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one of the biggest industries in our state of Florida today is the home building industry. The health and the prosperity of that industry directly affects the economic welfare of millions of people within our state. For that reason, we are greatly concerned about housing legislation. We are, of course, just as is everybody in the entire nation.

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We're particularly concerned, therefore with the able senator from Alabama, John Sparkman, who is the chairman of the Housing subcommittee of the United States Senate. Uh, Senator Sparkman actually has been the father of most of our housing legislation. I'm delighted to have him on my program at this time, Senator, I wonder if you could tell us about this new housing bill And what do you think it will do for the home building industry?

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Well, since matters this new bill is a comprehensive housing bill, it contains many different subjects. In the short time we have, I couldn't tell you all it's in it. But some things that are important one is a brand new program for elderly persons. I should think that would be one.

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It would be particularly helpful and popular in Florida. Would we have a higher percentage of elderly people and there's any other state in the union, so it would mean a great deal to us. I can understand it. I've visited in Florida and I can see the reason for in fact, I've been thinking of might go there myself, something that we certainly would be proud to have you.

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Another part of this program, George relates to urban renewal. We we have set up, we have extended the Urban Renewal program, you know that that has just commenced to take hold throughout the country. But it's doing a remarkable job in clearing our cities in larger towns of Slum.

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And under this bill we extended for six years at $350 million a year, which I think ought to do a tremendous job. Uh, there are other provisions in the bill relate their provisions relating to public housing. We're trying to get away from this, uh, institutional type of public housing, and we're seeking by these amendments to restore control to the local communities.

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Control was supposed to be there from the first, but gradually, over the years, there's been an accumulation of power and control in Washington. Until now, it's virtually impossible for local authorities to function. I'm sure you've heard from some of your local authorities to that effect, John.

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Will it mean that young couple it wants to go out and buy for themselves at home? Under this new legislation, will it be easier for them to get a home now than it would have been two or three years ago? Well, yes, George. As a matter of fact, the whole tendency of our housing legislation year by year has been to toward that end, uh, we have reduced the necessary down payments.

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We have, uh, given liberal terms, long time within which to pay. We've done that over the years. And while there's not a great deal of that in this particular bill, this bill is supplementary to those programs that have done that well, in this new bill, which is to be on the floor right away.

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Uh, do you? What do you do? Do you do anything extra for the veteran? Is there any additional? Yes, We well, and you know, we treated with the veterans legislation in the emergency bill that we put two earlier this year. But now we find this that under the direct loan program.

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There's a terrific backlog of applications. So we're providing 100 and $50 million additional, Uh, in order to clear out that backlog. John, some people have criticized all of us for saying that we're making it too easy for people to get homes that were sort of breaking down the morale of people by not requiring them to sacrifice sufficiently to get home.

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Do you agree with that theory? Oh, I don't. As a matter of fact, the best security in the world is a home owned by young couples. I'm satisfied that Well, thank you very much, Senator John Sparkman. And thank you very much, Ladies and gentlemen, for looking in.

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I hope you're looking again at the same time next week that we, the you and I and the other members of the Senate are breeding an irresponsible group of young people by making it too easy for them to get their home. What do you think about that?

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Well, George, as a matter of fact, the statistics don't bear that out. The repayment record and the non delinquent record of borrowers in our various housing program both have been outstanding as a matter of fact. The best security we have in this country is a home owned by a young couple raising a family.

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They make the best citizens, Do they not those who have their homes. They certainly do, and they pay for those home.