Floor SpeechNeutral2026-08-27

THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF VICTOR BACH

Housing

Context

On 2026-08-27, Representative Ritchie Torres (D-NY-15) delivered a floor speech titled "THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF VICTOR BACH" in the House.

Full Text

THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF VICTOR BACH

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 136 (Thursday, August 27, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 136 (Thursday, August 27, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E812] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF VICTOR BACH ______ HON. RITCHIE TORRES of new york in the house of representatives Thursday, August 27, 2026 Mr. TORRES of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Victor Bach, a pioneering housing advocate, researcher, educator, and tireless champion for New Yorkers who spent his life fighting for affordable housing, stronger public housing, and economic justice. Victor Bach passed away on June 4, 2026, at the age of 93. Born in Brooklyn, Mr. Bach dedicated his professional life to public service and housing advocacy. He earned a Ph.D. in Urban Planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and served on the faculties of the University of Texas and The New School for Social Research before beginning his extraordinary tenure at the Community Service Society of New York. Beginning in 1983, Mr. Bach spent approximately four decades directing housing research and advocacy at the Community Service Society, where he became one of New York City's most respected and influential voices on affordable housing. For 35 years, he served as a senior housing analyst and Director of Housing Policy at CSS, the Community Service Society of New York. Throughout his career, Mr. Bach produced groundbreaking research on homelessness, housing affordability, rent burdens, and the challenges facing low-income New Yorkers. His work also documented the devastating consequences of government disinvestment in the New York City Housing Authority and helped bring greater attention to the urgent needs of public housing residents. But Victor Bach's legacy cannot be measured solely by the reports he authored or the policies he influenced. He understood that housing policy must ultimately serve the people who call our communities home. He provided technical assistance to resident and community organizations and helped empower public housing residents to organize, advocate, and demand the resources necessary to preserve their homes and communities. Mr. Bach was also a mentor to generations of housing researchers and advocates. His colleagues at the Community Service Society have recognized the profound influence he had on those who followed him, helping develop some of New York's leading housing policy experts. His commitment to mentoring others ensured that his work would continue long after his retirement. For decades, Victor Bach reminded policymakers that affordable housing is not simply a matter of bricks and mortar. It is about dignity. It is about stability. It is about giving families the opportunity to remain in the communities they call home. And it is about recognizing that every New Yorker deserves a safe and affordable place to live. This message carries particular significance in the Bronx and throughout New York City, where working families, seniors, and low- income residents continue to confront extraordinary housing costs and persistent threats of displacement. The fight for affordable housing that Victor Bach championed remains as urgent today as ever. Victor Bach leaves behind a remarkable legacy of scholarship, advocacy, mentorship, and public service. His work strengthened the movement for affordable housing and gave a stronger voice to those too often left out of policy discussions. On behalf of the people of the 15th Congressional District of New York, I extend my deepest condolences to Mr. Bach's children, grandchildren, family, friends, colleagues, and the many New Yorkers whose lives and communities were touched by his extraordinary work. Victor Bach dedicated his life to the belief that housing is a fundamental pillar of a just society. We honor his memory by continuing the work to which he devoted his life: building a New York where every person, regardless of income, has access to a safe, stable, and affordable home. May his memory be a blessing, and may his life's work continue to inspire the fight for housing justice for generations to come. ____________________

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THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF VICTOR BACH Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 136 (Thursday, August 27, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 136 (Thursday, August 27, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E812] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF VICTOR BACH ______ HON. RITCHIE TORRES of new york in the house of representatives Thursday, August 27, 2026 Mr. TORRES of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Victor Bach, a pioneering housing advocate, researcher, educator, and tireless champion for New Yorkers who spent his life fighting for affordable housing, stronger public housing, and economic justice. Victor Bach passed away on June 4, 2026, at the age of 93. Born in Brooklyn, Mr. Bach dedicated his professional life to public service and housing advocacy. He earned a Ph.D. in Urban Planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and served on the faculties of the University of Texas and The New School for Social Research before beginning his extraordinary tenure at the Community Service Society of New York. Beginning in 1983, Mr. Bach spent approximately four decades directing housing research and advocacy at the Community Service Society, where he became one of New York City's most respected and influential voices on affordable housing. For 35 years, he served as a senior housing analyst and Director of Housing Policy at CSS, the Community Service Society of New York. Throughout his career, Mr. Bach produced groundbreaking research on homelessness, housing affordability, rent burdens, and the challenges facing low-income New Yorkers. His work also documented the devastating consequences of government disinvestment in the New York City Housing Authority and helped bring greater attention to the urgent needs of public housing residents. But Victor Bach's legacy cannot be measured solely by the reports he authored or the policies he influenced. He understood that housing policy must ultimately serve the people who call our communities home. He provided technical assistance to resident and community organizations and helped empower public housing residents to organize, advocate, and demand the resources necessary to preserve their homes and communities. Mr. Bach was also a mentor to generations of housing researchers and advocates. His colleagues at the Community Service Society have recognized the profound influence he had on those who followed him, helping develop some of New York's leading housing policy experts. His commitment to mentoring others ensured that his work would continue long after his retirement. For decades, Victor Bach reminded policymakers that affordable housing is not simply a matter of bricks and mortar. It is about dignity. It is about stability. It is about giving families the opportunity to remain in the communities they call home. And it is about recognizing that every New Yorker deserves a safe and affordable place to live. This message carries particular significance in the Bronx and throughout New York City, where working families, seniors, and low- income residents continue to confront extraordinary housing costs and persistent threats of displacement. The fight for affordable housing that Victor Bach championed remains as urgent today as ever. Victor Bach leaves behind a remarkable legacy of scholarship, advocacy, mentorship, and public service. His work strengthened the movement for affordable housing and gave a stronger voice to those too often left out of policy discussions. On behalf of the people of the 15th Congressional District of New York, I extend my deepest condolences to Mr. Bach's children, grandchildren, family, friends, colleagues, and the many New Yorkers whose lives and communities were touched by his extraordinary work. Victor Bach dedicated his life to the belief that housing is a fundamental pillar of a just society. We honor his memory by continuing the work to which he devoted his life: building a New York where every person, regardless of income, has access to a safe, stable, and affordable home. May his memory be a blessing, and may his life's work continue to inspire the fight for housing justice for generations to come. ____________________