Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart Expresses Outrage Over Cuts in Low-Income Housing Funding

Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart Expresses Outrage Over Cuts in Low-Income Housing Funding

Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart today expressed his outrage over Section 8 housing cuts that were included in the spending bill the House passed this week.

"This week, Democrats forced through the House legislation that guts Section 8 housing in our state - which provides housing to the elderly, disabled and low-income - without any committee hearings or allowing any amendments.

"Florida now faces a $28.6 million cut. Not decrease in an increase, but a real cut. And not just any cut, a complete gutting of funds. Housing authorities in Miami-Dade County alone will lose more than $15 million.

"And since these cuts are due to a formula change, it won't be a one-time gutting. If our mayors and commissioners want this money taken away, then they should defend this. But I hope they see the seriousness of this and demand that Democrats in Congress stop from crippling Section 8 housing in Florida.

"If cutting these funds were due to some kind of performance standards, then we could consider it on those merits. But this was an arbitrary and drastic change that puts Florida and Miami Dade County in an indefensible housing crunch."

http://www.house.gov/mariodiaz-balart/news/2007news/020107_section8.htm