THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY DeLUCA, CALTAGIRONE, COHEN, D. COSTA, JAMES AND SCAVELLO, OCTOBER 5, 2012

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, OCTOBER 5, 2012  

A RESOLUTION

Memorializing the Congress of the United States to review and

reform the Federal assisted housing programs administered by

the United States Department of Housing and Urban

Development.

WHEREAS, The United States Department of Housing and Urban

Development (HUD) was established on September 9, 1965, when the

Congress of the United States passed and President Lyndon

Johnson signed the Department of Housing and Urban Development

Act into law; and

WHEREAS, HUD's stated mission is to:

(1)  create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities

and quality affordable homes for all; 

(2)  strengthen the housing market to bolster the economy

and protect consumers;

(3)  meet the need for quality affordable rental homes; 

(4)  utilize housing as a platform for improving quality

of life; and

(5)  build inclusive and sustainable communities free

from discrimination;

and

WHEREAS, HUD is responsible for administering several Federal

assisted housing programs, including the HOPE IV Program, the

PHA Homeownership Program and the Housing Choice Voucher

Program, formerly known as Section 8; and 

WHEREAS, HUD's administration of the programs, particularly

the Housing Choice Voucher Program, have resulted in high

concentrations of public housing and Federal subsidized housing

in certain communities; and 

WHEREAS, High concentrations of subsidized low-income housing

in a community have a destabilizing effect on the surrounding

neighborhoods; and

WHEREAS, The destabilizing effects of high concentrations of

subsidized low-income housing include:

(1)  reductions in owner-occupied residences; 

(2)  increases in middle-class flight, poverty and

neighborhood blight; and 

(3)  decreases in property values;

and 

WHEREAS, The impacts of high concentrations of Federal

subsidized low-income housing are counter to HUD's stated

mission; and

WHEREAS, The Congress of the United States has the exclusive

authority to review, study and reform the various public housing

programs operated by HUD; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania memorialize the Congress of the

United States to review and reform the Federal assisted housing

programs administered by the United States Department of Housing

and Urban Development; and be it further 

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania memorialize the Congress of the

United States to exercise a greater degree of oversight over HUD

by establishing an independent commission to review the public

housing programs administered by HUD, with a particular emphasis

on the Housing Choice Voucher Program, and to make

recommendations and report the findings to the Congress of the

United States; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania memorialize the Congress of the

United States to act on the recommendations and amend Chapter 8

of Title 42 of the United States Code to limit the adverse

effects of the public housing programs administered by HUD; and

be it further 

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives memorialize the

United States Congress to create safeguards to prevent high

concentrations of Federal subsidized low-income housing in any

neighborhood; and be it further 

RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to

the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the

United States House of Representatives, the Majority Leader of

the United States Senate, the Minority Leader of the United

States Senate, the Majority Leader of the United States House of

Representatives, the Minority Leader of the United States House

of Representatives and each member of Congress from

Pennsylvania.