Congressman Cleaver Offers Remarks at Habitat for Humanity Event, Announces Ranking Member Priorities
Cleaver signaled support for affordable housing, energy efficient housing, and bridging the digital divide in his remarks
Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) today spoke to attendees at Habitat for Humanity's annual conference. In his remarks, Congressman Cleaver emphasized the need to expand affordable housing, to increase both rural and urban development, and to encourage energy efficient and green housing. Rep. Cleaver received a standing ovation following his speech. U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro also offered remarks.
"I am grateful today to meet and speak to such inspiring individuals, who advocate for one of our most basic needs as a people," stated Congressman Cleaver. "Food, shelter, clothing—these are the basic needs for life. A home can enhance someone's ‘somebodiness.' Having a roof over your head means safety, security, and something more—a place to call your own. That's the American Dream. We have to turn our nation around by touching people's lives, and Habitat for Humanity does that. In my district in Missouri, one of the original ten established Habitat affiliates, Habitat for Humanity Kansas City is hard at work, delivering dreams. Habitat KC has completed more than 300 homes for families in the Kansas City urban core. In 2013, Habitat for Humanity Truman Heritage successfully built twenty new homes to help with neighborhood stabilization in the city of Independence. Clearly, there is still a need for men and women who get up each morning with the sole goal of helping people. We in Congress must follow their lead. We must avoid the dangerous and damaging temptation to drift into a red state/blue state divide, and instead we must find common ground. Only together can we truly help those in need, and to put the American Dream in everyone's reach—not just that of a wealthy few."
Additionally, Congmessman Cleaver today announced his priorities as Ranking Member. They are as follows:
- Working to promote affordable housing opportunity for all Americans – including low to moderate income families and young Americans,
- Protecting the Fair Housing Act,
- Maintaining and expanding rural housing for rural Americans,
- Promoting energy efficiency and weatherization, and
- Providing digital access to all by bridging the digital divide.
Congressman Cleaver was elected Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance on January 21, 2015.
Millard and Linda Fuller founded Habitat for Humanity International in 1976. Today, Habitat for Humanity is a true world leader in addressing the issues of poverty housing. In 1984, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn took their first Habitat work trip, the Jimmy Carter Work Project, to New York City. Habitat has helped build or repair more than 800,000 houses and served more than 4 million people around the world.
Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Blue Springs, Grain Valley, Oak Grove, North Kansas City, Gladstone, Claycomo, and all of Ray, Lafayette, and Saline Counties. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee, the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance, and also a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus. A high-resolution photo of Congressman Cleaver is available here.
