Rob Portman: “Reclaiming my time, I think again that the intent of this legislation we are considering today is consistent with what…”

“Reclaiming my time, I think again that the intent of this legislation we are considering today is consistent with what the gentleman is trying to get at. In fact, our whole idea here is to end up with a process at HUD and everywhere else where the application process is simplified, streamlined and we do not have the opportunity to have the kind of technical deficiencies the gentleman talked about because it would be clearer to the applicants. On the other hand, now and again it is going to happen. I guess I am not crazy about including this in the legislation, but based on what the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer) said earlier and based upon the gentleman's description of the response, particularly to the 7 days, to the cost and then to the definition of 'technical,' I guess I would not oppose the amendment being included in the legislation with the understanding that this is not meant to in any way impede, slow down the grant making process and that we will continue to work through process as we go back over to the Senate side to try to address this concern. Mr. Chairman, I also want to tell the gentleman from Ohio that I appreciate the gentleman narrowing the amendment considerably from earlier discussions that we had.”