COLLINS WORKS FOR FULL FUNDING OF SECTION 8 HOUSING VOUCHERS

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Senator Susan Collins today announced that she is leading a bipartisan effort along with Senator Paul Sarbanes (D-MD) to put the U.S. Senate on record in support of full funding for Section 8 Housing vouchers during the chamber's upcoming debate of the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) spending bill. Sarbanes serves as the ranking member of the Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee.

"Housing vouchers are a critical resource in ensuring that families in Maine and America can afford safe, decent, and adequate housing," said Senator Collins. "Public housing authorities must retain the ability to use 100 percent of their authorized vouchers to help house low-income families. That's why I will offer a Sense of the Senate that makes it clear that the Senate expects HUD take all necessary actions to encourage full utilization of vouchers, so that every voucher can be used by a family in need.

The Senate Appropriations Committee recently allotted $18.4 billion in Section 8 funding for Fiscal Year 2004. Following the mark-up, Senator Bond, who chairs the VA/HUD Appropriations Subcommittee, noted that the bill's report language makes it clear that the Committee expects supplemental funds for the program if they are shown to be necessary.