[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 145 (Friday, September 9, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E905]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING PAUL WEBSTER FOR 50 YEARS SERVING WITH HOUSING AND URBAN 
                              DEVELOPMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. GERALD E. CONNOLLY

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 9, 2022

  Mr. CONNOLLY. Madam Speaker, it is my honor to recognize a leading 
figure in the practice of community and economic development, Mr. Paul 
Webster.
  Mr. Webster serves as the Director of the Financial Management 
Division in the Office of Community Planning and Development for the 
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Mr. Webster's 
commitment to public service is unparalleled, his five-decade-long 
career focused on creating resilient communities, suitable living 
environments, and economic opportunities for low- and moderate-income 
persons and families.
  Mr. Webster joined the Department in 1972 and has served as Director 
since 1983. In this role, Mr. Webster oversees the Section 108 loan 
guarantee program, a transformational program and resource for low-
income communities, including funding for critical economic development 
projects and facilitation of affordable housing solutions that would 
otherwise not be possible.
  He spearheaded the expansion of the Section 108 program. Over the 
course of his career, Mr. Webster has overseen an unprecedented 2,000 
loan guarantee commitments with a total value close to $10 billion. 
These numbers underscore his work to provide the much-needed resources 
that revitalize American communities and ensure everyone has a chance 
to succeed.
  Mr. Webster also championed legislation that established the Economic 
Development Initiative (EDI), which provided grant funds to support and 
enhance the use of Section 108 loan guarantees and the subsequent 
Brownfields EDI to help address environmental cleanup efforts, 
returning contaminated property to sustainable use. His expertise also 
extended to long-term disaster recovery work and neighborhood 
stabilization activities targeted at addressing the effects of 
abandoned and foreclosed housing.
  He is one of the leading experts on financial management and is happy 
to provide guidance and advice to individuals, organizations, and 
federal, state, and local partners for the Department. Equally 
important, Mr. Webster has been and continues to be a mentor to the 
next generation of community development and financial management 
professionals, reflected in the esteem of his colleagues, staff, and 
external partners.
  Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in honoring this 
remarkable public servant, whose expertise, tenacity, and creativity in 
economic and community development has helped to transform hundreds of 
communities for the better. Paul Webster has tirelessly dedicated 
himself to making life better for countless Americans. I hope his 
continuing legacy inspires us all to renew our commitments to serving 
our communities.

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