Brian Montgomery nominated as HUD Deputy Secretary
This week, President Trump nominated Brian Montgomery to serve as Deputy Secretary of HUD. If confirmed by the Senate, Montgomery will serve as the second most senior official at the agency, managing day-to-day operations and overseeing the Department’s nearly 8,000 employees.
In his current role as HUD’s Assistant Secretary for Housing and Federal Housing Commissioner, Montgomery addressed NAHMA members at our meetings in Washington, D.C., and met with NAHMA staff and board members to advance quality affordable housing.
As Federal Housing Commissioner, Montgomery is responsible for the management of FHA’s more than $1.4 trillion mortgage insurance portfolio, which includes its Single Family, Multifamily, and Health Care programs. As Assistant Secretary for Housing, he also oversees HUD’s Project-based Section 8 rental assistance housing programs, the Office of Housing Counseling, and HUD’s Manufactured Housing Program. More information about Montgomery’s nomination is available in HUD’s press release here.
Senators reintroduce bill to preserve rural housing
Recently, Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Tina Smith (D-MN) introduced the “Rural Housing Preservation Act,” which would expand USDA’s rural housing programs. S. 2567 would permanently authorize the Multifamily Preservation and Revitalization (MPR) program, decouple Section 521 rental assistance from the mortgage, and expand the Section 542 voucher program.
NAHMA previously supported this bill and will continue to advocate on its behalf. More information is available on Senator Shaheen’s press release here.
Secretary Carson announces Opportunity Zones resources
Recently, HUD Secretary Ben Carson, on behalf of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council, announced a new website that will serve as a hub of information for the array of audiences that work with the Opportunity Zones initiative.
The Opportunity Zones website includes an interactive map of the 8,764 Opportunity Zones nationwide; links to the Opportunity Zone-focused website of each State and Territory; and comprehensive Federal tools and resources for investments and residents.
The Opportunity Zone tax benefit was enacted in 2017 to help target private investment capital to underserved areas. More information is available on the new website at www.OpportunityZones.gov.
NAHMA hosts webinar discussion of successful Hill Visit preparation
Thank you to everyone who participated in today’s Hill Visit Prep Webinar! We had a great turnout from advocacy newbies and veterans alike, with great comments, questions, and anecdotes. An overview of NAHMA’s online resources for conducting successful Hill Visits is available here.