“Scott Turner acknowledged that we have a housing problem in our country,” Warren said. “President-elect Trump says he wants to lower housing costs. But I want to hear more about their plans to do that, including investing to improve housing, using the Department’s tools to reduce costs, and dealing with private companies and corporate landlords who are raising prices for profit.”
In a social media post, Sen. Thom Tillis (RN.C.) described the confirmation hearing for Turner, appointed by Attorney General Pam Bondi and US Treasury secretary-elect Scott Besent as “slam dunks.”
Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) released a press release saying he “got a commitment” from Turner to look into Cleveland’s housing crisis. During the hearing of the case, Moreno said that during the discussion he said “if we include something illegal in that [Cleveland housing] projects, we will be approved by [United Nations] for the violation of human rights.”
Catherine Cortez-Masto (D-Nev.) and Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) also posted on social media. X immediately after the conclusion of the hearing. Cortez Masto shared a clip of his exchange with Turner, in which he said he “pressed Scott Turner to commit to the defense. [veteran home] investments because I know what they mean to Nevadans.”
Blunt Rochester said she wants to press Turner “on whether he supports restrictions that would make critical housing programs harder to reach those who need them,” she said. “Unfortunately, you do.”
HousingWire reached out to Sen. Tim Scott (RS.C.), chairman of the banking committee, for his reaction to Turner’s hearing but did not immediately receive a response. Scott posted a clip of his opening statement to the court in which he called Turner “the change we need at HUD.”
In an interview with HousingWire, Scott Olson, executive director of Community Home Lenders of America (CHLA), said that his organization “is very interested and sympathetic to the idea given by Mr. Turner, that we need to do something about housing production.”
Interest rates and home price increases in tandem reflect a mismatch between supply and demand, Olson said. Federal Housing Administration (FHA) activities aimed at providing home ownership assistance to diverse communities will be “an important focal point of the supply/demand equation, that FHA remains a powerful force in providing first-time home ownership opportunities,” he added.
The Senate appears poised to act quickly on the nomination. Olson said this is important and an encouraging sign as Trump’s second administration begins work on Monday.
Earlier this week, a letter supporting Turner’s nomination was co-signed by 23 housing trade groups. These include Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), i National Association of Realtors (NAR), i American Land Title Association (ALTA), i National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), i National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association (NRMLA) and Real Estate Agency (MHI).
“As the US faces a housing affordability crisis, HUD is poised to play an important role in addressing our nation’s housing shortage and ensuring that all Americans have access to safe, decent and affordable homes,” the letter said. “Mr. Turner understands the importance of strengthening public-private partnerships and working with stakeholders to increase housing supply.”
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