Steven Holt: “I rise today to oppose an outrageous provision attached to previously strong legislation. I am shocked and disappointed…”

“I rise today to oppose an outrageous provision attached to previously strong legislation. I am shocked and disappointed that the majority has chosen to destroy what was an effective, responsible, and bipartisan bill by including an indefensible provision to restrict nonpartisan civic activity of nonprofit organizations. This legislation started out as an example of how the legislative process should work. The Financial Services Committee reported a bill to reform Government Sponsored Enterprises, GSEs, and establish an Affordable Housing Fund, AHF. The bill would increase home ownership among low-income families, increase investment in housing in low income and economically distressed areas, and in general increase the Nation's supply of affordable housing. The bill received broad bipartisan support, reported by a vote of 65-5. It is unfortunate that the majority has chosen to mandate consideration of a bill that includes a provision restricting nonpartisan civic activities of nonprofit organizations, even if they use their own funds to conduct such activities. Nonprofit organizations (and any affiliate of the nonprofit) would be prohibited from engaging in nonpartisan voter registration or get-out-the-vote activities. These restrictions would force low-income housing groups and faith-based groups to choose between obtaining funding for low-income housing and using other funds to engage in nonpartisan voter registration and get- out-the-vote activities.…”