Commends and commemorates the 15th anniversary of Rebuilding Together (a volunteer nonprofit housing rehabilitation organization).
Calls upon State and local governments to cooperate with that organization in preserving, rehabilitating, and improving existing housing. Asks all Americans to consider volunteering with that and similar organizations. Encourages Members of Congress, their families, and their staffs to participate in such organization's home rehabilitation activities.
[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 338 Introduced in House (IH)]
108th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. CON. RES. 338
Commemorating the 15th anniversary of Rebuilding Together, commending
Rebuilding Together for its service, and encouraging Americans to
volunteer with Rebuilding Together and similar community organizations.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
November 21, 2003
Ms. Carson of Indiana submitted the following concurrent resolution;
which was referred to the Committee on Financial Services
_______________________________________________________________________
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Commemorating the 15th anniversary of Rebuilding Together, commending
Rebuilding Together for its service, and encouraging Americans to
volunteer with Rebuilding Together and similar community organizations.
Whereas more than 24,000,000 homeowners in the United States live in dilapidated
or substandard houses because their advanced age, disability, or
insufficient income makes it impossible for them to maintain safe and
habitable homes;
Whereas more than 55,000,000 Americans, or nearly 1 in 5 United States citizens,
are disabled, and 33,000,000 Americans have severe disabilities;
Whereas nearly 1,500,000 elderly homeowners lack the basic elements of housing
security such as complete and functional plumbing, a reliable source of
heating and cooling, and necessary safety features such as grab bars and
wheelchair ramps;
Whereas 61% of the Nation's lowest-income homeowners are elderly, and the
elderly population of the United States is expected to double by 2025;
Whereas 92% of elderly Americans want to remain as long as possible in their own
affordable, safe, and structurally sound housing;
Whereas the Federal Government promotes and encourages sustainable and strong
neighborhoods by preserving and rehabilitating existing housing stock in
partnership with State and local governments and with the critical
assistance of volunteer organizations;
Whereas improving existing housing and community facilities strengthens
neighborhoods, restores the pride of homeowners, and sustains and
nurtures the families who reside in these neighborhoods;
Whereas home equity is the best way for lower-income families to build wealth
and for lower-income communities to rebuild their neighborhoods;
Whereas preserving existing houses and community facilities is a cost-effective
way of meeting the housing needs of low-income and elderly households;
Whereas home improvement and rehabilitation strengthens the national economy by
promoting the production and sale of goods and services, encouraging
ongoing investment, promoting economic and civic responsibility that
rejuvenates communities, and enhancing the value of most Americans'
largest investments, their homes;
Whereas the community-building activities of neighborhood-based nonprofit
organizations empower individuals to improve their lives and make
communities safer and healthier for families;
Whereas Rebuilding Together, the largest volunteer nonprofit housing
rehabilitation organization, was founded in 1988 to rehabilitate houses
for low-income homeowners who are elderly, disabled, or families with
children and who are unable to do the work themselves;
Whereas Rebuilding Together rehabilitates and improves community centers,
nonprofit facilities, and neighborhood parks that provide support to
low-income and elderly residents;
Whereas Rebuilding Together is the Nation's leading expert in delivering
voluntary home safety modification services that prevent accidents and
hospitalizations;
Whereas Rebuilding Together is organized in all 50 States and the District of
Columbia and has 252 local affiliates, each of which is an organization
described under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986
and exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of such Code and has a
locally-elected voluntary board of directors;
Whereas in its 15-year history, Rebuilding Together has rehabilitated more than
80,000 houses and expects to complete work on another 50,000 houses by
the year 2010;
Whereas Rebuilding Together provides opportunities for people from every segment
of society to volunteer to help those in need of basic home maintenance
assistance; and
Whereas Rebuilding Together helps keep low-income homeowners who are elderly,
disabled, or families with children living in safe, warm, and dry
conditions: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),
That Congress--
(1) commemorates the 15th anniversary of Rebuilding
Together;
(2) commends Rebuilding Together, its 252 affiliate
chapters, and the nearly 2,300,000 volunteers who have helped
rehabilitate more than 80,000 houses since 1988;
(3) recognizes the importance of volunteer organizations
such as Rebuilding Together in meeting the growing challenge of
providing housing rehabilitation assistance to low-income and
elderly homeowners;
(4) calls upon State and local governments to cooperate
with Rebuilding Together in preserving, rehabilitating, and
improving existing housing;
(5) asks all Americans to recognize the value of preserving
existing housing and to consider volunteering with Rebuilding
Together and other similar organizations to rebuild and sustain
our local communities; and
(6) encourages Members of Congress, their families, and
their staffs to participate in home rehabilitation activities
of Rebuilding Together in their own States and Congressional
Districts.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity.
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