Former Texas representative and NFL star Scott Turner leads the Department of Housing and Urban Development after being confirmed in a 55-44 Senate vote.
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President Trump’s cabinet soon fills up, and is the latest secretary to confirming Housing and Urban Development candidate Scott Turner. The Senate confirmed Turner on Wednesday with a 55-44 vote.
Before the vote, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) will work with Turner in creating a long-term housing and revitalization program that will support state and local efforts to improve affordable housing. He said he was looking forward to it. He also called on the newly created secretary to enhance protections for whistleblowers for HUD contractors. This includes loopholes that allow employers to retaliate against contractors who report potential misconduct.
Senator Chuck Grassley
“As a former NFL cornerback, developer, state and local officials and executive director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council, Turner understands the challenges facing the American community,” Grassley said. I said. “While the majority of housing and development issues are resolved at the local and state level, the federal government and programs used by many Iowa individual families and communities have been able to live, work and work in our cities. , I certainly understand that it helps me to do my job, and play.
“I didn’t meet Scott Turner in my office like most candidates in the cabinet, but today I stressed him the importance of responding to Congressional letters and inquiries,” he said. He added the obstacles that updated contractor protections. “As a new secretary, Turner is fully hoping to respond to all Congressional inquiries in a timely and responsible way. Working with this new secretary, we will support long-term housing and revitalization policies. I look forward to keeping my community, my state and my country strong.”
Majority Whip John Baraso (R-WY) supported Grassley’s support, noting that Turner believes he “works for the Americans.”
Scott Turner | Credit: America First Policy Research Institute
Turner’s appointment was primarily supported by his experience leading the Opportunity Zone Program during President Trump’s first term.
As part of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Employment Act, the Opportunity Zones Program provided developers when it invested capital gains realized across 8,700 designated zones in the project.
This program has had a variety of results. With the reveal of the value of homes in many opportunities zones, developers have been accused of abusing loopholes to receive tax benefits without actually making long-term investments in the zone, resulting in a national average. I kept on delaying behind. However, the growth in the Zone’s housing value finally caught up to the national average in 2022 as a once-in-a-lifetime drop in mortgage rates caused a frenzy.
At the January 16 confirmation hearing, Turner expanded the Opportunity Zone Program, loosened zoning regulations and fees, promoted the launch of stronger, affordable housing, and enacted work requirements. He said it would cut the size of the 8-Housing Voucher program. Turner also said he supports fair housing rights but declined to comment on any particular policy.
“If that’s the case, HUD has failed its most basic mission and it has to come to an end,” he said. “I promise to have a conversation with the President and Congress. It’s an ambassador and the voice of HUD, and it has to do with maximizing the budget we’ve been given.”
The biggest hiccup in Turner’s confirmation process came when Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) realized that Turner had not completed the FBI background check. Warren said the results of that check are important to garner full support from Democrats who voted primarily for Nay in today’s vote.
“There is no reason to predict the issue, but it would be irresponsible for this committee to vote for a Cabinet candidate without background checks and would not match the committee’s precedent,” she said to the Banking Committee. He said in the letter. , Tim Scott (R-SC), chairman of Housing and Urban Affairs, on January 24th. There’s no need to make it long. It serves both sides of the aisle and is provided by Americans knowing that its background check has been completed. ”
“Without this background check, we don’t have the information needed to move this candidate forward,” she added. “So I’ll vote. With future candidates, the committee precedent and common sense ensures that candidates have a complete FBI background check before winning committee votes. I hope you follow the practice.”
The nation’s largest housing advocacy group is cautious about Turner’s ability to lead HUD. The day after Turner’s confirmation hearing, President Renee M. Willis, interim president of the nation’s Low Income Coalition, has announced that Turner’s plan to reduce access to Section 8 housing vouchers and cut divisional budgets amid a record-breaking rate of homelessness. I wrote an open letter highlighting concerns about the
“Our member and partner, NLIHC, are the people who have influenced, and Congressional leaders once again keep the roof above their heads, with the lowest incomes and the most marginalized. We must lead the charges to protect the housing investments we rely on to,” she said.
“As they did during the first Trump administration, the NLIHC is ready to mobilize against policies that appear to be harmful to the goal of increasing affordable housing, and housing uncertainty. “We are ready to encourage and support policies that are likely to expand affordable housing for millions of Americans living with the threat of.
Please email Marian Mcpherson
