[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 8 (Tuesday, January 23, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S437-S438]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              THE NOMINATION OF MELQUIADES RAFAEL MARTINEZ

  Mr. SARBANES. Mr. President, I understand shortly the nomination of 
Mel Martinez to be Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban 
Development will be before us. I rise in support of this nomination.
  Mr. Martinez appeared before the Committee on Banking, Housing and 
Urban Affairs on January 17, where he made clear his commitment to 
providing affordable housing and economic opportunity for all 
Americans, both in his oral testimony and in his response to questions. 
His nomination was brought to the Senate floor with a recommendation 
for approval--a unanimous recommendation for approval in the committee.
  Mr. Martinez has a compelling life story. His parents sent him to 
this country at the age of 15, with thousands of other Cuban children, 
as part of the ``Pedro Pan'' operation, in an effort to security the 
liberty and opportunity that we enjoy as Americans.
  He lived with a foster family, learned English, went to college and 
law school, practiced law for 25 years, and

[[Page S438]]

became deeply committed to serving his community. I believe this 
history has instilled in Mr. Martinez an understanding of and empathy 
for the less fortunate that will serve him well in his new role as 
Secretary of HUD.
  Mr. Martinez most recently served as the county chairman of Orange 
County, FL. Prior to that, he served on the Orlando Housing Authority 
Board of Directors for 4 years, including 2 years as its chair in the 
mid-1980s. He served as vice president of Catholic Social Services in 
the Diocese in Orlando throughout the 1980s and as president of the 
Orlando Utilities Commission from 1994 to 1997 and as a lawyer in his 
own firm. He has served his community in many ways as a volunteer 
member of numerous organizations.
  As chairman of the Orlando Housing Authority, Mr. Martinez worked 
with his colleagues on the board to pass a measure that took about $1 
million of reserve funds to build affordable housing for the elderly, 
as well as transitional housing for low-income single mothers. He 
consistently showed a willingness to meet and work with residents of 
public housing and other low-income residents of distressed 
neighborhoods in Orlando.
  These efforts lead me to believe that as Secretary, Mr. Martinez will 
make every effort to make good on his promise ``to work hard to ensure 
that every American has every opportunity to have affordable housing.''
  Last year, a number of bipartisan proposals providing for funding the 
construction of affordable housing were offered in the Congress. I look 
forward to working with the new Secretary on legislation that will help 
us achieve the lofty goal he has set out.
  As many of my colleagues know, HUD has had a history of being a 
troubled agency. While many of its programs do a good job of providing 
decent homes to millions of poor and working families, it has proven to 
be a difficult department to manage.
  In 1994, in fact, HUD was placed on the General Accounting Office's 
high-risk list, the only agency to be so listed. However, as a result 
of concentrated efforts by Secretary Cuomo and his top staff, the GAO 
announced last week that HUD is now off the high-risk list. HUD 
achieved this result by working tirelessly to correct the problems in 
financial oversight and procurement systems. It is widely recognized 
that Secretary Cuomo has devoted significant time and effort to address 
these managerial issues, and I commend him for his success.
  This is by no means to say all of HUD's problems have been solved, 
but it does mean that Mr. Martinez will take over the Department with a 
management system in place that is moving HUD in the right direction. 
In his confirmation hearing, Mr. Martinez made it clear that he 
understood the progress that has been made while committing himself to 
continue the efforts to improve the operations of the Department.
  I was also encouraged that Mr. Martinez recognized the importance of 
the Community Reinvestment Act in making housing opportunities more 
available to all Americans. Several committee hearings have established 
the fact that CRA is a crucial tool that is needed to make a number of 
other housing programs effective. The low-income housing tax credit, 
the community development block grant, and the HOME program all depend, 
to some extent, on bank credit made available largely because of the 
CRA.
  Finally, I note that this nomination has the support of a wide range 
of housing groups. A number of letters of support have been sent to the 
committee which are part of the hearing record. Included among these 
supporters are a number of industry groups, public housing 
organizations, and others. I note in particular a very strong letter of 
support sent to us by our former colleague, Senator Mack, who has high 
praise for the nominee.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that Senator Mack's letter be 
printed in the Record at the conclusion of these remarks.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  (See Exhibit 1.)
  Mr. SARBANES. Mr. President, Mel Martinez understands the job ahead 
of him. He has committed to expanding housing opportunities for all 
Americans. I look forward to working with him, and I commend his 
nomination to my colleagues for their approval.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor.

                               Exhibit 1


                                               Washington, DC,

                                                 January 16, 2001.
     Hon. Paul S. Sarbanes,
     Chairman, Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, 
         Dirksen Building, U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Sarbanes: As a former member of this 
     committee, it is an honor and privilege to introduce my 
     friend Mel Martinez, Secretary-designee of the United States 
     Department of Housing and Urban Development.
       As a fellow Floridian, I have had the opportunity to know 
     and personally work with Chairman Martinez in his various 
     roles in local county government since the early days of my 
     Senate career. I have found him to be an exceptional 
     individual who has the intelligence, integrity and compassion 
     to guide this agency and serve its constituents.
       The Secretary-designee through his life experiences 
     understands the courage, drive and determination it takes to 
     achieve the American dream. As you and I know, very difficult 
     problems can be overcome when individuals work together. Mel 
     Martinez understands what is takes to bring people together 
     with a deep concern for those who are less fortunate and 
     striving for a better future. With his personal perspective 
     and insight, I am sure you could not find a better person to 
     improve the lives of those that look to us for assistance.
       Therefore, with complete confidence, I strongly recommend 
     Mel Martinez and urge your favorable consideration of him for 
     Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
           Sincerely,
                                                      Connie Mack.

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The distinguished majority leader is 
recognized.
  Mr. LOTT. I thank the Chair.

                          ____________________