income citizens who need some assistance in paying their rent.”