OVER THE LAST YEAR WE HAVE BEEN HEARING ABOUT HOW THE U.S. ECONOMY IS REBOUNDING, ABOUT HOW THE COUNTRY HAS COME OUT OF THE RECESSION OF THE FIRST FEW YEARS OF THIS DECADE.  WHILE SOME PEOPLE ARE DOING BETTER, MANY PEOPLE ARE NOT.  EMPLOYERS HAVE BEEN SLOW TO ADD JOBS, KEEPING THE EMPLOYMENT RATE ABOVE 6%, AND THE U.S. CENSUS BUREAU ANNOUNCED LAST WEEK THAT THE POVERTY RATE ROSE FOR THE THIRD STRAIGHT YEAR, WITH ALMOST 36 MILLION AMERICANS LIVING IN POVERTY.

THE NUMBERS DO NOT GET ANY BETTER, WITH 45 MILLION AMERICANS WITHOUT HEALTH INSURANCE AND 4.5 MILLION PEOPLE BECOMING POOR OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS - 1.3 MILLION IN THE LAST YEAR, INCLUDING 733,000 CHILDREN.  AT THE SAME TIME THE 1/6TH OR SO OF THE FEDERAL BUDGET THAT GOES TOWARD HEALTH, EDUCATION, JOB TRAINING AND SOCIAL SERVICE PROGRAMS IS BEING FROZEN IN PLACE OR CUT.

THE EFFECT OF THESE TRENDS IS BEING FELT IN OUR COMMUNITIES.  I RECENTLY CONVENED FORUMS TO HEAR FROM ADMINISTRATORS AND STAFF OF LOCAL SERVICE AGENCIES, AND THE NEWS WAS NOT GOOD.  AGENCIES ARE OVERWHELMED WITH TOO MANY REQUESTS AND NOT ENOUGH RESOURCES.  FOR INSTANCE, CUTS TO THE SECTION (8) HOUSING PROGRAM HAVE FORCED HOUSING AUTHORITIES TO REVOKE VOUCHERS, LEAVING SOME FAMILIES IN A VERY TOUGH SITUATION.

IT BEARS REPEATING THAT THE ECONOMY HAS NOT GOTTEN BETTER FOR EVERYONE.  CONGRESS WILL BE FINISHING CONSIDERATION OF THE FEDERAL BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2005 IN SEPTEMBER, AND FUNDING FOR IMPORTANT PROGRAMS WILL BE DECIDED AT THIS TIME.  MAINTAINING A REASONABLE QUALITY OF LIFE MEANS SUPPORTING SERVICES FOR THE LEAST WELL-OFF AMONG US.  I WILL CONTINUE TO WORK TO MAKE THIS A PRIORITY OF THE FEDERAL BUDGET.

BY:  CONGRESSMAN JERRY F. COSTELLO