Recognizing the 20th anniversary of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act and the impact it has made on homelessness and endeavoring to continue working to eliminate homelessness in the United States.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 561) recognizing the 20th anniversary of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act and the impact it has made on homelessness and endeavoring to continue working to eliminate homelessness in the United States.

Mr. Speaker, this is a very important resolution. It is an appropriate noting of the anniversary, 20-year anniversary, of the passage of the Homeless Assistance Act. It marked the beginning of a formal Federal recognition of the problem of homelessness; it's a great paradox, and one of which we should be embarrassed in this country.

It may not seem obvious to people, but before this, certainly 25 years ago and beyond, the homeless population was an invisible one. And it was in the 1980s that people began to focus on it.

Two former Members of this body, both of whom sadly died younger than should have been the case, while still in their fullness of powers as Members of this body were among the first to recognize it, and it was bipartisan. The former Member from Connecticut, Stewart McKinney, whose successor will be speaking on behalf of this very shortly, was one of those who began it. And he was joined in his advocacy by the late Bruce Vento from St. Paul. And they were two men of great compassion and vision. They were skilled legislators who served on the committee as it was then called on Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs, and they insisted that we, as a body, in this very wealthy Nation, address the terrible tragedy of people who were homeless, including children and war veterans.

A number of things contributed to the homelessness issue. There were some trends in this society, and often we hear about unintended consequences. There were some trends that in themselves were welcomed that had these negative consequences. One was the improvement in urban areas, the transformation of many downtowns in our big cities from places that were considered not very attractive places in which to live to places that people wanted to live in, the phenomenon known as gentrification.

The area that I represented when I was in the State legislature in the 1970s in Boston, in downtown Boston there were boarding houses, rooming houses in many of the downtown parts of Boston. Most of those are now much more expensive housing. They are single-family homes or condominiums. That, from the standpoint of the city, I suppose, is an improvement. But many of those who lived there were priced out of the market and, in many cases, found no alternative housing.

We also had the movement of deinstitutionalization, of deciding that people with various problems, emotional and mental problems, that it was better to try to get them integrated into communities than to have them living forever apart in institutions, and on the whole that was a very positive step. But no major social policy happens perfectly. The combination of the upgrading economically of these downtowns, of the release of people from institutions, these contributed to the homeless problem.

There are, of course, other problems. Vietnam veterans who came back from a war that they didn't ask to start, who were sent by this country to this difficult country and came back to a country that treated them poorly, that did not honor their commitment and the sacrifice of their time and of their health. And in combination with substance abuse, all of these came together.

At any rate, 20 years ago we recognized that we had this problem, and we have begun to deal with it. And this resolution is a tribute to the two far-sighted men who led this fight; to the many, many people who have worked to try to provide a solution to homelessness; to the homeless themselves, fellow citizens of all ages and races and backgrounds who have had to cope with these difficulties, some because of their own failings, often because of no thing that they did wrong but because of circumstances in which they found themselves. In any case, we ought to deal with it.

And this resolution is also very thoughtful, and I call attention to the ``whereases.'' Whereases, to be candid, Mr. Speaker, are often unemployment. They are filler. But in this case the whereases make some very important points, and one in particular I want to address. It talks about the vulnerable groups that are included. Another one talks about the veterans who are involved. That is, this makes clear that we are dealing with people who have a very legitimate claim on our response. In addition, the resolution itself goes beyond really congratulating people for the work they did and deploring the continued existence of homelessness, but it makes some very specific policy recommendations, which, Mr. Speaker, the Committee on Financial Services will be responding to and has already begun to respond to.

For example, in the resolution, clause 6 says that we recognize ``that the lack of affordable housing exacerbates homelessness in the United States.'' That may seem to state the obvious, but the obvious may have been stated but hasn't been acted on. We have not done nearly enough to produce affordable housing. Homelessness requires shelter; it requires services. But it requires, more than anything else, homes for people. Affordable housing, also rental housing, but it requires housing.

The resolution supports the continued efforts of Federal, State, and local governments in their efforts to prevent and end homelessness through the development of affordable housing. It was not an accident that the gentleman from Connecticut who succeeded Mr. McKinney will be soon speaking on this, is a member of our committee, and is a cosponsor with many of us on legislation that will actually return the Federal Government to the job of producing affordable housing.

So I welcome this resolution for what it commemorates but also for what it commits this Congress to do.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I again note that this is not simply words. Words are important and the work of Bruce Vento and Stewart McKinney, two outstanding Members of Congress, ought to be recognized. The fact that we are talking here about veterans, about children, about other populations that we all want very much to help, they are important. But I want to stress again this is also a commitment for the Committee on Financial Services. I know I speak for the chairwoman of the Housing Subcommittee, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Waters), and my colleague here.

And I want to again point to clauses 6 and 7 of the resolution. The resolution ``recognizes that the lack of affordable housing exacerbates homelessness in the United States,'' and No. 7, ``supports the continued efforts of Federal, State, and local governments and private nonprofit organizations in their efforts to prevent and end homelessness through the development of affordable housing.''

The services that are provided, the shelter, the counseling, they are all absolutely essential. But so is a commitment by this very wealthy Nation to help build affordable housing. And if we were not to make that commitment, then the resolution would, I think, be an empty one.

So I look forward to the Committee on Financial Services working together in a bipartisan way to continue to bring to this floor, and I hope ultimately to the desk of the President, and, more important, ultimately to the streets of our cities and rural areas in this country the housing that is needed. This is a promise that we are going to go forward with building affordable housing, and it is a promise that we fully intend to keep.

General Leave

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise in support of H. Res. 561, a resolution recognizing the 20th anniversary of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.

Our resolution, which I introduced along with Chairwoman Maxine Waters and Representative Betty McCollum, acknowledges the 20th anniversary of the act, which was yesterday, July 22, and recognizes the impact Congressmen McKinney and Vento and their legislation named after them have had on homelessness.

Before reflecting on Stewart McKinney's life and the impact of his work on millions of lives across the country, I would like to express my gratitude to Chairwoman Waters and particularly Chairman Barney Frank, as well as Ranking Members Spencer Bachus and Judy Biggert, for moving this resolution to the floor. I also appreciate the work of the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty and the 15 other organizations that have endorsed the recognition of this anniversary.

I serve in the seat previously represented by Stewart McKinney. Stewart served as the ranking member on the House Banking Subcommittee on Housing, as well as the Committee on the District of Columbia. It was in this capacity that he became especially concerned about homelessness, particularly in our capital city.

He loved urban areas, and like our colleague Bruce Vento, he recognized homelessness is a national problem that requires a national solution. Stewart's commitment to exposing the depth of the growing problem of homelessness in the 1980s led him to contract pneumonia after sleeping on a grate outside a Federal building with D.C. area homeless.

Shortly after his death on May 7, 1987, his family, friends, and staff gathered to discuss how to continue his philosophy of caring for those who are the least able to care for themselves. They created the Stewart B. McKinney Foundation, an organization whose mission is to provide funds to care for persons with HIV who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Today, Lucie McKinney continues the work Stewart began in his memory and keeps his spirit alive in this precious foundation.

Stewart was beloved by his colleagues on both sides of the aisle. Reading the tributes that were offered to Stewart on the House floor on the day of his death, a rather thick book, I might add, I was struck by his colleagues' appreciation for his humanity, his warm spirit, bipartisanship, and dedication to good work. I particularly want to make reference to one colleague, former Representative Bill

Frenzel, who said, ``I remember I often asked how he could stand it for over 16 years being on the House Banking Committee, and he said, `You do not understand. It is the Housing Subcommittee that keeps me here because it is the most important thing I am doing in Congress.' ''

Let me conclude by saying the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act, now known as the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, was first enacted in 1987 as the first major coordinated Federal response to homelessness. Passed in response to the rapid and dramatic growth of homelessness in the United States during the 1980s, the McKinney Act emphasized emergency measures, transitional measures, and long-term solutions to combat the homeless crisis.

Despite the impact of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, homelessness continues to be a pervasive problem in America. It is important Congress support a comprehensive range of programs beyond emergency food, shelter, and health care services for the homeless.

We must promote the development of affordable housing, provide supportive services to those who are homeless or in vulnerable housing situations, acknowledge and study the high rates of homelessness among our Nation's veterans, and recognize the critical role our schools play in preventing and ending homelessness among children.

On the anniversary of the McKinney-Vento Act, I want to express our sincere gratitude for the dedication and commitment of service providers who are working to end homelessness in our communities and provide emergency food, shelter, and services.

In Connecticut's Fourth Congressional District, I want to commend the work of Homes for the Brave, Bridgeport; Operation Hope, Fairfield; Shelter for the Homeless, Stamford; Norwalk Emergency Shelter; Interfaith Housing Association of Westport and Weston; Families in Transition, Bridgeport; St. Luke's Lifeworks, Stamford; Prospect House, Bridgeport; and all the other organizations working to assist the homeless or those who are at risk of becoming homeless.

With the passage of this resolution, I hope my colleagues and I will endeavor to work with the same courage, dignity, and determination exemplified by Representatives McKinney and Vento to eliminate homelessness in the United States.

At this time, Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the ranking member of the Housing Subcommittee from Illinois.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Frank. He made sure the bill got to the floor quickly, and I thank him for all of his good work on homeless issues as well as housing.

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 561, recognizing the 20th anniversary of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.

Since 1987, McKinney-Vento has served as the foundation of a cohesive national strategy against homelessness. In addition to housing, McKinney-Vento includes vital programs that address the nutritional, health care, and educational needs of the less fortunate.

As a member of the Education and Labor Committee, I have spent a great deal of time examining the unique obstacles that exist for runaway, homeless, and other disconnected youth, and I have seen first- hand the devastating impact that lost educational opportunities can have on the lives of homeless youth. Unfortunately, for many of these children, school is the only source of stability in their lives.

That is why in 2001 I introduced the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Act, a bill that ensures homeless children have access to immediate enrollment without the barriers and red tape that had too often kept them out of school. My view was, and remains, that being without a home should not mean being without an education. I am pleased to report that Congress agreed and we were able to get this bill incorporated into the No Child Left Behind Act, signed into law in 2002.

Following the tragic hurricanes of Katrina and Rita, the Education for Homeless Children and Youth programs in NCLB were put to the test and proved crucial to providing much-needed stability and vital services to those in need. Because programs like McKinney-Vento were already in place, the Federal Government was better prepared to meet the educational and social needs of displaced children during a time of national crisis.

Perhaps most importantly, this anniversary is an opportunity to call attention to the work that still remains to be done, work like tearing down barriers that prevent unaccompanied homeless youth from attending school.

In this spirit, I would like to invite my colleagues to join me in supporting a vital piece of legislation that will do just that, H.R. 601, the FAFSA Fix for Homeless Kids Act. This important bill, which was introduced along with my good friend from Texas, Congressman Hinojosa, will ensure that the doors of higher education remain open for some of our Nation's most vulnerable youth. At no additional cost to taxpayers, this bill simply ensures that unaccompanied homeless youth are not required to submit a parent's financial information to qualify for Federal student aid. While these requirements are logical for most applicants, they create insurmountable barriers for unaccompanied homeless youth who cannot supply these records.

As a member of the Financial Services and Education and Labor Committees, I look forward to working with my colleagues on other important policy initiatives like reauthorizing the McKinney-Vento programs under HUD and NCLB. As we move forward on these items in the coming months, we must join together to ensure that addressing the needs of America's homeless remains a top priority.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to thank my good friend and distinguished colleague from Connecticut (Mr. Shays) for introducing this resolution and for his dedication to improving the lives of homeless Americans. I would also like to thank Mr. Frank and Mr. Bachus for cosponsoring this resolution and helping to move it through the Financial Services Committee in such a timely and bipartisan way.

Mr. Speaker, I strongly support this resolution and urge my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 561, to recognize the 20th anniversary of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. Unfortunately, due to a delayed flight, I was unable to make it to the House Floor to speak, but I would like to thank Mr. Shays and Chairwoman Waters for their work to bring this resolution to the Floor in recognition of the significant impact McKinney-Vento has had over the past 20 years, and will continue to have on efforts to eliminate homelessness.

A little over 20 years ago, my predecessor, Congressman Bruce Vento visited the Dorothy Day Center in downtown St. Paul, and saw firsthand the severity of homelessness and the need for crisis intervention.

During his more than 20 years in Congress, Representative Vento was a leading advocate for the homeless. He worked with Representative Stewart McKinney to make homelessness a national concern, and ultimately, in 1987, as a result of their work, Congress passed the landmark homelessness legislation that now bears both men's names.

Twenty years later, that legislation continues to provide vital assistance to those in need of safe and secure housing.

I often hear from people in Minnesota and around the country speak about what a difference the McKinney-Vento makes to help many overcome homelessness.

Yet we know, there remains more to do to reach the ultimate goal of Representatives Vento and McKinney--to eliminate homelessness.

In Minnesota alone, more than 20,000 people are homeless or lack secure shelter and every night, more than 500 children under the age of 18 are homeless and unaccompanied. Further, 5,000 individuals and families are on the waiting list for Section 8 housing in the 4th district, which Congressman Vento represented for more than 20 years.

We must do more to ensure that all individuals and families have safe and stable housing.

Reauthorizing the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, increasing access to affordable housing, and expanding access to health care and other human services for all Americans are important steps in working towards the eradication of homelessness.

Today, we celebrate the vision of Stewart McKinney and Bruce Vento. I look forward to continuing to work together with my colleagues here today as well as with the housing advocacy community to prevent and eventually end homelessness.

Mr. Speaker, I believe the greatness of our country will not be measured by the number of tractors it produces. But rather, I believe the greatness of our country will be measured by the number of persons it feeds. I believe the greatness of our country will not be measured by the number of skyscrapers it builds. But rather, I believe the greatness of our country will be measured by the number of persons it shelters.

Today, more than three quarters of a million people are homeless on any given night. There are as many as 189,000 homeless persons with disabilities. More than 98,452 families are homeless. If we are to end homelessness, rather than just reduce it, we must provide our Nation with right tools to fight homelessness. If we are to end homelessness within 10 years, rather than just reduce it, we must ensure that we support the programs that work well. That rests in our ability to fully fund them so that they achieve their true potential.

That is why I am a proud co-sponsor of H. Res. 561, which recognizes the 20th anniversary of the passage of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. The McKinney-Vento programs have successfully provided housing (e.g., shelter, transitional housing) and supportive services to tens of thousands of men, women and children experiencing homelessness. The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act is an important asset in our battle against homelessness. I commend my colleague, Mr. Shays, for introducing this important resolution.