Remarks on Signing the
Housing and Community Development Act of 1987
Well,
see how many it takes to bring about a happening like this. Well, welcome. You
know, when I was a kid, my family used to live over the store. Sometimes I feel
like I haven't come all that way -- only now, got elevators. [Laughter]
Well,
again, welcome. And I am pleased today to sign this bill, S. 825, the Housing
and Community Development Act of 1987. This comprehensive legislation
represents both compromise and cooperation between the administration, the
Senate, and the House. Through a concerned effort, the legislation was
transformed from a budget buster that would have reversed hard-won housing
policy reforms into a rational, cost-effective bill that is fiscally
responsible.
Thanks
are due to many people for producing this compromise. In particular, Senators
like Jake Garn, Pete Domenici, Bill Armstrong, Phil Gramm
-- the Republican Four Horsemen -- deserve our gratitude for holding the line
when an unacceptable version of the legislation came before the Senate.
Senators Alan Cranston, and Al D'Amato, Dick Lugar, Pete Wilson, Dave Karnes,
plus Chairman St Germain, and Representatives
Chalmers Wylie, Marge Roukema, John Hiler, and Steve
Bartlett's efforts were instrumental in fashioning out the final compromise
with our administration.
S.
825 contains several noteworthy provisions. It makes
permanent the Federal Housing Administration's insuring authority. That means
we will no longer see temporary suspensions of FHA mortgage programs that
benefit young families and other first-time buyers.
A
key feature of this housing bill is the permanent authorization of the housing
voucher program that we first proposed in 1982. The housing voucher program
exemplifies our commitment to community development through public-private partnerships.
Vouchers gave families the dignity of choice -- the opportunity to choose the
type and location of their housing and the ability to be near family and
friends and schools and churches or jobs. This legislation puts the private
market to work in supplying rental housing by enabling the government to help
needy families with vouchers so they can afford to rent housing of their own
choosing. This legislation is a big step toward our housing goal of a home for
every American family.
In
just the last year, our voucher program has helped 100,000 low-income families
find housing of their own choosing. We know flexible housing vouchers serve
needy families better at substantially less taxpayer cost. And I'm also pleased
that this bill authorizes the availability of vouchers to rural areas, but it's
very disappointing that the Congress refused to appropriate the funding for a
rural housing voucher program this year.
S.
825 provides new opportunities for public housing
residents to take control of their own lives by managing or buying their own
housing. Joining me are three of our national heroes
of the tenant management movement: Kimi Gray, of the
Kenilworth-Parkside Resident Management Corporation
here in
S.
825 provides training and technical support for the
establishment of new resident management groups and allows them to reinvest
savings from resident management to establish small business enterprises. The
resident management enterprises of low-income residents have effectively
combated crime and poverty and created new pride through self-management in
cities around the country.
This
bill also adopts our proposal for modernization of public housing and gives us
new tools to combat fraud and abuse in housing and FHA insurance programs. It
also includes authority for the designation of enterprise zones -- part of an
initiative that we proposed in 1981. I'm also gratified by another provision of
this bill which authorizes HUD to fund local, private organizations that are
working to end housing discrimination. Too often -- one case is too many --
families and individuals seeking to buy or rent homes still confront bigotry
and discrimination. Well, the fair housing initiative program section of this
bill will help ensure that such racism will not be tolerated.
Special
thanks to Sam Pierce for leading the 3-year fight for this program. Secretary
[of Housing and Urban Development] Pierce has been one of the unsung heroes of
our administration. His loyalty and hard work, his good sense and commitment
can be seen in this bill. Few others could have brought such divergent forces
together as Secretary Pierce, and he deserves our appreciation and applause.
Thank you, Sam. [Applause]
Well
now, this housing bill also makes some progress in eliminating ineffective
programs, such as the Solar Energy Bank, the Rental Housing Development Grant,
and the section 235 subsidy programs. As we work together to reduce the Federal
deficit, we need to assure the American people that their tax dollars are being
used to meet critical housing and community development needs in a
cost-effective way.
There
are, of course, a number of provisions in this bill that the administration did
not support. Previously enacted cost-saving reforms were eroded, and provisions
mandating unnecessary cost increases were included. The rights of landlords and
owners and the Government's ability to wisely manage subsidized projects are
excessively restricted. In the spirit of cooperation, the administration will
work with Congress to see if we can correct these features of the bill.
But
on balance, this is a sound compromise. This bill helps keep a lid on new
spending while preserving our key housing reforms. It also includes features
that will help ensure that our country can efficiently and effectively meet the
challenge of
Note: The President
spoke at