Political Quotes

“I rise this evening offering an amendment to deal with the housing crisis in the United States. The costs of housing is rising far faster than the average working family can afford. I propose an amendment, first of all, that would make it easier for police, fire fighters and our public school teachers to get an FHA loan. It would create a new FHA adjustable-rate mortgage for all people to use; and the revenues that would be generated would help to fund additional housing for people who are disabled, the elderly, people with AIDS, and the homeless. This is a critically important issue, not just to the people that I represent, in suburban Long Island New York, but across the country, where we have seen the price of housing skyrocket. Like other areas around the country, they are plagued with high property taxes and very expensive, ever-increasing real estate prices. Despite the booming economy, no place is it more evident that the haves are doing better and the have-nots are doing worse than in the housing market. Despite the booming economy, the rents and real estate prices are simply rising far faster than wages. The costs of housing is clearly becoming more elusive and further out of reach for the middle class. According to a study by the National Low-income Housing Coalition, housing costs on Long Island, for example, are the fourth highest in the country.”