To facilitate the preservation of certain affordable housing dwelling units.

Mr. Speaker, I missed a number of votes on May 6th and 7th as I was attending the funeral service for a soldier who was from my Congressional District and was killed in Baghdad, Iraq while supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

On Rollcall vote No. 249, H.R. 3658--a bill to amend the Foreign Service Act of 1980 to permit rest and recuperation travel to United States territories for members of the Foreign Service. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

On Rollcall vote No. 251, H. Con. Res. 317--a Condemning the Burmese regime's undemocratic draft constitution and scheduled referendum.. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

On Rollcall vote No. 252, Table Motion to Reconsider--H. Con. Res. 317--a Condemning the Burmese regime's undemocratic draft constitution and scheduled referendum.. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.''

On Rollcall vote No. 25, H. Con. Res. 1109--Honoring the memory of Dith Pran by remembering his life's work and continuing to acknowledge and remember the victims of genocides that have taken place around the globe. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

On Rollcall vote No. 252, Table Motion to Reconsider H. Con. Res. 1109--Honoring the memory of Dith Pran by remembering his life's work and continuing to acknowledge and remember the victims of genocides that have taken place around the globe. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.''

On Rollcall No. 255, On Motion to Adjourn. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

On Rollcall No. 256, S. 2929 to temporarily extend the programs under the Higher Education Act of 1965. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

On Rollcall No. 257, Table Motion to Reconsider--S. 2929 To temporarily extend the programs under the Higher Education Act of 1965. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.''

On Rollcall No. 258, On Motion to Instruct Conferees--Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.''

On Rollcall No. 259, Table Motion to Reconsider--Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.''

On Rollcall No. 260, On Motion to Adjourn. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

On Rollcall No. 261, On Motion to Adjourn. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

On Rollcall No. 262, On Motion to Adjourn. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

On Rollcall No. 263, H. Res. 1168--Congratulating charter schools and their students, parents, teachers, and administrators across the United States for their ongoing contributions to education, and for other purposes. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

On Rollcall No. 264, table Motion to Reconsider--H. Res. 1168-- Congratulating charter schools and their students, parents, teachers, and administrators across the United States for their ongoing contributions to education, and for other purposes. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.''

On Rollcall No. 265, H. Res. 1155--Honoring the recipients of the El Dorado Promise scholarship. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

On Rollcall No. 266, Table Motion to Reconsider--H. Res. 1155-- Honoring the recipients of the El Dorado Promise scholarship. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.''

On Rollcall No. 267, On Motion to Adjourn. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

On Rollcall No. 268, On Approving the Journal. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.''

On Rollcall No. 269, Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding provocative and dangerous statements and actions taken by the Government of the Russian Federation that undermine the territorial integrity of the Republic of Georgia. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

On Rollcall No. 270. Table Motion to Reconsider--H. Res. 1166-- Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding provocative and dangerous statements and actions taken by the Government of the Russian Federation that undermine the territorial integrity of the Republic of Georgia. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.''

On Rollcall No. 271, On Motion to Adjourn. Had I been present. I would have voted ``yea.''

On Rollcall No. 272, On Motion to Adjourn. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

On Rollcall No. 273. On Motion to Adjourn. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

On Rollcall No. 274, H. Res. 1113--Celebrating the role of mothers in the United States and supporting the goals and ideals of Mother's Day. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

On Rollcall No. 275, Table Motion to Reconsider--H. Res. 1113-- Celebrating the role of mothers in the United States and supporting the goals and ideals of Mother's Day. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.''

On Rollcall No. 276. On Motion to Adjourn. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

On Rollcall No. 277, H.R. 5937--To facilitate the preservation of certain affordable housing dwelling units. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.''

On Rollcall No. 278, Table Motion to Reconsider--H.R. 5937--To facilitate the preservation of certain affordable housing dwelling units. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.''

On Rollcall No. 279, On Motion to Adjourn. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

On Rollcall No. 280, On Motion to Adjourn. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

On Rollcall No. 281, H. Res. 1175--Providing for consideration of the Senate amendments to H.R. 3221. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.''

On Rollcall No. 282, Table Motion to Reconsider--H. Res. 1175-- Providing for consideration of the Senate amendments to H.R. 3221. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.''

On Rollcall No. 283, H. Res. 1175--Providing for consideration of the Senate amendments to H.R. 3221. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.''

On Rollcall No. 284, Table Motion to Reconsider--H. Res. 1175-- Providing for consideration of the Senate amendments to H.R. 3221. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.''

On Rollcall No. 285, On Motion to Adjourn. Had I been present. I would have voted ``yea.''

On Rollcall No. 286, On Motion to Adjourn. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

On Rollcall No. 287, On Ordering the Previous Question H. Res. 1174-- Providing for consideration of the bill. H.R. 5818, to authorize the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to make loans to States to acquire foreclosed housing and to make grants to States for related costs. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.''

On Rollcall No. 288, Table Motion to Reconsider--H. Res. 1174-- Providing for consideration of the bill, H.R. 5818, to authorize the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to make loans to States to acquire foreclosed housing and to make grants to States for related costs. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.''

On Rollcall No. 289, H. Res. 1174--Providing for consideration of the bill, H.R. 5818, to authorize the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to make loans to States to acquire foreclosed housing and to make grants to States for related costs. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.''

On Rollcall No. 290, Table Motion to Reconsider--H. Res. 1174-- Providing for consideration of the bill H. Res. 1174--Providing for consideration of the bill, H.R. 5818, to authorize the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to make loans to States to acquire foreclosed housing and to make grants to States for related costs. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.''

On Rollcall No. 291, On Motion to Adjourn. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5937) to facilitate the preservation of certain affordable housing dwelling units.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on this legislation and to insert extraneous material thereon.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself 2 minutes.

Access to affordable housing is one of the most serious challenges facing our Nation today. Working families are experiencing the most trying economic downturn in nearly 25 years. Rising costs in food, household necessities, utilities, along with stagnating wages and daily increases in the price of gasoline are wreaking havoc upon the lives of hardworking American men and women.

The precipitous increases in mortgage delinquencies and foreclosures have caused record numbers of Americans to lose their homes. This crisis has been exacerbated by the unprecedented numbers of people being wait-listed for public housing which has grown significantly.

The lack of affordable housing impacts every region of this Nation. My colleagues and I have been fighting to ensure access to affordable housing in New York and throughout the country. Among my chief responsibilities to the constituents of New York's Sixth Congressional District is to work to help provide affordable housing.

For those reasons, my friend, Congressman Ed Towns, along with my friends and colleagues, Representatives Peter King, Barney Frank, Maxine Waters and Nydia Velazquez introduced H.R. 5937 which will facilitate the preservation of affordable housing units.

Madam Speaker, at this time I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, at this time I would like to yield 5 minutes to my dear friend and colleague and the author of this critically important bill, the Honorable Congressman Ed Towns, who has been a leader during his tenure in Congress on providing access to affordable housing.

Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Velazquez) who is a member of this committee and the chairwoman of the Small Business Committee.

Madam Speaker, I now yield 3 minutes to the gentlelady from the great State of New York who is also the Chair of the House Subcommittee on Financial Institutions, the Honorable Carolyn Maloney.

Madam Speaker, I am now happy to yield 3 minutes to a new Member of the Congress who says that she is in her sophomore year in her freshman term, the Honorable Yvette Clarke.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

Let me just say, in conclusion, Madam Speaker, that what this bill does, and what we're talking about around the Nation, in a time of economic crisis, at a time when people are wondering, many, how they could afford or what kind of apartments or homes they can afford, this bill is trying to assure that all Americans can indeed have a decent roof over their head, that all Americans will understand and have the opportunity to really live the American dream. And that's what makes us such a great country.

And by this Congress stepping up to the plate, as it is, making sure that those who may not have as much money as others, but yet still can live in this great country, and can live in a facility such as Starrett City, which is clean, decent, affordable housing, says that we care about all of our people throughout these United States of America.

And so I think it was ingenious, by the authors of this bill, led by Mr.

Towns, along with Mr. King, in a bipartisan manner say that we're going to speak up and we're going to stand up, both Democrats and Republicans, that we're going to stand on the interests of making sure that there's affordable housing for those who need it. And that's what this bill does.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

I thank the gentleman for yielding, and thank him for his leadership on this important legislation and for the city of New York in general.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of this legislation that will help preserve affordable housing units. I commend my colleagues from Brooklyn, Congressman Towns and Congresswoman Velazquez, for their leadership in drafting this legislation, and I thank my colleagues on the Committee on Financial Services, especially Congresswoman Waters who is Chair of the Subcommittee on Housing, and also Chairman Frank for bringing this important bill to the floor today.

When passed, this legislation would authorize the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, upon the request of the owner of a multi-family housing project, to convert their contract to a section 8, project-based rental assistance contract. This would have an immediate impact on Starrett City, the Starrett City housing complex in Brooklyn, New York, which is currently serving 14,000 New Yorkers in affordable housing units.

Starrett City is the largest affordable housing complex in our country, and this legislation is innovative, it is helpful, it is collaborative, and it is bipartisan. And I thank my colleague, Mr. Castle, for his leadership on the other side of the aisle.

Starrett City was opened in 1974, and recently there have been efforts to sell the complex and potentially leave these affordable housing units and have them sold and re-priced to reflect the current market value. By selling these units, you would put at risk affordable housing for all of the 14,000 residents that are living there. It would endanger their ability to continue as residents living in Starrett City, and I would say, I don't know where they would go. In New York City there is such a housing crisis and we have no affordable housing left. This legislation would help preserve these affordable units for at least the next 20 years.

All of us know that we are facing foreclosures across this country. We are talking about programs to have grants, to have negotiations, to have support, to keep people in their homes. We have before us today creative legislation that the owner supports, that the city supports, and hopefully this Congress supports, that could save 14,000 homes for New Yorkers and keep them in affordable housing.

I congratulate my colleague, Mr. Towns, and everyone else who has worked so hard to make this happen.

I urge all of my colleagues to support this tremendously important legislation that will keep people in their homes, affordable homes.

Madam Speaker, I thank my friend for yielding time to me, and I appreciate his help on this bill. I think it is an important piece of legislation.

I also thank Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez. I guess I better also thank the chairman of the committee, Barney Frank, who also worked very hard on this, and the chairperson of the committee, Maxine Waters, on their assistance in getting us to this point.

Access to affordable housing is a serious problem across America, particularly with the weakening economy and rising gas, utility and food costs.

With a rise in mortgage foreclosures leading to people losing their homes and unprecedented waiting lists for public housing--and the list gets longer and longer and longer--the ability to find affordable housing is crucial. Every time I go back to my district, this is the subject that comes up: What can we do about finding an affordable apartment?

Along with my colleagues in New York, I have been working to ensure access to affordable housing throughout my tenure in the United States Congress. But as neighborhoods developed, residents have been priced out of their homes and neighborhoods. And more and more, this is a cry coming from across the land.

For these reasons, along with my colleagues Congressman King, Congressman Frank, Congresswoman Waters, and Congresswoman Velazquez, we introduced H.R. 5937 which will facilitate the preservation of affordable housing units.

This bill will convert HUD contracts into a new 20-year housing assistance payment contract under the Multifamily Housing Restructuring and Affordability Act of 1997. Conversion of these HUD contracts will allow purchasers of certain affordable housing developments to secure the long-term financing necessary to purchase the property.

By making these properties affordable to the owners, they can in turn keep the housing affordable for the tenants. I hope that you will join us today in voting ``yes'' on H.R. 5937 to help preserve affordable housing.

And let me just say to my good friends throughout this body that there is no additional cost. I think what we are doing here is being creative and making it possible that people who are having difficulty will be able to have apartments. I think that during this difficult time of foreclosures and the problems we are having, I think this legislation is crucial. I want to thank my colleagues for supporting this.

Madam Speaker, let me first commend Chairman Frank, Chairwoman Waters, Mr. Towns, and Mr. King for their leadership in moving this necessary legislation forward.

I proudly support H.R. 5937 because it addresses the need for affordable housing for thousands of families in Brooklyn. Across our country, low and moderate-income working families are increasingly finding adequate housing to be out of reach. No place is this disparity more apparent than in New York City where one out of every four families spends over 50 percent of their income on rent. New Yorkers in many ways face the most difficult housing market.

Starrett City is the largest federally subsidized rental complex in the country with 5,800 units and 14,000 residents. Eliminating these units will leave thousands of families stranded and set a dangerous precedent.

H.R. 5937 represents an agreement between government agencies and the owners of Starrett City to keep the development affordable. This is a carefully crafted deal that ensures the long-term vibrancy of a Brooklyn institution.

Starrett City is a strong, hardworking community. The restaurant workers, hotel employees, and seniors who live there are part of Brooklyn's very fabric. If New York loses Starrett City, we all lose a unique chance to preserve this valuable community and set a precedent for generations to come.

Starrett City is the symptom of a much larger problem in New York City and across our Nation. We have an affordability problem that requires immediate action. Today, we are taking a step in the right direction. By saving one Brooklyn development, we lay the groundwork for affordable housing preservation in the future.

I urge a ``yes'' vote on this legislation.