Connie Mack: “I rise in support of the Nickles amendment. At the outset, I want to say to the chairman of the VA-HUD Subcommittee…”

“I rise in support of the Nickles amendment. At the outset, I want to say to the chairman of the VA-HUD Subcommittee, both to Senator Bond and Senator Mikulski, that I congratulate them for their effort in putting together what is generally a good and balanced HUD appropriations bill. As chairman of the HUD's authorizing subcommittee, I appreciate the difficulty of funding the most important parts of HUD's mission, while also addressing the critical need of the Department to reform its management and operations. I especially appreciate Senator Bond's cooperation in helping ensure the effective implementation of the section 8 "mark-to-market" program we enacted last year. However, on the issue of FHA loan limits, Senator Bond and I disagree. I am concerned that the Appropriations Committee did not consider the views of the authorizing committee. This is a major policy change that is being implemented through the appropriations process despite evidence gathered in hearings that would indicate that the change is ill-advised. Last month, the Housing Opportunity and Community Development Subcommittee held two days of oversight hearings on FHA. The Subcommittee heard extensive testimony from HUD, GAO, the HUD Inspector General and outside witnesses on the programs, operations and mission of FHA, and on proposals for reform. I heard little testimony at those hearings that made a compelling case to raise the FHA loan limit.”