PRINTER'S NO. 4512
No. 720 Session of 2002
INTRODUCED BY PERZEL, DAILEY, ADOLPH, ALLEN, G. ARMSTRONG,
BARRAR, BENNINGHOFF, BUNT, CAPPELLI, L. I. COHEN, CORNELL,
CREIGHTON, CRUZ, DALLY, EGOLF, FEESE, FICHTER, FLICK, GABIG,
GEIST, GODSHALL, HABAY, HALUSKA, HARHART, HARPER, HERSHEY,
HESS, KELLER, KENNEY, LEWIS, MARSICO, McGILL, McNAUGHTON,
MELIO, O'BRIEN, PHILLIPS, PICKETT, PIPPY, RAYMOND, READSHAW,
RUBLEY, SATHER, SEMMEL, B. SMITH, STRITTMATTER, THOMAS,
TURZAI, WALKO AND WATSON, OCTOBER 22, 2002
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON RULES, OCTOBER 22, 2002
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
1 Memorializing the Congress of the United States to reevaluate
2 the Section 8 program administered by the United States
3 Department of Housing and Urban Development and to
4 incorporate new provisions for qualification in the program
5 where appropriate.
6 WHEREAS, The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of
7 Pennsylvania finds that housing under Section 8 of the United
8 States Housing Act of 1937 (50 Stat. 888, 42 U.S.C. § 1437f) has
9 brought crime, vandalism, graffiti, fear and housing devaluation
10 to families and their neighborhoods; and
11 WHEREAS, The Department of Housing and Urban Development
12 reports that crime rates in public housing are higher than the
13 national average; and
14 WHEREAS, Housing under Section 8 of the United States Housing
15 Act of 1937 cost taxpayers $15,725,000,000 in 2002, and the
16 department has made the request to increase the program by
1 $1,139,000,000 or 7.2% in 2003; and
2 WHEREAS, The Department of Housing and Urban Development is
3 charged with offering housing opportunities through the use of
4 Federal resources and programs to aid families and individuals
5 seeking affordable rental properties which are safe, clean and
6 healthy and, in particular, assisting responsible, deserving
7 citizens who cannot provide fully for themselves because of
8 circumstances beyond their control; and
9 WHEREAS, Families in neighborhoods containing Section 8
10 housing, many of which include young children and elderly
11 couples, have been subjected to terror and vandalism and have
12 had their quality of life disintegrate; therefore be it
13 RESOLVED (the Senate concurring), That the General Assembly
14 of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania memorialize the Congress to
15 add a new provision requiring criminal background checks for
16 Section 8 applicants and recipients where a felony or two
17 misdemeanors would render a person ineligible for Section 8 aid;
18 and be it further
19 RESOLVED, That the General Assembly memorialize the Congress
20 to add a new provision requiring that all Section 8 applicants
21 and recipients pass a drug test to receive or maintain Section 8
22 aid; and be it further
23 RESOLVED, That the General Assembly memorialize the Congress
24 to return the Section 8 program to its original purpose of
25 assisting senior citizens in need; and be it further
26 RESOLVED, That the General Assembly memorialize the Congress
27 to overturn rules that allow unqualified or marginally qualified
28 persons, including those who have no experience with
29 homeownership, to move to the front of the list for Section 8
30 aid; and be it further
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1 RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to
2 the presiding officers of each House of Congress and to each
3 member of Congress from Pennsylvania.
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