Thank you for visiting SNEWPapers!
Sign up free
The Union Times
New Haven, New Haven County, Connecticut
What is this article about?
The American Federation of Labor achieved a legislative victory as the U.S. Senate approved the Wagner-Ellender-Taft Housing Bill, including an amendment for prevailing wages on FHA-financed projects. The bill aims to build 15 million homes, clear slums, and create a national housing agency.
Clipping
OCR Quality
Full Text
WASHINGTON, D.C. The American Federation of Labor scored a smashing legislative victory when the Senate adopted the long-range Wagner-Ellender-Taft Housing Bill, including an amendment requiring the payment of prevailing wages on FHA-financed construction.
This key AFL amendment, introduced by Senator Murdock, of Utah, was approved by a 51-to-20 vote even though two of the bill's sponsors, Senators Ellender and Taft, opposed it. Supporting the amendment, Senate Majority Leader Barkley declared it should be government policy to require the prevailing wage on all construction aided by the government. A similar requirement has been in effect for years on public housing.
After the amendment was approved, the bill as a whole was adopted by a voice vote and sent to the House for concurrence.
15,000,000 Homes
It provides for slum clearance, low cost government housing, and government encouragement to private enterprise to build 15,000,000 new rural and city homes in the next 10 years.
The bill establishes a national policy of "a goal of a decent home and a suitable living environment for every American family," and creates a permanent single national housing agency.
The national housing administrator is directed to make an annual report to Congress on an inventory of the needs and programs in housing and related community development.
For slum clearance and low-rent housing projects the bill calls for a government expenditure of $38,000,000 for the first year. After the first 6 years, the annual cost would be $143,000,000.
Liberal Loans
Loan programs are liberalized to encourage private enterprise to build homes for what was described as the "middle class" third of American families. FHA under this bill would insure 95 percent of the building cost of a home, instead of the present 90 percent. A person desiring to build a $5,000 home would, for example, be required to put down only $250 as a cash payment.
Listen to the AFL broadcast on Station WABC every Saturday at 3:45 P.M.
What sub-type of article is it?
What keywords are associated?
What entities or persons were involved?
Where did it happen?
Domestic News Details
Primary Location
Washington, D.C.
Key Persons
Outcome
amendment approved 51-20; bill adopted by voice vote and sent to house; provides for 15,000,000 new homes, slum clearance, low-rent housing with $38,000,000 first-year expenditure rising to $143,000,000 annually after 6 years; fha insures 95% of costs.
Event Details
The Senate adopted the Wagner-Ellender-Taft Housing Bill with an AFL amendment by Senator Murdock requiring prevailing wages on FHA-financed construction, despite opposition from sponsors Ellender and Taft. Barkley supported it as government policy. The bill sets a national housing policy for decent homes, creates a permanent agency, and encourages private building.