MBA, Trade Groups Lead Push to Approve HUD Nominees

Back from its August recess, Congress has a lot on its plate: flood insurance; debt ceilings; Hurricane Harvey relief; and tax reform, to name a few. The Mortgage Bankers Association and nearly 60 other industry and consumer trade groups want the Senate to make sure a key component of housing policy–HUD leadership–stays on the front burner, too.

In a Sept. 5 letter, MBA and other trade groups “implored” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., to bring the Trump Administration’s nomination of Pam Patanaude as HUD Deputy Secretary to the floor for a vote.

Patenaude is president of the J. Ronald Terwilliger Foundation for America’s Families. She served previously at HUD as Assistant Secretary for Community, Planning and Development in the George W. Bush Administration and also served as director of housing policy with the Bipartisan Policy Center’s Housing Commission.

Patanaude’s nomination has been in limbo since June, when the Senate Banking Committee favorably reported her nomination.

“Ms. Patenaude has shown a dedication to housing through her many years of service,” the letter said. “Her previous tenure at HUD provides her with a great understanding of both the organization itself as well as its programs. She also has experience at the New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority, which provides her with the state/local perspective of HUD programs at work.”

The letter noted with a new fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, “filling HUD’s Deputy Secretary position could not be more critical. Pam Patenaude’s leadership will be a great asset to the Department, and her knowledge will forward the mission of HUD. We urge you to support her confirmation and move it to the Floor for a vote.”