Without exaggeration I can say there is considerable doubt in both parties. Can the Administration answer crucial questions. For those who don't know, Section 8 is a rental subsidy through Housing and Urban Development. The Administration is committed to Section 8, judging by its requests for funding and the stated wishes of HUD Secretary Andrew Cuomo. But there are no similar words of support for the bricks and mortar complexes which are the property of the federal government.
Public housing is an integral component to our national policy.
We cannot afford big and automatic increases but we simply must find a way to fortify public housing by maintaining the existing stock and a thorough modernization effort. I'm confident we can do that, but some hard negotiating apparently lies ahead with the Clinton Administration. Secretary Cuomo wants to dedicate any and all additional funds to Section 8. That is not my view. We must deal with both programs.