Dr. Ben Carson confirmed as HUD Secretary
This week, the Senate confirmed Dr. Carson to be the 17th Secretary of HUD in a 58-41 vote. One of the retired neurosurgeon’s first actions will be a ‘listening tour’ in communities around the country.
“Many have asked why I want to serve as HUD Secretary, which is a fair question given my many years working as a physician,” the newly-confirmed Secretary wrote in a press release on Thursday. “Working directly with patients and their families taught me that there is a very deep relationship between health and housing. I learned that it’s difficult for a child to realize their dreams if they don’t have a proper place to live, and I have seen firsthand how poor housing conditions can rob them of their potential. I appreciate how an agency like HUD can be an instrument to improve those conditions that limit aspiration and opportunity.”
NAHMA has submitted a meeting request to Secretary Carson to introduce our association, members, and policy priorities.
Executive Order and legislation aim to reduce regulatory burden
Late last week, the President expanded an earlier Executive Order, ”Enforcing the Regulatory Reform Agenda”, aimed at reducing regulatory burden by requiring the elimination of two regulations for each new regulation enacted. This executive order establishes Regulatory Reform Task Forces and Officers in each federal agency to conduct evaluations and recommend repeals of regulations with input from stakeholders. NAHMA will keep members updated on task forces when they are established in HUD, USDA, and Treasury/IRS.
In addition to the Executive Order, legislation similarly aimed at regulatory burden awaits action in the Senate after passing through the House of Representatives earlier this year. The Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act would require explicit approval by a joint Congressional resolution before a rule could go into effect, even if it has already passed through the ‘notice and comment’ period.
Senator Portman introduces energy modernization bill with bi-partisan support
Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) and ten bipartisan cosponsors recently introduced the Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act (S. 385). Among numerous other changes to U.S. energy policy, this bill would create a demonstration program under which the Secretary of HUD may enter into agreements with multifamily property owners that result in a reduction in energy or water costs. The demonstration would be open for up to 20,000 multifamily units in properties assisted through Project-Based Section 8, Section 202 and Section 811.
This provision is similar the current HUD Energy Efficiency Pay-for-Success demonstration, enacted in April 2016, which was authorized by the Fixing American’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act).