The House

Helping the Homeless

By a 264-121 vote, the House passed and sent to the Senate a bill (HR 558) authorizing an additional $500 million this fiscal year in aid to the homeless. The money would be added to about $260 million Congress already has appropriated in 1987 homeless aid. The bill is silent on how the new money would be raised.

Although it mainly bolsters existing federal efforts to provide shelter, food and medical care, the bill also creates new programs for mentally ill persons who have been released to the streets by state and federal psychiatric hospitals.

Supporter Bill Green (R-N.Y.) said the bill “addresses a crying need . . . that we can see virtually on our doorsteps every night.”

Opponent Toby Roth (R-Wis.) said the $500-million price tag, unaccompanied by offsetting spending cuts, “means adding to our unbearable deficit.”

Members voting yes favored the bill.

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

Revenue Transfers

By a 203-207 vote, the House rejected an amendment requiring that the $500 million in homeless aid be taken from the budgets of other programs, not raised by Treasury borrowing. Republicans who originated the anti-deficit amendment did not specify the budgets to be reduced. Mischievous Democrats then narrowed it to require the $500 million be taken from the fiscal 1987 foreign-aid budget, which the Administration wants to increase.

Sponsor Robert H. Michel (R-Ill.) said the bill lacked “fiscal integrity” by failing to identify how the $500 million would be raised.

Opponent Barney Frank (D-Mass.) said, “We can afford in this wealthy country to provide the money.”

Members voting yes wanted the increased homeless spending to be offset by foreign-aid cuts.

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

AIDS Testing

The House rejected, 101 for and 292 against, an amendment to the homeless-aid bill to begin testing certain street people for the AIDS virus. The amendment originally called for mandatory testing, but was softened to make the AIDS examinations voluntary for those seeking medical care at homeless shelters.

Supporter Dan Burton (R-Ind.) said it was time for Congress to bear down on the AIDS epidemic, “the number-one issue of the late ‘80s and ‘90s.”

Opponent Henry A. Waxman (D-Los Angeles) termed the amendment “hysteria” and said that to test the homeless for exposure to AIDS would leave no money for basic medical care.

Members voting yes favored AIDS testing of the homeless.

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

Delaying Homeless Aid

By a 124-260 vote, the House rejected an attempt to freeze the $500 million in homeless aid for six months after the measure becomes law. Under the amendment, U. S. agencies were to spend the six months working to prevent waste and duplication in allocating the money.

Sponsor George W. Gekas (R-Pa.) said his “common sense” amendment puts “the horse and the cart in the right order.”

Opponent Bruce F. Vento (D-Minn.) said the amendment urges study rather than action and “shoots the horse.”

Members voting yes wanted agencies to delay spending the $500 million in homeless aid.

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