Steve Stivers: “My amendment would transfer funding for the Private Enforcement Initiative at HUD to the Administrative Enforcement…”

“My amendment would transfer funding for the Private Enforcement Initiative at HUD to the Administrative Enforcement Initiative. The amendment does not change the top line appropriation. I believe the Fair Housing Act must be strongly enforced, and I believe this is best accomplished by strengthening HUD's Administrative Enforcement Initiative and enhancing the role of State and local agencies in finding and punishing bad actors. The Private Enforcement Initiative has been abused by some nonprofits that are more interested in winning attorneys' fees than finding and punishing bad actors. The cost of these frivolous lawsuits ultimately is transferred onto low- and middle-income Americans in the form of more expensive rent and housing, worsening our country's affordable housing crisis. I don't believe this is fair or what was intended under the Fair Housing Act. I believe there is a better way to more strongly and effectively enforce fair housing protections, a similar amendment passed 2 years ago, and I encourage my colleagues to support this amendment. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time. {time} 2100”