Date: 1983-07-11
Speaker: ST GERMAIN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I too rise in support of H.R. 1. the HousIng and UrbanRural Recovery Act of 1983. and I have to give every plaudit and commendation to our colleagues on the Committee on Banking. Finance and Urban Affairs. but In particular the chairman of the Subcommittee on Housing and Community Development. my beloved colleague from Texas . for his untiring efforts in bringing forth the first major housing authorization bill since 1980 for consideration by this House. I Our committee bill is the result of a 2year effort on the part of the House subcommittee and represents our committees effort to address the housing and community development needs of this Nation as we in the House perceive them. I also want to pay special tribute to the staff of the Subcommittee on Housing and Community Development. under their able staff director. for the herculean efforts they have put into this legislation. In this instance staff certainly has been of invaluable assistance. H.R. 1 was reported out of the Committee on Banking. Finance and Urban Affairs in early May. well before the budget issues in the first budget resolution were resolved and prior to the Committee on Appropriations had completed its action on H.R. 3133. the HUDindependent agency appropriation bill. The committeereported bill therefore provides for higher authorization levels than were subsequently agreed to by the House Budget Committee and the conference on the budget resolution. An amendment will be offered by the gentleman from Texas and myself that will bring the authorization levels contained in the committeereported version of H.R. I down to the levels set forth in the budget resolution and as are contained in the conference report on the HUDindependent agency appropriation bill. Mr. Chairman. I regret that we had to further reduce the authorization levels in H.R. 1 because the levels set forth in H.R. 1 were. in the committees view. minimal levels necessary to meet the low- and moderateincome housing needs and the community development needs that we believe our Nation requires. Be we believe that this House and the other body would be in no mood to consider these higher authorization levels for assisted housing and community development. The members of the Committee on Banking. Finance and Urban Affairs. and I believe I speak for both sides of the aisle. feel that it is absolutely necessary for Congress to approve this years housing authorization bill. Our responsibilities revolve not only around setting the authorization levels for our HUD programs but in providing the policy direction that we expect the administration to follow and the necessary program changes that we believe must be made to make our programs responsive to the housing and community development needs of our Nation. Perhaps in a better climate this Congress can consider in a more rational manner our assisted housing and community development needs. Mr. Chairman. I commend my senior Republican colleagues on the Committee on Banking. Finance and Urban Affairs. the gentleman from Ohio . and. yes. we do have a gentleman from Connecticut . for the cooperation that they bring to our consideration of H.R. 1 and the responsible attitudes of this House. I also want to commend their staff for their cooperation as well on this matter. I believe that we will be able to go to conference with the. Senate and present the President with a housing bill that meets our responsiblities as elected representatives of our constituents and our responsiblities as inembers of the Committee on Banking in addressing the housing and community development needs of our Nation. Mr. Chairman. I look forward to a very productive debate when we get into the amendatory process. which I hope will be early on this week. and for a successful conclusion to this very lengthy effort. wherein a great many parties have expended a great deal of time. so that we can go forth and meet with the honorable Senate and discuss the needs of this Nation.