LETTER: Section 8 Reform, Responsibility & Accountability Act

This came in via the Republican Study Committee email:

REFORM SECTION 8 HOUSING

Cosponsor H.R. 5490, the Section 8 Reform, Responsibility & Accountability Act


Dear RSC Colleague,

Like the old welfare program of the past, the current Section 8 program is broken. It’s a program that rewards dependency on government with tax dollars. It’s a program that asks nothing of its beneficiaries in return. And, it’s a program that has become a way of life for too many with no incentive to leave the program – no push to become self-sufficient.

To make matters worse, the House passed legislation last year (H.R. 1851) that would greatly expand Section 8 by creating 100,000 new housing vouchers at a cost of $2.4 billion. This is unacceptable. I have introduced legislation, H.R. 5490, the Section 8 Reform, Responsibility and Accountability Act, to fundamentally reform Section 8 and bring much-needed and long overdue personal responsibility requirements to the program. The bill’s specifics:

Prohibits felons and illegal aliens from receiving rental assistance (some felonies currently do not automatically disqualify recipients)

Places a five year time limit on receiving assistance (there’s currently no time limit…the elderly and disabled would be exempted from this requirement)

Places a 20 hour per week work requirement on those receiving assistance (there’s currently no work requirement…the elderly and disabled would be exempted)

Requires that public housing agencies (PHAs) give preference to our nation’s veterans

I urge you to join me in working to make the Section 8 program a temporary helping hand rather than a way of life. To become a cosponsor, please contact Pat Orth of my staff at 5.2216.

Sincerely,

Steve Chabot