Political Quotes

“I rise today and offer an amendment to H.R. 4194 that will adjust HUD housing opportunities for persons with AIDS back to fiscal year 1998 levels and invest more money in the Department of Veterans Affairs grants for construction of State extended-care facilities. Mr. Chairman, I must first acknowledge the hard work of the gentleman from California (Mr. Lewis) and his counterpart on the other side of the aisle and the members of the committee and their staff for all the hard work on this bill. I know they did everything they could to come up with a balanced budget. I think it is pretty balanced. But I just have one small amendment I want to make, and it is very simple. As has been said many times on the floor this afternoon, we have a severe shortage of veterans care facilities, both health care and these type of housing facilities. This program is used to provide matching grants to States to construct State home facilities, to provide a home or nursing home care to veterans. These grants may also be used to expand, remodel or alter existing facilities that provide those needs to veterans or that provide hospital care to veterans in State homes. The need for veterans care facilities continues to increase at a rapid pace as the veterans population continues to age.”