Bruce F. Vento: “I rise to hail National Homeownership Week. Homeownership is one of the core values we have, I think, as Americans and…”

“I rise to hail National Homeownership Week. Homeownership is one of the core values we have, I think, as Americans and one of the most fundamental bases for stability in our communities. This record homeownership rate of over 67 percent did not happen without leadership from the Clinton administration, from former Secretary Cisneros and current Secretary Andrew Cuomo. I think we all should be very proud of this accomplishment and the focus that led us to this result. Since 1993, we have nearly 8 million new homeowners. That is a million more families each year that have achieved homeownership. That has come about, obviously, because we have made the right decisions with regards to our budget since then. We have lower mortgage rates and higher employment, and new policy has helped in many areas for first-time homeowners, minority homeownership and, of course, dealing with senior citizens and reverse mortgages contracts. But we have much work to go before we are done.”