Gore Praised (Gave Bush Award in 1999) for Colonias Effort He Now Criticizes

Source: George W. Bush Website
Published: October 13, 2000 Author: Bush Campaign

Gore Praised Colonias Effort He Now Criticizes

Lieberman wrong: Governor Bush has Visited Colonias Communities and Met with Residents There

Austin - In November of 1999, Al Gore praised the Texas Colonia Initiative Team for its efforts to improve conditions in the Texas border communities. But running out of time and options for his presidential campaign, Gore is now attacking Texas’ record on the Colonias. Under Governor Bush's leadership, the Office of Colonia Initiative was created on June 12, 1996, to coordinate efforts to improve living conditions in Colonias. In addition to praise from Al Gore, the Office of Colonia Initiative has also received additional awards from the U.S. Department of Housing and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

“The fact that Al Gore and Joe Lieberman would attack Governor Bush's record on the Colonias just one year after Gore gave Texas an award for their work on Colonias underscores how ridiculous and distorted these attacks really are,” said Bush spokesman Dan Bartlett.

Gore Gives Texas Award for Colonias

In November 1999, Al Gore presented an award to the Texas Colonia Initiative Team, with a letter saying they were making a “real difference.” Gore presented the team with his Hammer Award -- an award he presents to teams of federal, state and local employees who are working to make a better government. A letter from the USDA notifying the team of their award said the team has “made and continues to make a real difference in the lives of others. Your efforts have helped improve the lives of the 400,000 men, women and children who struggle with poverty each day in the colonias.” Each member of the team received a certificate with Al Gore’s signature. [See attached]

Federal Government has Praised the Office of Colonia Initiatives (OCI)

In June 2000, the U.S. Department of Agriculture recognized the OCI with its Group Honor Award for Excellence. The OCI was given the award in praise of its “outstanding performance in improving health, nutrition and housing conditions for residents of impoverished Texas Colonias.”

In August 2000, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded the OCI a Best Practices 2000 “Simply the Best” award, to honor its efforts to help Colonia residents become property owners.

In August 2000, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development presented the OCI with two Best Practices 2000 “Best Local Winners” awards. One award honored the OCI for an education program designed to help colonia residents better understand their rights and responsibilities. The other award honored the OCI for an initiative to help Colonia residents become property owners.

Under Governor Bush's leadership, Texas made unprecedented improvements in Colonias “Governor Bush has reaffirmed our state's commitment to colonias residents by providing our state agencies and communities the necessary tools to raise their standard of living,” said State Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr. (D-Brownsville), chairman of the Special Senate Committee on Border Affairs. (Austin American-Statesman, 6/18/99)

In 1998, Governor Bush consolidated responsibility for Colonias improvement in the Secretary of State’s office who in turn implemented the TEXAS Plan, which will help about 100,000 Colonias residents pay for individual water and sewer connections in 25,000 homes in 13 counties.

In 1999, Governor Bush signed a comprehensive measure designed to remove barriers that have impeded local and state efforts to improve living conditions in Texas Colonias. Provisions include:

Creation of a "Colonias Coordinator" position within the Secretary of State's office and six new Colonias ombudsmen [to coordinate funding and construction activities along the border]

Lifting regulatory barriers to help expedite individual water and sewer connections Giving counties more planning oversight limiting new Colonias creation Governor Bush also signed legislation establishing the Colonia Owner-Builder Program, which will provide $5.6 million in low interest loans to enable Colonia residents to improve or build new residential housing.

Lieberman Wrong -- Bush has Visited Colonias Gore-Lieberman Rhetoric: “Lieberman said Bush cares so little he's never even visited a colonia.” Associated Press, October 13, 2000.

Facts: While touring 1998 flood damage in Del Rio, TX, Governor Bush visited the Cienegas Terrace colonias and consoled area flood victims at a community relief center.

Governor Bush has visited Socorro, TX three times since 1994. There are 78 colonias within the city limits of Soccoro. Governor Bush spent considerable time in Soccoro with local colonias residents and was briefed on conditions and problems concerning water and sewage connections.

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