Transportation, Treasury, Housing and Urban Development, the Judiciary, the District of Columbia. and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006

TRANSPORTATION, TREASURY, HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, THE JUDICIARY, THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, AND INDEPENDENT AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2006 -- (House of Representatives - June 29, 2005)

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AMENDMENT OFFERED BY MR. NADLER

Mr. NADLER. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

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Ms. VELÁZQUEZ. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of restoring funding for Section 8 vouchers. Providing decent, safe affordable housing is one area that must not be overlooked in the greater debate on spending priorities. This bill funds Section 8 at the level of $314 million below the President's request, jeopardizing the housing of low-income families across the country. Without restored funding, hardworking families struggling to make ends meet will be left without homes and will be forced to turn to the already crowded shelter system.

If you are committed to end homelessness as we know it, today you have the opportunity to vote for this amendment. The Nadler-Velázquez-Frank amendment will restore $100 million for Section 8 providing vouchers for approximately 15,000 families by reducing funding for HUD's working capital fund which provides for the technology needs of the Department. This increase will ensure that families working to create a better life for their children will have a safe, decent place to call home.

Stable housing is the first step to economic advancement and positive outcomes for children. Without a steady home, children suffer from being shifted between shelters and the homes of family and relatives, missing school and lacking opportunity for the lasting relationships so crucial to healthy development. The Nadler-Velázquez-Frank amendment will help address this issue by restoring critical funding to a program that has had a tremendous impact on the lives of low-income families around the country.

The Section 8 program is a lifeline for hundreds of thousands of families without which they would face the cold reality of life on the streets or the uncertainty of navigating our Nation's swelling shelter system. This amendment will prevent 15,000 families from losing their homes, continuing the support so needed as they strive to achieve economic stability in the face of challenging circumstances.

In this body, day in and day out, we hear talk about family values. What issue could be more linked to the morals we espouse than providing safe and decent homes for America's families? The Section 8 program serves the approximately 2 million Americans in greatest need, and these families are depending on us here today.

The Nadler-Velázquez-Frank amendment will restore $100 million in funding for 15,000 vouchers. This is a modest but important increase to protect the homes of families working to overcome obstacles in difficult economic times. I urge support of this amendment.

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