Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Committee on Financial Services, today called on the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to issue formal guidance amending previous guidance that explicitly encouraged the “one strike and you’re out” policy, in which Public Housing Authorities evict residents on the basis of criminal activity that may, or may not,… Read more »

A coalition of nearly every Democratic Member of the House Financial Services Committee is calling on Republicans to make good on their pledge to address poverty by holding hearings on ending homelessness in America. In a letter sent today to Chairman Jeb Hensarling (D-TX), 25 Committee Democrats requested the majority pay increased attention to the issue by hosting a series of… Read more »

Today, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (CA-43), Ranking Member of the Committee on Financial Services, announced that the Housing Authority of the County of Los Angeles (HACoLA) will receive a $738,000 federal grant to continue employing its “Resident Service Coordinators” who are integral in connecting public housing residents with much-needed supportive services and resident empowerment… Read more »

Over the course of a two-day markup of Republican fiscal year 2016 budgetary priorities in the financial services sector, Financial Services Committee Democrats fought back against a Republican effort to eliminate taxpayer protections and undermine the social safety net. Led by Ranking Member Maxine Waters (D-CA), Democrats fiercely opposed rampant mischaracterizations of critical… Read more »

In a highly charged meeting of the Financial Services Committee to consider the fiscal year 2016 “Budget Views and Estimates” Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Financial Services Committee, chastised Committee Republicans for putting forth a budget that fails to provide real solutions that will address the problems of income inequality, the racial wealth gap, slow… Read more »

Following an announcement made today by Financial Services Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling that the Committee will embark upon “an extensive review and thorough examination of the successes and failures” of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Ranking Member Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) issued the following statement: “I’m so pleased that Mr. Hensarling and his fellow… Read more »

At today’s Full Committee hearing on the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Financial Services Committee, praised Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro for his recent decision to lower FHA premiums. Over the next three years, the decision will provide an average of $900 in annual savings for approximately 2… Read more »

The top Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee is calling on President Barack Obama and his administration to “rethink its current strategy for preserving public housing,” raising significant concerns with its current approach. In a Letter to the President, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), the Committee’s Ranking Member, expressed concern about the expansion of what has… Read more »

As Congress works to pass legislation that will continue funding federal agencies for next year, fourteen representatives of the Greater Los Angeles Area have called on House appropriators to use that process to halt the closure of the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Multifamily field office in Los Angeles. In a letter to House appropriators led by Congresswoman… Read more »

Today, as the House of Representatives considered the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Reauthorization Act of 2014 (H.R. 4329), Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Financial Services Committee, expressed serious concerns about the legislation, which would reauthorize the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act (NAHASDA).… Read more »

In response to the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) solicitation of comment on its controversial “Promise Zones” program, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA-43) expressed her deep concerns with the proposed selection process and called on the Department to ensure that it does not leave our nation’s hardest hit communities behind. In a letter to HUD Secretary… Read more »

The House of Representatives has adopted a measure authored by Congresswoman Maxine Waters (CA-43) that would halt the closure of the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) multifamily field office in Los Angeles. The measure, which was adopted during debate over a housing and transportation funding bill, prohibits HUD from using funds appropriated to relocate… Read more »

Following the House Appropriations Committee’s approval of a measure to fund the nation’s housing programs, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Ranking Member of the Financial Services Committee, blasted Republicans for undercutting important housing programs that protect our most vulnerable populations. The legislation, known as the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related… Read more »

Ranking Member Supports HUD’s Fair Housing Rule As a longstanding supporter of efforts to prohibit housing discrimination and promote fair housing choice, today Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), top Democrat on the Financial Services Committee, called on the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to assert that continued investment in high-poverty, high-minority… Read more »

In today’s Financial Services Committee hearing on “Why Debt Matters,” Ranking Member Maxine Waters (D-CA), underscored the importance of promoting growth and reducing income inequality through short-term increases in discretionary fiscal stimulus in order to reduce the nation’s debt and deficit.  In her remarks, Waters criticized austerity measures such as the Sequester for… Read more »

Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Ranking Member of the House Financial Services Committee, today gave the following opening statement at today’s full committee markup of five bills intended to promote economic growth and the majority’s Budget Views and Estimates for fiscal year 2015. Her remarks are below.  )  As prepared for delivery: Thank you Mr. Chairman. Promoting… Read more »

Following widespread concern over the actions of a number of independent mortgage servicers, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), top Democrat on the Financial Services Committee, has called on government regulators to take action that will protect homeowners from abuses that have led to stalled modifications, excess fees and even foreclosure. In a letter to Comptroller of the Currency… Read more »

Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Ranking Member of the House Financial Services Committee, delivered the following opening statement at today's full Committee hearing on the Federal Housing Administration’s reserves shortfall: As prepared for delivery: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Commissioner Galante, I am very pleased you have appeared before this committee today. I would like to applaud… Read more »

Today, Ranking Member Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), joined U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Lois Capps (D-Calif.), in sending a letter to eight executive agencies urging them to protect surviving spouses from foreclosure. This segment of the homeowner population – often women in their later years – faces unique circumstances that unfairly deprive them of opportunities to avoid… Read more »

Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Ranking Member of the House Financial Services Committee, joined by Representative Michael E. Capuano and 65 of their Democratic House colleagues, has released a letter to key Members of the House Committee on Appropriations urging adequate funding for critical community development and housing programs in the Fiscal Year 2014 Transportation, Housing and Urban… Read more »