Vicente Gonzalez: “I rise in support of H.R. 2158, a bill making appropriations in 1998 for VA, HUD and the independent agencies. Although…”

“I rise in support of H.R. 2158, a bill making appropriations in 1998 for VA, HUD and the independent agencies. Although I continue to be deeply troubled by the severe budgetary limitations on domestic discretionary spending, particularly for the most vulnerable and working families in future years, I applaud the Committee on Appropriations for the work that they have done this year. H.R. 2158 is devoid of noxious legislative riders and most authorizing language that should be developed by the Committee on Banking and Financial Services. Indeed I am hopeful that even the few housing provisions will not be necessary here and that the Congress will enact real and fair public housing reform this year. On one of the problems of the last appropriations bill, the very complicated issue of section 8 portfolio restructuring, I am hopeful that the budget reconciliation conference will provide the legislative framework for reviewing section 8 contracts. The Committee on Appropriations took the most critical step in this bill. H.R. 2158 provides sufficient funding for all renewals coming due in 1998. I applaud them for their work and foresight. Now the authorizers must do their work in reconciliation.”