The House : Redevelopment Grants

By a vote of 93 to 289, the House rejected an amendment to kill the Urban Development Action Grant program by denying it fiscal 1987 funding. This rebuffed President Reagan, who wants to eliminate the program. The grants, most of which have benefited depressed areas in Northern cities, provide federal seed money for private projects, such as hotels and shopping centers. The fiscal 1987 grant funding level is estimated at $280 million, down from this year’s $316 million.

The vote came during debate on a multiyear authorization measure (HR 1) that extends about 50 major housing and community development programs. The bill, carrying a fiscal 1986 price tag of $14.3 billion, remained under debate.

Amendment sponsor Rep. John Hiler (R-Ind.) said the grant program is not in the national interest because it has a regional bias that favors a limited number of states and congressional districts.

Rep. Nancy L. Johnson (R-Conn.), who opposed the amendment, praised the grant program for uniting government and the private sector in a constructive effort against urban blight.

Members voting yes wanted to kill the grant program.

How They Voted Yea Nay No vote Rep. Beilenson (D) x Rep. Berman (D) x Rep. Fiedler (R) x Rep. Moorhead (R) x Rep. Waxman (D) x

Shelter for Homeless

By a vote of 242 to 116, the House passed and sent to the Senate a bill on behalf of community activist Mitch Snyder’s shelter for homeless people in the District of Columbia. Snyder, the subject of a recent television movie, has become prominent by fasting to persuade President Reagan to release federal money to shelter Washington’s homeless.

The measure (HR 4784) speeds up the planned renovation of a three-story federal property near Capitol Hill that Snyder’s group operates for several hundred street people. It gives the District of Columbia jurisdiction over the shelter, a precondition of the $5-million renovation that the city wants to complete before cold weather returns.

At issue during debate were the tactics used by Snyder in confronting Reagan on the homeless issue, as well as the casual attitude Snyder and his colleagues have allegedly shown toward federal tax obligations.

Members voting yes wanted to expedite the renovation of the homeless shelter near Capitol Hill.

How They Voted Yea Nay No vote Rep. Beilenson (D) x Rep. Berman (D) x Rep. Fiedler (R) x Rep. Moorhead (R) x Rep. Waxman (D) x