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




               FEDERAL HOUSING FINANCE REFORM ACT OF 2005

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                               speech of

                            HON. MARK GREEN

                              of wisconsin

                    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:

  Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Chairman, I supported Chairman Oxley's 
Manager's Amendment to H.R. 1461, the Federal Housing Finance Reform 
Act of 2005, because it maintains progress on several key issues 
Congress has been working on this session. I was pleased to see that 
the manager's amendment gave the victims of Hurricane Katrina priority 
in receiving grants from the Affordable Housing Fund for the first two 
years after its inception. I continue to urge my colleagues to look for 
ways to ease the burden of recovery that currently rests on the 
taxpayers. I also support the sunset provision of this amendment so 
that a future Congress can revisit this issue and again evaluate the 
needs of affordable housing recipients. Finally, I would like to 
express my full support for the ability of non-profit organizations to 
compete for the funds created by H.R. 1461.
  I agree that there must be full oversight of the groups receiving 
grants from the Affordable Trust Fund, and that no dollars from the 
fund may be used for lobbying, travel, or election activities. However, 
I do have concerns that some of the language included in the manager's 
amendment was overly broad. Some have argued that the amendment may 
prohibit groups like Catholic Charities, Lutheran Services in America, 
and Habitat for Humanity from receiving Affordable Trust Fund grants. I 
would strongly urge House conferees to revisit and narrow the language 
included in this amendment so that these organizations, along with 
other well-meaning non-profit groups, can access the funds and grow 
their affordable housing programs.

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