00:00Thank you very much. First, let me commend the Chairman and the ranking member for their extraordinary leadership. I thank them. I want to also thank Senator Britt, who worked with me on the Helping More Families Save Act, which is part of this legislation, and also Senator Loomis, our legislation, the Property Improvement and Manufactured Housing Loan Modernization Act is included also.
00:28So thank you very much, ladies, for your help. I'm also glad to see the Rounds, Reed, Crapo, Smith, Reducing Homelessness Act is included. So this was a truly bipartisan effort. May I make two comments in terms of the legislation? First, the legislation will change the Community Block Development Grant Program to incentivize certain direct recipient communities to build more housing.
00:57The bill takes a carrot and a stick approach. Communities doing a bad job in building more housing will lose 10% of the CDBG allotment, and those doing the good job get it. My concern is not with the concept. The concept is the sound. It's with the amount of time communities will have to get ready for this.
01:16If this is suddenly thrust upon them with the difficulties of zoning and many other issues, I think well-meaning communities would be losing out and others would be winning. I think we have to give them more time for this legislation to take effect.
01:36Second, the whole home repairs program is something that draws funding from the Office of Lead Hazard Control, and I think we haven't defeated yet the lead hazard problem across the country. I think we have to find a way to fund that also. Again, Mr. Chairman, Madam Rank Amendment, thank you very much.
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