H-1331.1                  _______________________________________________

                                             HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 4011

                              _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              53rd Legislature                             1993 Regular Session

By Representatives J. Kohl, Sommers, Ballard, Wineberry, Ogden, G. Fisher, Casada, R. Johnson, Miller, Pruitt, Jacobsen, Holm, Morris, Jones, Forner, Anderson, Wolfe, Foreman, Veloria, Thibaudeau, Johanson, Brown, Brumsickle, Brough, Leonard, Reams, Bray, Orr, R. Fisher, Kremen, Basich, Wang, Cooke, Van Luven and Kessler

Read first time 02/10/93.  Referred to Committee on Trade, Economic Development & Housing.

Calling on the federal government to ensure affordable housing.

          TO THE HONORABLE BILL CLINTON, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED:

          We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:

          WHEREAS, Housing is a basic need in a civilized country, and it is incumbent upon government to recognize housing as a fundamental right; and

          WHEREAS, The number of homeless individuals and families has reached crisis proportions in our cities; and

          WHEREAS, The federal government has drastically reduced spending for public and assisted housing, while private builders and developers have concentrated on expensive homes geared to bring in the greatest profit; and

          WHEREAS, The domestic needs of our nation should be of the highest priority; and

          WHEREAS, Wage earners at or somewhat above minimum wage levels cannot afford decent housing; and

          WHEREAS, The reduction in international tensions allows greater transfers of funds from military to domestic spending; and

          WHEREAS, Temporary shelters offer only minimum relief for the long-term problem of homelessness; and

          WHEREAS, Homelessness is spreading even among homeowners who are unable to meet tax demands and maintenance costs when their income is reduced or cut off;

          NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that Congress recognize affordable, permanent, habitable housing as a human right and that Congress and the executive branch of government give budget priority to domestic needs, restore the cuts in housing programs of the past thirteen years, and move beyond that by appropriating moneys needed to ensure that affordable, permanent, and habitable housing is in reach of every person.

          BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable Bill Clinton, President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each member of Congress from the State of Washington.

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