[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 164 (Wednesday, December 19, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1970]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING BARRY RUTENBERG

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. CLIFF STEARNS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 19, 2012

  Mr. STEARNS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a moment to recognize 
one of my constituents, Barry Rutenberg, from Gainesville, Fla. Barry 
is the 2012 chairman of the National Association of Home Builders 
(NAHB) and has been deeply involved in helping housing--and his fellow 
builders--get back on course.
  After suffering the worst housing downturn since the Great 
Depression, Barry's steady leadership at NAHB during the past year has 
paid great dividends as he has presided over a solid recovery for the 
industry. Housing starts and single-family sales are projected to jump 
20 percent for the year, and the number of improving housing markets 
has soared from just 12 in September of 2011 to more than 200 in 
December of 2012. Meanwhile, home prices have stabilized across much of 
the Nation, helping to put more workers on the job and making housing a 
net contributor to economic growth.
  As chairman of NAHB, Barry has provided a laser-like focus to help 
get housing back on track by working with lawmakers on both sides of 
the aisle to get pro-housing bills introduced and passed. NAHB played a 
pivotal role in reauthorizing and preserving the National Flood 
Insurance Program for an additional five years. This put to an end the 
many short-term lapses the program has endured in recent years--along 
with the delays and canceled home sales those lapses have caused home 
buyers and home builders.
  Under Barry's direction, NAHB instituted a nationwide Protect 
Homeownership campaign that featured several rallies in key political 
swing states during this past election season. This effort to elevate 
housing on the national agenda sent a powerful message to the 
electorate that Americans value homeownership and Congress must support 
pro-housing policies that will create jobs and help local communities 
to flourish.
  In normal times housing accounts for more than 17 percent of the 
Nation's total economic output. Building 100 single-family homes 
creates more than 300 full-time jobs and generates millions of dollars 
of tax revenues which increase the property tax base that supports 
local schools, police and firefighters across the land.
  To help housing return to its position as an engine of economic 
growth, Barry instituted an aggressive agenda at NAHB. He made it a 
priority to help protect housing tax incentives that are vital to 
renters and home buyers; prevent expensive, pointless regulations from 
impeding home building and dampening the recovery; and to push for a 
balanced solution to overhaul the Nation's housing finance system that 
retains a federal backstop in the event of a catastrophic situation 
while providing a stable, affordable supply of credit for home buyers 
and limiting taxpayer exposure.
  He also maintained a regular presence on Capitol Hill, meeting with 
lawmakers and testifying on behalf of the Nation's home builders on how 
small businesses and consumers would benefit from smarter and more 
sensible regulation.
  I commend the efforts of Barry Rutenberg and NAHB to ensure that 
housing remains accessible and affordable to America's families and an 
important national priority.

                          ____________________