Lincoln Diaz-Balart: “Again, I want to first thank Mr. Vargas, not for this amendment, but for his leadership and for his support of…”

“Again, I want to first thank Mr. Vargas, not for this amendment, but for his leadership and for his support of immigrants. He has done that for many, many years, and I thank him for that. But I want to make some things clear. There is no DACA policy related to FHA-backed mortgages. As a matter of fact, there has been no change in policy. FHA's published policy states that non-U.S. citizens without formal lawful residency are not eligible for FHA-insured loans. Again, this is not a new policy. This was the policy during the previous administration. This was the policy when Secretary Castro was Secretary of HUD. It has been in place since the previous administration. There has been no change. Mr. Chair, obviously, I don't question the motives of the gentleman, whom I have great respect for, and I once again thank him for his concern on this issue. If I have some concern, it is the fact that this may let some people believe, those folks out there who are DACA recipients, that, all of a sudden, they have this new protection, which this amendment does not give them. Mr. Chair, I have no real objection other than to the fact that this really doesn't do anything. But I do appreciate my friend for his years of leadership and of care. Again, I don't have a real objection. This amendment just doesn't do anything. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.”