SENIOR ASSEMBLY FEDERAL PROPOSAL NO. 4

INTRODUCED BY SENIOR ASSEMBLY MEMBER SERRIN

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AFP 4: AFFORDABLE HOUSING: FAMILIES OF SERVICEMEN AND SERVICEWOMEN DEPLOYED TO AFGHANISTAN AND THE GULF WAR ZONE OF IRAQ

UNDER EXISTING LAW, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ASSISTS INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WITH LOW INCOMES TO OBTAIN AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING THROUGH A VOUCHER PROGRAM, WIDELY KNOWN AS SECTION 8 HOUSING VOUCHERS.

THIS MEASURE WOULD MEMORIALIZE THE CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT TO ENACT LEGISLATION THAT WOULD IMMEDIATELY GIVE SECTION 8 HOUSING VOUCHERS, FOR A LIMITED TIME, TO THE FAMILIES OF SERVICEMEN AND SERVICE WOMEN WHO ARE DEPLOYED TO AFGHANISTAN AND THE GULF WAR ZONE OR IRAQ AND WHO OTHERWISE QUALIFY FOR THIS PROGRAM.

VOTE: MAJORITY.

AFP 4: RELATING TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR THE FAMILIES OF SERVICEMEN AND SERVICEWOMEN DEPLOYED TO AFGHANISTAN AND THE GOLF WAR ZONE OF IRAQ.

WHEREAS, WE MUST PROTECT THE FAMILIES OF OUR SERVICEMEN AND SERVICE WOMEN WHO ARE DEPLOYED TO AFGHANISTAN AND THE GULF WARE ZONE OF IRAQ AS THESE MILITARY PERSONNEL ARE PROTECTING OUR FAMILIES AND OUR FREEDOM; AND

WHEREAS, TOO OFTEN, THE FAMILIES OF ENLISTED SERVICEMEN AND SERVICEWOMEN WHO ARE DEPLOYED TO AFGHANISTAN AND THE GULF WAR ZONE OF IRAQ FINANCIALLY STRUGGLE TO AFFORD THE INCREASING COSTS OF RENTAL HOUSE IN CALIFORNIA, AND THIS STRUGGLE ADDS TO THE MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL STRAIN ON SEPARATED MILITARY; AND

WHEREAS, SERVICEMEN AND SERVICEWOMEN WHO ARE FIGHTING IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN ARE UNABLE TO PERSONALLY ASSIST THEIR FAMILIES AT HOME TO SECURE SAFE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING; AND

WHEREAS, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS AN EXISTING PROGRAM TO ASSIST INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WITH A LOW INCOME TO OBTAIN AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING THROUGH A VOUCHER PROGRAM, WIDELY KNOWN A SECTION 8 HOUSING VOUCHERS; AND

WHEREAS, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS PREVIOUSLY ADAPTED THE SECTION 8 HOUSING VOUCHERS PROGRAM TO GIVE HOUSING VOUCHERS IMMEDIATELY TO PEOPLE WHO ARE OTHERWISE QUALIFIED FOR THEM, SUCH AS PROVIDING EMERGENCY HOUSING FOR LOW-INCOME VICTIMS OF HURRICANE KATRINA AND FOR HOMELESS MILITARY VETERANS; AND

WHEREAS, THE SECTION 8 HOUSING VOUCHERS PROGRAM SHOULD NOW BE ADAPTED AGAIN TO GIVE HOUSING VOUCHERS IMMEDIATELY TO THE FAMILIES OF SERVICEMEN AND SERVICEWOMEN WHO ARE DEPLOYED TO AFGHANISTAN AND THE GULF WAR ZONE OF IRAQ, AND WHO OTHERWISE QUALIFY FOR THE PROGRAM, DURING THE TERM OF THE DEPLOYMENT PLUS SIX MONTHS AFTER THE SERVICEPERSON’S RETURN TO THE UNITED STATES; AND

WHEREAS, PROVIDING IMMEDIATE, YET LIMITED, ASSISTANCE TO MILITARY FAMILIES IN SECURING HOUSING WOULD PROVIDE STABILITY TO SEPARATED MILITARY FAMILIES AND EASE THE STRESS ON THE MEMBERS OF OUR FIGHTING MILITARY; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT

RESOLVED, BY THE SENIOR ASSEMBLY AND THE SENIOR SENATE, JOINTLY, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AT ITS 2008 REGULAR SESSION, A MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS VOTING THEREFOR, HEREBY PROPOSES THAT THE CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT ENACT LEGISLATION THAT WOULD IMMEDIATELY GIVE SECTION 8 HOUSING VOUCHERS, FOR A LIMITED TIME, TO THE FAMILIES OF SERVICEMEN AND SERVICE WOMEN WHO ARE DEPLOYED TO AFGHANISTAN AND THE GULF WAR ZONE OF IRAQ AND WHO OTHERWISE QUALIFY FOR THIS PROGRAM; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT A COPY OF THIS MEASURE BE TRANSMITTED TO THE PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT, THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, THE CHAIRPERSONS OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE COMMITTEES ON AGING, AND TO EACH SENATOR AND REPRESENTATIVE FROM CALIFORNIA IN THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES.

RN 08 22049

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