Albio Sires

Mr. SIRES

Mr. SIRES. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SIRES. Mr. Chairman, I yield 4 minutes to my friend from New Jersey (Mr. Pascrell).

Mr. SIRES. Mr. Chairman, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlelady from California (Ms. Waters).

Mr. SIRES. Mr. Chairman, as the designee of Mr. Frank of Massachusetts, I offer an amendment.

Mr. SIRES. Mr. Chairman, I am very happy to be here debating this bill to help public housing authorities across this Nation. Let me start by thanking Chairman Barney Frank for his support on this bill and his leadership in the committee. Let me start by explaining why I introduced this bill. Shortly after I was sworn in, I received a letter from the Jersey City Housing Authority in my district. They told me they had laid off 34 employees because of asset management. When I looked into this, I learned that Jersey City was not unique. Over 800 public housing authorities had their operating budgets cut because of the way asset management was implemented by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. At the same time, the Department limited the amount of flexibility given to public housing authorities to make ends meet. I knew something had to be done. With the support of Chairman Frank, Chairwoman Waters, and others, I introduced H.R. 3521, the Public Housing Asset Management Improvement Act of 2007. You will note that the title indicates that the bill improves asset management. It does not, and I repeat, it does not put an end to asset management. That is because I feel strongly that the goals of the asset management are worthwhile. By making public housing authorities run more efficiently, asset management has the potential to improve the lives of all those who live in public housing in this country. My bill simply makes four improvements to the asset management rule. First, it requires renewed negotiations over the management fee. A little background in this is probably helpful. In 1998, Congress passed the Quality Housing and Work Responsibility Act of 1998, which called on the Department to replace the old funding system with a new, more efficient system. In 2004, a negotiated rulemaking committee gathered to decide how to implement this new system known as asset management. One key piece was the management fee, and Congress required that the fee be reasonable. The negotiators never discussed the management fee, and industry groups have argued that it was set arbitrarily by the Department in its final rule because it lacked input from the negotiated rulemaking committee. My bill requires new negotiations to establish a reasonable fee and allows public housing authorities to revert back to their old funding mechanism until final implementation of asset management on January 1, 2011. Second, my bill reaffirms current law by allowing public housing authorities to transfer funds between their operating fund and their capital fund. This provision prevents the Department from prohibiting such transfers. This flexibility is vital to agencies, particularly since the public housing program is underfunded. Housing authorities know best where they need funding, not Washington. There is wide agreement on this provision. In fact, this provision was included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2008. That provision, however, is only valid for 1 year. My bill would make the change permanent. Third, my bill increases the exemption threshold from small to medium-sized public housing authorities. The Department recognized that small authorities with fewer than 250 units of housing would not benefit from the efficiencies of asset management. The final rule exempts public housing authorities with fewer than 250 units of housing from implementing asset management. My bill simply raises this threshold to 500 units. Again, there is little disagreement on raising the threshold. The Consolidated Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2008 raised the exemption threshold to 400. My bill goes a little further to 500 units. The impact of this change will only affect 441 public housing authorities, some of whom may not opt out of asset management because they think it makes good sense. Even with this change, over two-thirds of all public housing units still will be covered by asset management rules. Finally, my bill restates current law in terms of tenant participation. It simply says that tenants should be allowed to participate in the decisions affecting their homes. It prohibits the Department from altering tenant participation rights, and it encourages public housing authorities to include tenants in discussion about asset management that directly affects their home. Let me end by talking about who supports this bill. We have received letters of support from the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities, the Public Housing Authorities Directors Association, the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials, and the National Training and Information Center. I submit these letters for the Record. National Training and Information Center, Chicago, IL, February 7, 2008. Hon. Nancy Pelosi, Speaker, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Madam Speaker: The undersigned 150 democratic grassroots resident organizing groups and allies would like to convey our strong support for protecting the rights of public housing residents to organize, as delineated in H.R. 3521, the Public Housing Asset Management Improvement Act of 2007. As the transition to a system of asset management is one of the most significant shifts facing the administration of public housing in many years, it is more important than ever that public housing residents are involved in the decision-making processes at the local and national levels. In April of 2007, the National Training & Information Center (NTIC) submitted a letter to Congress endorsed by local, statewide, and national organizations in protest of recent attempts to undermine the efforts of resident and community organizations to participate in the decisions around public housing that impact their communities and their lives, One of those attempts was a notice by HUD on March 1, 2007 to streamline the process to waive 24 CFR 964, which outlines the rights of residents to organize, for PHAs transitioning to asset management. Section 4 of H.R. 3521 is critical in order to ensure that the congressionally sanctioned rights to organize for public housing residents are protected. The NTIC network is of the perspective that residents must be central to the discourse around policies that impact them--both at the local and national level. Section 4 of this bill will ensure that the voices of public housing residents are not lost in the implementation of asset management. Over the past year, NTIC has brought together public housing residents and allies from 38 cities to identify the most pressing areas for reform of public housing policy. The right to organize and meaningful resident participation are among the highest priorities for residents across the country. In order to make asset management work for everyone, it is critical that residents are involved in decisions around its implementation. The undersigned 150 local, statewide, and national organizations would like to convey our support for the principles outlined in Section 4 of H.R. 3521. Namely, we feel strongly that residents should have a right to organize in public housing and should be meaningfully and substantively involved in the decisions that impact their lives--both at the local and national level. Specifically, it is critical that the rights bestowed by 24 CFR 964 not be undermined by the transition to asset management. We hope that we can rely on your support for these principles. Thank you for listening to the voices of the people! Signed, Access Living--Chicago, IL. Annapolis Tenant Task Force--Boston, MA. Beacon Glen Resident Association--Cincinnati, OH. Bethel New Life--Chicago, IL. Bethune Village Resident Council--Daytona Beach, FL. Border Fair Housing & Economic Justice Center--El Paso, TX. Bowen Homes Resident Association--Atlanta, GA. Cabrini Green Rowhouse Council--Chicago, IL. California Coalition for Rural Housing--California State Center for Community Change--National Central Advisory Council--Chicago, IL. Central Illinois Organizing Project--Central Illinois Chicago Coalition for the Homeless--Chicago, IL. Chicago Rehab Network--Chicago, IL. Cleveland Housing Resident Association--Cleveland, TN. Clinton Springs Resident Association--Cincinnati, OH. Coalition to Protect Public Housing--Chicago, IL. Communities United for Action--Cincinnati, OH. Community Voices Heard--New York, NY. Connecticut Legal Services--Connecticut State Consumer Action--National Crossroads Urban Center--Salt Lake City, UT. Detroit United Organizing for Power--Detroit, MI. District of Columbia Grassroots Empowerment Project-- Washington, DC. Empower DC--Washington, DC. Empowering & Strengthening Ohio's People--Cleveland, OH. Erie Tenant Council--Erie, PA. Everywhere & Now Public Housing Residents Organizing Nationally Together--National Fall River Housing Joint Tenants Council Inc.--Fall River,

Mr. SIRES. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. SIRES. This manager's amendment covers two different aspects of the bill. The first part addresses compliance with section 2 of the bill. Section 2 grants agencies that lost funding because of asset management to walk out of the funding agreement. The bill allows them to set their own reasonable management fee until a new negotiated rulemaking takes place. However, the Department recently announced that any agency compliant with this provision of the bill will be deemed as noncompliant with the Asset Management Final Rule. The manager's amendment makes it clear that these agencies are compliant. The second part of the manager's amendment restates current law that undocumented immigrants are ineligible for financial assistance under section 214 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1980. These changes are technical and should be adopted. Chairman Frank and I urge a ``yes'' vote on these amendments. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SIRES. Mr. Chairman, just in closing I would like to say that there is oversight, and the 20 percent that we are talking about is just increasing 10 percent because already they have the ability to move 10 percent. With all of the costs, all of the increases and the underfunding of these housing authorities, I think this is reasonable. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SIRES. Madam Speaker, I reserve a point of order.

Mr. SIRES. Madam Speaker, I make a point of order that the amendment is not germane to the bill. The bill H.R. 3773 has nothing to do with the asset management bill under consideration.

Mr. SIRES. Madam Speaker, the gentleman is not speaking on the point of order.

Mr. SIRES. Madam Speaker, I insist on my point of order.

Mr. SIRES. Madam Speaker, I move to table the appeal.

Mr. SIRES. Madam Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. SIRES. I would like to thank Mr. Meek for offering this amendment. This amendment clarifies that the Department cannot prevent public housing authorities in receivership from benefiting from this bill. Chairman Frank and I fully support this amendment, and we urge adoption.

Mr. SIRES

Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Democratic Caucus, I offer a privileged resolution and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. SIRES

Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 3521, and to insert extraneous material thereon.

Mr. SIRES

Mr. SIRES. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of Alipio Coco Cabrera on his 25th anniversary in radio and television broadcasting. Coco can be considered a communicator by nature. He was born in Villa Mella, Dominican Republic. He started his career as a journalist for ``Noti Tiempo'' commercial radio station as well as a writer for ``El Nacional'' newspaper. Coco immigrated to the United States in 1978, settling in New York City. He continued to work for Dominican Republic Media but also became a radio correspondent for ``Radio Mil and Nacional.'' Coco received a contract with Hispanic Broadcasting Association, HBC, to work on many of their projects. He is now part of the powerful radio and television chain known as Univision. He can be heard on various radio programs, ``Coco and Gisela,'' ``Coco Clasicos,'' and ``The Coco and Celines Show'' on 105.9 Latin Mix. This show is known as one of the most important morning radio shows in the New York area. He has also made guest appearances on Univision TV shows such as ``Despierta America,'' ``Al Despertar'' and ``Don Francisco Presenta.'' Throughout his career, Coco has received numerous national and international awards, which include: ``Cassandra Distinguished Radio Personality,'' presented by the Association of Arts & Journalism of Santo Domingo. He was the first Dominican to receive this award that lived outside the country. In 2007, Coco received the ``Distinguished Journalist and Citizen Award'' presented by Dr. Pedro Henriquez Urena, director of Human Rights Organization of Santo Domingo. Alipio Coco Cabrera is a veteran of radio and is best known for his unique style and electric personality. It is only fitting that on February 17, 2008, he will be honored for 25 years in the radio broadcasting business at a banquet to be held at the United Palace Theater in New York City. Please join me in honoring Alipio Coco Cabrera for his outstanding achievements and in congratulating him, his children Jean Carols and Jacyra.

Mr. SIRES

Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, economists said if Washington wanted to help jump-start our Nation's economy, it needed to act fast. That's exactly what we did. Congress acted in a strong bipartisan fashion to pass an economic stimulus plan that will be signed into law by President Bush today. The new law will put hundreds of dollars into the hands of more than 130 million American families, including seniors and disabled veterans, who will then spend it to reinvigorate our economy. The law also expands financing opportunities for Americans who are in danger of losing their homes because of the mortgage crisis and promotes small business investment in plants and equipment. Mr. Speaker, Democrats are proud that we have been able to work so quickly to produce an economic stimulus plan that is timely, targeted and temporary. We are also proud of the fact that this package provides immediate relief to low- and middle-income families and small businesses that need the help the most. We will continue to rebuild and strengthen our economy, create good jobs, and give relief to families that are struggling to make ends meet.

Mr. SIRES

Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, when Democrats took control of Congress last year, we vowed to work on behalf of all Americans. Last year, we recognized that middle-class families were struggling to make ends meet, and so we worked hard to ease that economic crunch. We passed billions of dollars in tax relief to middle-income families. We increased the minimum wage for the first time in a decade, and we enacted an energy bill that will save the average family anywhere between $700 and $1,000 a year in energy costs, and help families better afford college. This is a good start, but as economic indicators continue to head in the wrong direction, we worked with the White House and House Republicans on an economic stimulus package that will provide a real and significant short-term boost to this economy. The House bipartisan economic stimulus plan is the most progressive package this decade. It will help jump-start our economy, and will provide real assistance to lower and middle- income families. I hope our friends in the Senate will act on this legislation this week.

Mr. SIRES

Mr. SIRES. Madam Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 3524, the HOPE VI Improvement Reauthorization Act of 2007. As a former mayor in New Jersey, I have a unique perspective of this program. Its impact on local communities is real and is positive. Beyond the obvious impact of cleaning up distressed public housing units and providing people with housing, HOPE VI generates economic activity in the community. New housing brings new residents. New residents bring new infrastructure and spurs new businesses. These new residents shop and dine and invest in their community. The new businesses hire employees, which has a positive impact on the economy. The benefits of this program do not end there. Research indicates that HOPE VI increases per capita income of residents and decreases unemployment rates. That same research shows that this program decreases the number of households receiving public assistance and decreases violent crimes in surrounding communities. A reauthorization of this HOPE VI is long overdue. I applaud the efforts of the chairman and Chairwoman Waters for bringing this to the floor today. And I will share a story. I recently visited in Elizabeth, New Jersey, part of my district, a program of HOPE VI. I knew that area before, and the transformation is beyond. As I went there the other day, a new restaurant opened up. People were hired to work in that restaurant. So this program does work. Is it perfect? Nothing is perfect, but it certainly works. And I hope that everybody supports this.

Mr. SIRES

Mr. SIRES. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of Jersey City Police Officer Vincent J. Romano on the occasion of his retirement. Police Officer Romano who retired on November 1, 2007, received numerous recognitions for his service, evidence that he was an outstanding member of the Jersey City Police Force. Police Officer Romano, was appointed to the Jersey City Police Department in 1988, and initially assigned to the South District. His dedication garnered the trust of his superiors and earned him other opportunities to serve the Department in the West District, North District, Municipal Court Unit and the Records Room. His experience and his knowledge of the community also won him specialized assignments in the Narcotics Unit and the Violent Crimes Unit. Throughout his career, Police Officer Vincent J. Romano has received numerous awards which included: 2 commendations, 11 Excellence Police Service Awards, 3 Unit Citations and 1 World Trade Center Award. Please join me in honoring Police Officer Vincent J. Romano for his distinguished service to the Jersey City Police Department, and in congratulating him, his wife, Connie, and their two sons, Vincent and Joseph.

Mr. SIRES

Mr. SIRES. Madam Speaker, across the country more and more Americans are struggling to make ends meet. Unemployment has risen to 5 percent. Home values are dropping and millions of Americans are getting hit with mortgage rate adjustments. At the same time, the costs of health care, groceries, gasoline, home heating oil, and college educations continue to rise. It is welcome news that Federal Reserve Chairman Bernanke is signaling that the Fed will cut interest rates to address the slowing economy. But this is not enough. Democrats want to work with the President and the Republican Congress in the coming weeks to jump-start the economy and provide sound relief to American families. I would hope that we can all agree that the economy needs a jolt. Democrats believe a fiscal stimulus plan should adhere to three simple principles to be effective: It must be timely, targeted, and temporary. Madam Speaker, we want to work in a bipartisan fashion immediately to develop a legislative plan based on these three principles so that the stimulus plan can be passed and implemented into law without delay.

Mr. SIRES

Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4299, the revised terrorist insurance act reauthorization. We've heard a lot today about how important this legislation is for New York, but it's also just as important for my home State of New Jersey, the region and this Nation. I have said before on this floor that I represent the two most dangerous miles in this country. I represent the tunnels, the Lincoln and the Holland Tunnels. I represent the ports, and I also represent the region which also has the largest repository of fuel on the east coast of this country. I represent part of Newark and Jersey City, which are both considered high threat areas. I know firsthand what it is like to have a district that deals with the threat of terrorism every day. That is why it's so important for my district, my State and the entire Nation that we extend TRIA in a way that ensures stabilization for all businesses across this country, as well as those in high-risk areas. Last year, New York City created some 50,000 jobs. It is thought that in the next 10 years New York City could possibly create another 500,000 jobs. That is one of the reasons New Jersey and New York are talking about a new tunnel to bring people to fill some of those jobs, and they need this stability to know that these businesses can come into this city so those people can fill those jobs. And that's the engine not just for New York City or New Jersey but for the region and this country, quite frankly. And I want to thank, at this time, Chairman Frank for his hard work on trying to form a compromise on this bill while holding true to important aspects of the TRIA legislation already passed by this House. It is important that any TRIA reauthorization legislation include reasonable trigger levels, group life insurance and a reset mechanism. I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I just want to end by saying I came to this Congress not to follow in lockstep with the Senate. I came in to represent my district, not knowing that I would have to bow to the Senate. This is important legislation today, and I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. SIRES

Mr. SIRES. Madam Speaker, last week, congressional Republicans refused to join us in supporting energy legislation that will provide real relief to the American consumers. Instead, Republicans once again showed that they have no problems doing the bidding of both Big Oil and the utility companies. For too long, Washington has dragged its feet, denying that there was actually an energy problem. This new Democratic Congress is taking our Nation in a new direction. Our energy security plan is about producing more clean and renewable sources of energy right here in the United States. Over the next 10 years, this bill will create 10 million new green jobs by investing in renewable energy, with tax incentives for solar, wind, biomass, and geothermal technology. This investment will not only be good for our economy, but it will also help reduce our dependence on foreign oil and will allow us to finally address global warming. Madam Speaker, this House has acted. Now it's time for the Senate and the White House to acknowledge our energy problems and join us in supporting this important legislation.