VIDEO: Capito Participates in THUD Appropriations Subcommittee Hearing on HUD Budget

To watch Senator Capito's line of questioning, click here or the image above. WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), a leader on the Appropriations Committee, participated in a Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee hearing with U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner. The purpose of the hearing was to consider President Donald Trump’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget request for HUD, as well as the many priorities of the agency. HIGHLIGHTS: ON PLANS FOR FHA IMPORVEMENT AND EFFICIENCY Senator Capito: “Within your existing authority, without new legislation, Mr. Secretary, are there changes, maybe three changes that you could implement in the next 12 months to make FHA multifamily financing faster, simpler, and less costly?” Secretary Turner: “As you know, we are taking inventory of every program at HUD, including FHA. Our number one deal is to secure the market and make sure the FHA is not only solvent, but that it's strong, that we anticipate any delinquencies, any foreclosures that come up to make sure that our staff is up to date. And our Ginnie Mae and FHA for that, for that matter. We have a team that's done a tremendous job. What hat we're doing now too, as I just talked to our team this morning, is really streamlining, this is the number one thing, streamlining the processes. NFHA for our constituency and clients that use FHA to make sure that the process is streamlined, to make sure that we're taking out any regulations and fees that make it harder to get an FHA loan. So, I would say those are the top 3 things that we're working on currently in FHA.” ON CDBG PROGRAM SHUTDOWN Sen. Capito: “You mentioned in your opening statement. Well, it's zeroed out. You mentioned fraud and ineffectiveness. I can tell you from where I sit in West Virginia, it has been a very effective program. We've used it for infrastructure upgrades. It says this program was created to, in your comments, to revitalize urban communities. I don't think I have one urban community. I do have one or two that are above 50,000, but we're barely there. So, I'm talking rural America here and the use of those funds. We've used them to help the community directly and it creates jobs and drives long-term growth. How do you think that you're going to replace this funding? I know we want to be good stewards of the American taxpayer dollar here, but from my viewpoint, this has been an effective program.” Secretary Turner: “I do hear you. I've talked to some of your colleagues and some of your colleagues in the house. Some states do better than others. But at large, the CDBG program has not been used for its intended purpose, either urban or rural. So, we do have a lot of complex programs that we work with on a single everyday basis. We want to focus on those programs actually carrying out that mission. What I have encouraged our colleagues to do is to really work with the state and local entities in your state to not just replace CDBG, but to work on infrastructure and building in rural and urban areas. So, we want to focus on those programs that are actually carrying out the results overall.” Sen. Capito: “I'd rather see what you're saying, focus on the ones that are working. I do like the initiatives on waste and fraud. You cite some pretty stunning figures in terms of what $30,000,000 or money that went out to people that weren't 30,000 deceased to tenants. That to the taxpayers is tough to see. But, on a program like CDBG, which has been very helpful in our state and in our communities, and maybe it is because we're doing it exactly right. I hope that's the case. Take the good lessons and translate those to the rest of the country where you see things are falling short. Thank you for what you're doing. Thank you for being here with us today.” # # #