Date: 1994-05-12
Speaker: PETE GEREN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Chairman. I move to strike the requisite number of words. Mr. Chairman. I rise to lend my voice to the bipartisan opposition to the Hefley amendment to terminate- the Economic Development- Agency and urge my colleagues to do the same. . Mr. Chairman. we have heard a great deal in the course of this debate about the EDA and what it does and does not accomplish. I would like to take this opportunity to briefly share the experience of the district I represent. The city of Fort Worth is currently working with the EDA on an $11.8 million grant for economic development. This grant is the centerpiece of the renovation and the restoration of an economically depressed area of our city. The EDA has been working handinglove with our community. and this restoration enjoys strong local support and financial backing. Fort Worth and local private investors have contributed more than $25 million to this restoration to leverage the Federal con tribution by more than 2 to 1. This is a good example of a publicprivate partnership that is working well and should be encouraged. Without this help from the EDA this area of Fort Worth would continue to struggle. becoming a further drain on the local. State. and Federal Governments. According to the 1990 U.S. censis 49.4 percent of -the households in this area have an income below the poverty line and the unemployment promise measure to the floor today. rate in this area is over 12 percent. and I urge all my colleagues to oppose However. with this help from the any amendments which would underEDA and the hard work and vision of a mine the EDA authorization levels or number of community leaders. this reforms that have been incorporated area is turning around. bringing hope into this bill. to its citizens. There is little question Mr. WISE. Mr. Chairman. I move to that this investment by the Federal strike the requisite number of words. Government is. well worth it and will Mr. Chairman. I rise in strong opposipay great dividends. The people of Fort tion to the Hefley amendment. I want Worth are grateful for the help from to address some of the concerns that the EDA and they have put their the gentleman from Colorado [Mr. money behind it. In tight budget times HEFLEY] has brought up. I want to first this is the type of program that should visit history a little bit. survive. I am sure a number of the The gentleman. states that the proMembers have similar stories about the gram has not been reauthorized for good work of the EDA in their area. about a. dozen years and that that There are plenty of areas in the Fed- should be some kind of evidence that it eral Government in serious need of re- is obsolete. The gentleman needs to reform and I have supported many Fed- member that the reason it has not been eral Government cutbacks. But the reauthorized is because both Presidents EDA should not fall in that category. Reagan and Bush said they would veto It is doing its job and doing it well. and the reauthorization should it come to I truly believe that it is a big mistake their desk. but significantly. particuto do anything that will jeopardize the larly in this House of Representatives. future of this agency. a majority of Members on both sides of I urge a "no" vote on this amend- the aisle. Republicans and Democrats. ment. kept the EDA alive through the appro-