PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 4512 PRINTER'S NO. 4518
No. 720 Session of 2002
INTRODUCED BY PERZEL, DAILEY, ADOLPH, ALLEN, G. ARMSTRONG,
BARRAR, BENNINGHOFF, BUNT, CAPPELLI, L. I. COHEN, CORNELL,
CREIGHTON, 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
AS AMENDED, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, 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 AND TO TAKE ACTION TO INCREASE MEDICARE <--
6 BENEFITS AND CURB MEDICARE INSURANCE RATES.
7 WHEREAS, The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of
8 Pennsylvania finds that housing under Section 8 of the United
9 States Housing Act of 1937 (50 Stat. 888, 42 U.S.C. § 1437f) has
10 brought crime, vandalism, graffiti, fear and housing devaluation
11 to families and their neighborhoods; and
12 WHEREAS, The Department of Housing and Urban Development
13 reports that crime rates in public housing are higher than the
14 national average; and
15 WHEREAS, Housing under Section 8 of the United States Housing
16 Act of 1937 cost taxpayers $15,725,000,000 in 2002, and the
17 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 AND <--
13 WHEREAS, PENNSYLVANIA'S SENIOR CITIZENS ARE FACING NUMEROUS
14 CHALLENGES THAT COULD THREATEN THEIR ABILITY TO RECEIVE
15 ACCESSIBLE AND AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE; AND
16 WHEREAS, SOME INSURANCE COMPANIES THAT OFFER MEDICARE
17 SUPPLEMENTAL COVERAGE IN PENNSYLVANIA HAVE ANNOUNCED RATE
18 INCREASES FOR SENIOR CITIZENS AS HIGH AS 200% STARTING JANUARY
19 1, 2003; AND
20 WHEREAS, MANY INSURANCE COMPANIES HAVE ALREADY DROPPED
21 MEDICARE SUPPLEMENTAL COVERAGE, LEAVING MILLIONS OF SENIORS IN
22 PENNSYLVANIA WITH LIMITED OR NO OPTIONS FOR COSTS NOT COVERED BY
23 MEDICARE; AND
24 WHEREAS, THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION IS PROPOSING DEEP REDUCTIONS
25 IN MEDICARE REIMBURSEMENTS FOR A WIDE RANGE OF DRUGS AND MEDICAL
26 DEVICES NECESSARY TO TREAT SENIOR CITIZENS; AND
27 WHEREAS, PENNSYLVANIA CONTINUES TO PAY FOR PRESCRIPTION
28 COVERAGE FOR MANY SENIOR CITIZENS THROUGH THE PHARMACEUTICAL
29 ASSISTANCE CONTRACT FOR THE ELDERLY (PACE) PROGRAM THAT COULD BE
30 COVERED BY FEDERAL DOLLARS IF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WOULD ENACT
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1 PRESCRIPTION COVERAGE THROUGH MEDICARE; AND
2 WHEREAS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF
3 PENNSYLVANIA IS SIGNIFICANTLY CONCERNED ABOUT THESE UPCOMING
4 CHALLENGES TO SENIOR HEALTH CARE IN THIS COMMONWEALTH; AND
5 WHEREAS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IS TROUBLED ABOUT THE
6 POTENTIAL ADVERSE IMPACT OF THESE CHANGES ON SENIOR CITIZENS AND
7 OUR HEALTH CARE DELIVERY SYSTEMS IN URBAN, RURAL AND SUBURBAN
8 AREAS; THEREFORE BE IT
9 RESOLVED (the Senate concurring), That the General Assembly
10 of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania memorialize the Congress to
11 add a new provision requiring criminal background checks for
12 Section 8 applicants and recipients where a felony or two
13 misdemeanors would render a person ineligible for Section 8 aid;
14 and be it further
15 RESOLVED, That the General Assembly memorialize the Congress
16 to add a new provision requiring that all Section 8 applicants
17 and recipients pass a drug test to receive or maintain Section 8
18 aid; and be it further
19 RESOLVED, That the General Assembly memorialize the Congress
20 to return the Section 8 program to its original purpose of
21 assisting senior citizens in need; and be it further
22 RESOLVED, That the General Assembly memorialize the Congress
23 to overturn rules that allow unqualified or marginally qualified
24 persons, including those who have no experience with
25 homeownership, to move to the front of the list for Section 8
26 aid; and be it further
27 RESOLVED, THAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEMORIALIZE THE <--
28 PENNSYLVANIA CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION NOT TO PERMIT THE
29 SUBSTANTIAL CUTS IN MEDICARE REIMBURSEMENTS TO PENNSYLVANIA'S
30 HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS; AND BE IT FURTHER
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1 RESOLVED, THAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY CALL ON THE CONGRESS TO
2 TAKE THE LEAD IN CURBING RAPIDLY RISING MEDICARE INSURANCE RATES
3 FOR OUR SENIOR CITIZENS; AND BE IT FURTHER
4 RESOLVED, THAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY URGE THE CONGRESS TO
5 DETERMINE A WAY TO OFFER MORE OPTIONS TO SUPPLEMENT MEDICARE IN
6 RURAL, URBAN AND SUBURBAN REGIONS OF THIS COMMONWEALTH; AND BE
7 IT FURTHER
8 RESOLVED, THAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEMORIALIZE THE CONGRESS
9 TO ADD PRESCRIPTION DRUG COVERAGE TO MEDICARE TO ASSIST THIS
10 COMMONWEALTH IN ITS EFFORTS TO AID SENIORS THROUGH ITS PACE
11 PROGRAM; AND BE IT FURTHER
12 RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to
13 the presiding officers of each House of Congress and to each
14 member of Congress from Pennsylvania.
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