On the recordJuly 9, 2014
Mr. President, I support the nomination of Mayor Julian Castro to be the next Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. As Mayor of San Antonio, Mayor Castro has been on the front lines of helping his community reach its housing and economic development goals. In his tenure as mayor, he has focused on attracting well-paying jobs in 21st century industries, raising educational attainment, and revitalizing the city's urban core. HUD is a critical partner in these efforts nationwide. Mayor Castro will bring both direct experience with and an appreciation of the importance of HUD's programs to families and communities to the role of HUD Secretary. Mayor Castro's nomination has been endorsed by a wide spectrum of stakeholders, including the National Association of Realtors, National Association of Homebuilders, and housing, local government, civil rights and Hispanic leadership organizations. He has also been endorsed by several recent HUD Secretaries who have served in both Democratic and Republican administrations, including Henry Cisneros and former Senator Mel Martinez. I urge my colleagues to support Mayor Castro's nomination.
