[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 139 (Thursday, October 27, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2197-E2198]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               FEDERAL HOUSING FINANCE REFORM ACT OF 2005

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                       HON. CAROLYN C. KILPATRICK

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 26, 2005

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 1461) to 
     reform the regulation of certain housing-related Government-
     sponsored enterprises, and for other purposes:

  Ms. KILPATRICK of Michigan. Mr. Chairman, it is with some reluctance 
I rise now in

[[Page E2198]]

opposition to H.R. 1461, the Federal Housing Finance Reform Act. In its 
amended form, the legislation no longer puts the best interest of our 
Nation at heart, but instead holds a precious resource hostage for the 
sake of partisan politics.
  The provision restricting non-profit organizations, and their 
affiliates, from using their own funds to engage in non-partisan voter 
registration or get-out-the-vote activities if they want to apply for 
the much-needed affordable housing funds is entirely inappropriate. The 
inaptness is compounded by the fact that the language still allows for-
profit institutions to engage in voter advocacy, even conducted in a 
partisan, biased manner. If the threat of misuse of these funds is so 
apparent as to warrant this amendment, why would we only restrict 
charitable organizations and not those whose fundamental goal is to 
swell business profits?
  It is extremely apparent that the leadership's priorities are 
backwards. Congress should be encouraging election activities promoting 
good citizenship conducted by unbiased, non-profit organizations, not 
restricting the types of aid these groups are allowed to provide. To 
add insult to injury, the new provision imposes a new burden of 
requiring these groups to list housing assistance as their ``primary 
purpose'' if they want to apply for funds. The effect of this 
constraint will be to reduce the diversity of assistance that will be 
available.
  With such a growing need for affordable housing, and for competent 
groups capable of connecting people with the already scarce resources, 
I cannot imagine why my colleagues would want to handicap these 
organizations from providing assistance to our Nation's most vulnerable 
populations. It is for these reasons I cannot support this otherwise 
sound and reasonable measure to improve the regulation of our Nation's 
largest source of mortgages. I urge my colleagues to vote no on H.R. 
1461.

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