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June 27, 2001
Bipartisan support expressed for PHDEP by House members
One hundred nine members of the House of Representatives wrote to the House VA/HUD Appropriations Subcommittee in mid-June to express their support for the Public Housing Drug Elimination Program (PHDEP). The lawmakers oppose the Bush Administration's plan to terminate PHDEP. The letter was prepared by Representative Thomas Sawyer (D-OH), whose staff orchestrated the large sponsorship effort.
The letter is important not only for its content, but also because of the political diversity of its authors. Lawmakers from both sides of the spectrum signed their names to the correspondence. Some of those from the "left" signing on include Representatives Barney Frank (D-MD), Charles Rangel (D-NY), and Maxine Waters (D-CA). Meanwhile, co-signers from the "right" include Representatives Bob Barr (R-GA), Christopher Smith (R-NJ) and Steve Largent (R-OK).
"PHDEP enjoys bipartisan support in both houses because it has proven to be an effective and valuable tool in fighting crime and drugs, and improving the lives of countless numbers of residents," said Tim Kaiser, PHADA Executive Director.
The House appropriations panel plans to take up the FY 2002 HUD spending bill after the Independence Day recess.
• The full text of the letter can be seen by clicking here.
• See a complete list of the Representatives that signed the letter here.
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