Press Room
NAHRO Statement on the Return of Congress
Contact: Mary Barron, 202-289-3500
ext. 7223
WASHINGTON, January 15-- National Association of Housing and Redevelopment
Officials (NAHRO) Executive Director Saul N. Ramirez issued the following statement
on the reconvening of the 110th Congress for its second session:
"Legislators will face a number of important challenges during the second
session of the 110th Congress. The most immediate of these we believe will be
addressing the needs of families facing foreclosure due to questionable lending
practices in the "sub-prime" market and easing current restraints
on credit availability. Local housing agencies have met and will continue to
meet the needs of families who have fallen victim to these forces. We stand
ready to help!
NAHRO and its more than 21,000 members nationwide also urge Congress in this
second session to:
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resource current programs designed to meet housing and community development
needs, most of which have been under funded in recent years;
-
complete the unfinished business of the first session, including expeditious
passage of: a GSE reform bill including new affordable housing production;
legislation reforming the Section 8 program; and legislation reauthorizing
the HOPE VI program; and
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act on legislation designed to preserve and strengthen the long-term physical
and financial integrity of public housing.
The nation's existing inventory of federally-assisted affordable housing is
a necessary and irreplaceable asset that must be preserved. Today, over 17 million
households experience severe cost burdens for housing, and over 2 million families
live in substandard and inadequate housing. Production of new affordable housing
is necessary to meet the increasing, well-documented demand for decent, safe
and affordable housing directly impacting lower-income families and increasingly
challenging the middle class. Finally, now more than ever, states, cities and
counties are looking to the federal government to be a reliable partner in ongoing
efforts to preserve and strengthen America's communities.
NAHRO looks forward to working with this Congress to meet the housing and community
development challenges before us!"
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