Darlene Hooley: “I would like to comment upon one aspect of the changes to the manufactured housing language within H.R. 1776--and that…”

“I would like to comment upon one aspect of the changes to the manufactured housing language within H.R. 1776--and that is the composition of the Consensus Committee. First, let me say that I applaud the diligence of all those who contributed to the final provisions of title XI of H.R. 1776--both my colleagues on the Banking Committee and those in the private sector. I believe it is a product of which we should all be extremely proud. In the midst of modifications to the language, however, there was one change which I feel warrants brief comment during today's floor discussion. One result of the discussions which transpired over the last several months in order to reach the final version of Title XI, has been to change the makeup of the Consensus Committee so that it is in compliance with the American National Standards institute (ANSI) guidelines. Specifically, the formerly five subgroups of the Consensus Committee have been streamlined to three, with seven members serving on each. Mr. Chairman, as you know, it is important that the consensus committee is comprised of a balance of consumers, industry experts, and government officials who will advise HUD on safety standards and regulation enforcement.”