Senate Banking Committee Approves Carson Nomination as HUD Secretary

Yesterday the Senate Banking Committee, by voice vote, approved Ben Carson’s nomination to serve as HUD Secretary.

“Dr. Carson has achieved a great deal of success during his impressive and accomplished career, and I was encouraged by his recent testimony before the Committee,” said Banking Committee Chairman Mike Crapo, R-Idaho. “He is committed to carrying forth the mandate of HUD and learning more from people directly affected by HUD policies. Now that his nomination has been voted favorably out of the Committee, it is my hope that the full Senate will follow suit in a timely manner.”

Mortgage Bankers Association President and CEO David Stevens, CMB, issues a statement following the Banking Committee’s approval.

“MBA applauds the Senate Banking Committee for approving Dr. Carson’s nomination to be the next HUD Secretary by voice vote,” Stevens said. “We believe that because of his talents, Dr. Carson will help strengthen America’s real estate markets, promoting the production of affordable rental housing and improving communities nationwide. MBA now urges the full Senate to take swift action to approve Dr. Carson’s nomination.”

Carson, 65, is best known for his presidential run during the 2016 campaign; before that, he was a renowned neurosurgeon at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, where he gained fame for his work separating conjoined twins. Carson dropped out of the Republican presidential race last March, throwing his support behind Donald Trump.

“We must revisit the ways we do things in order to give people an opportunity to climb the economic and social ladder,” Carson said in testimony (http://www.banking.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/5ffd97b5-7b90-4aba-8a16-eea17453ad2b/FFF8A9BA19A7D58139D031004A9D0F22.011217-carson-testimony-revised.pdf) before the Banking Committee earlier this month. “Right now, social mobility has become stagnant. However, if we think holistically about this–we will know that it’s more than just housing. We must include the areas of healthcare, education, jobs and the skills to do them, in addition to transportation, as we develop the best approach. In order to provide access to quality housing for the elderly, disabled, and low-income we need to work across silos and I intend to do that at HUD, should you confirm me. I want to make America’s neighborhoods stronger and more inclusive.”

Carson’s nomination now goes before the full Senate, which is also expected to give approval.