HUD Secretary testifies before Congressional Committee
This week, HUD Secretary Ben Carson testified before the full House Financial Services Committee in a hearing titled “Oversight of the Department of Housing and Urban Development.” Secretary Carson’s testimony covered a range of topics, including proposed funding cuts and rent reforms, lead and mold remediation efforts, disaster recovery, homelessness, and housing finance. Both Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) and Ranking Member Maxine Waters (D-CA) utilized the hearing to criticize HUD’s effectiveness. “There’s no doubt that HUD programs help a number of our citizens and are a critical part of the nation’s social safety net,” said Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) in his opening statement. “But when I look at the data…it’s hard not to conclude that HUD has failed far too many for far too long.” Ranking Member Waters stated, “Mr. Chairman, since Secretary Carson was last before this Committee, he has taken actions and issued proposals that are deeply problematic and harmful for vulnerable families and hardworking Americans. He has released an outrageous plan that would triple rents for the lowest income households and put 1.7 million Americans at risk of eviction and homelessness…. I am also very concerned about the actions Secretary Carson has taken to undermine fair housing in this country.” As the sole witness for the hearing, Secretary Carson answered pointed questions from lawmakers on recent fair housing developments in the Agency, such as withdrawing the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing assessment tool for local governments, and soliciting comments on the implementation of the Disparate Impact final rule. Regarding housing finance reform, Carson said in his testimony, “The Administration’s government reform plan includes a proposal that sets forth a high-level blueprint for a reformed housing finance system that ensures more transparency and accountability to taxpayers and minimizes the risk of taxpayer-funded bailouts, while maintaining responsible and sustainable support for homeowners. We look forward to working with Congress and other stakeholders to obtain feedback and determine the best way to proceed.” When asked about rent reform for rental assistance programs, the Secretary called HUD’s recent proposal “one of the most consequential policy reforms for which we are seeking the Committee’s support,” contradicting an earlier statement that the Agency would no longer pursue their rent reform plan to increase minimum rents and change rent-setting calculations across rental assistance programs, among other reforms. Secretary Carson last testified before the House Financial Services Committee in October, 2017. To view the hearing, please click here.Congressional Subcommittee debates HUD’s lead and mold remediation efforts
In a separate hearing this week, a Subcommittee of the House Financial Services Committee met to examine how HUD programs manage and remedy unsafe living conditions caused by lead-based paint and mold for many individuals and families living in public and subsidized housing. “This hearing was essential to gain valuable insight on how best to use both the private and public sector to protect our youth from lead poisoning and dangerous mold. Mold impacts those relying on public housing in every part of the country, including large urban areas like New York City and rural parts of Wisconsin,” said Subcommittee Chairman Sean Duffy (R-WI). “Some of you may ask why we are looking at lead-based paint remediation in addition to mold. Well, if your house was built before 1978, it’s likely that lead-based paint was used. The fact that kids live in houses filled with these poisonous substances is outrageous. In order to protect our kids from these dangers we must continue to work together to remediate affected homes.” Testifying before the Subcommittee were Jeremy Kirkland, HUD’s Acting Deputy Inspector General; Karen McKeown from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services; Jeffery K. Patterson from the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority (on behalf of Council of Large Public Housing Authorities); Rachel Fee from the New York Housing Conference; Emily Benfer from Yale Law School; and Julie Brewen from Housing Catalyst. Key takeaways from the hearing included the scope and impact of lead- and mold-related safety concerns for families living in assisted housing, as well as a recent Inspector General audit of HUD’s lead hazard oversight. “We audited the [HUD’s] oversight of lead-based paint reporting and remediation in its public housing and Housing Choice Voucher programs…HUD lacked adequate policies, procedures, and controls for monitoring public housing agencies for compliance with its lead requirements… As a result, HUD lacked assurance that public housing agencies properly identified and mitigated lead hazards, thus increasing the potential of exposing children to lead poisoning due to unsafe living conditions,” Kirkland said in his testimony. Lawmakers brought their concerns regarding unsafe living conditions to the full Committee hearing with HUD Secretary Ben Carson the following day, who acknowledged that HUD needs to improve oversight and metrics for lead abatement efforts in housing programs. To view the Subcommittee’s hearing, please click here.UP NEXT: What NAHMA is watching for next week
- Congress on Independence Day Recess
- NAHMAnalysis on FY19 Appropriations (Comparison of House, Senate, and Administration’s proposed levels)