I have been clear that meaningful consultations with the Congress and communications with the public are essential.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for your steadfast leadership in support of the Housing Credit and Housing Bonds over many years.

This crisis is a five-alarm fire across America.

The elimination of HOME would be disastrous to the efforts to address our Nation's severe housing needs.

Why don't you, for the record, get us those ideas, because I think one of the areas I am going to concentrate on is trying to make sure that, as we look at these critically important needs, like increasing the supply of low-income housing…

The Housing Credit and Housing Bonds are the most effective response.

Simply put, we have a severe shortage of affordable rental homes.

America's housing policy needs an urgent remodel.

Ranking Member Wyden's proposal to create a Middle-Income Housing Tax Credit (MIHTC) would help fill a critical gap between LIHTC-eligible projects and truly attainable housing.

Frankly, addressing these challenges now before they reach a national crisis point will be much cheaper in the long-run.

We urge all Senators to become cosponsors.

Thank you for this opportunity to testify on behalf of the National Council of State Housing Agencies.

We are especially grateful for the leadership of Finance Committee Chairman Hatch, Committee Ranking Member Wyden, and Committee Member Cantwell in championing legislation to expand and strengthen the Housing Credit.

The need for affordable rental housing across the country is great and growing.

Ranking Member Wyden's legislation would serve.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, let me thank you for focusing today on the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, which is a key part of the tax reform puzzle.

This crisis will only get worse unless we act.

NCSHA also thanks committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR) and committee members Dean Heller (R-NV), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Rob Portman (R-OH), and Johnny Isakson (R-GA) for their cosponsorship of this legislation.

In my view, this is a bipartisan, smart way to attack the housing scarcity problem.

We would also urge the Committee to strongly consider the Middle-Income Housing Tax Credit Act of 2016.

Thank you, Mr. President. I thank my leader, Senator Schumer. Colleagues, before morning, millions of Americans could be on their way to lives filled with healthcare misery, eye-popping cost increases, hollowed-out coverage, and gutted…

I want to recognize Les and Eva Aigner, two brave Oregonians who lived through the horrors of the Holocaust. I want to honor Les and Eva in the Senate today and share how they survived Nazi atrocities and went on to live in Portland, OR…

just very quickly, the Senator pointed out this analysis we have gotten where the premiums go into the stratosphere. Senator Murray and I worked a long time on it. Wages for working people are going up about as fast as a snail trying to…

I will be very brief. To respond to my friend from Pennsylvania, No. 1, none of what he has discussed has come up in the Senate Finance Committee. What I can tell you about past debates is that our side was always interested in…

how much time remains on our side? The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator has 3 minutes remaining.