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National Affordable Housing Trust Fund Act of 2007

Floor Speech

By: Al Green
By: Al Green
Date: Oct. 10, 2007
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Civil Liberties and Civil Rights Housing and Property


NATIONAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST FUND ACT OF 2007 -- (House of Representatives - October 10, 2007)

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Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. I thank the chairman and the ranking member, but I also thank the subcommittee chairperson, Maxine Waters, for the fine, stellar job that she has done with this piece of historic legislation.

Mr. Chairman, this is an historic occasion with historic opportunities. This historic occasion provides the historic opportunity to not only cast an historic vote but to also be on the right side of history.

On July 2, 1964, this House made history when it passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which, among other things, outlawed discrimination in public accommodations and encouraged desegregation and education. 289 were on the right side of history. They voted for the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

On August 3, 1965, this House again made history with the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, benefiting millions of minority voters. 328 were on the right side of history. They voted right when they voted to protect voting rights.

On April 10, 1968, this House again made history when it passed the Fair Housing Act, prohibiting discrimination in housing. 250 were on the right side of history. They voted for equality of housing opportunities for all.

Today, we must cast another historic vote, a vote for a National Affordable Housing Trust Fund. For the first time in history, in the history of the United States of America, we will have a fund dedicated to making the American Dream of a place to call home a reality.

And, yes, there are other housing programs, some say 30, some say more than 30. Every one of them is needed. Every one of them, even under a Republican-controlled House, Republican-controlled Senate, Republican-controlled administration, the programs were not eliminated. Every one of them is needed.

There is a need for this affordable housing trust fund as well, and I say to my friends, whether we will make history today with our vote is not the question. The question is what side of history will we be on. Will we be on the side of those who need this affordable housing trust fund or will we be on the side of the rhetoric that is in opposition to a needed program?

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