On September 10, the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs held a hearing to consider the nomination of Katherine O’Regan as HUD assistant secretary for policy development and research (PD&R). Dr. O’Regan is professor of public policy and planning at New York University’s Wagner School of Public Service. Committee Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-ID) asked Dr. O’Regan about HUD’s proposed Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) rule, which is open for public comment (see elsewhere in Memo), and the types of data that the rule would require grantees to provide. As the rule is not finalized, Dr. O’Regan said she could not cite the specific types of data, but PD&R would play a significant role in managing them. She added that HUD will work to ensure that the data burden remains with HUD, not local communities. As for privacy concerns related to potential new data requirements, Dr. O’Regan said HUD typically aggregates data to protect privacy; there is no reason why data would not be aggregated with respect to the AFFH rule. As PD&R monitors housing market functions, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) asked about the need for changes in the manner that data are collected and analyzed to ensure the nation is “never caught off guard,” as was the case with the recent housing downturn. Dr. O’Regan emphasized the importance for PD&R to be forward looking with respect to data analysis and other areas it covers. With one in five homeowners still holding underwater mortgages, Senator Warren said the housing market is not fully recovered. Dr. O’Regan said ongoing research, data, and sufficient staff capacity are essential to fully monitor this situation. Senator Warren asked Dr. O’Regan whether she would feel confident with the resources at her disposal to achieve a forward-thinking policy agenda, if confirmed. Responding affirmatively, Dr. O’Regan noted that PD&R has opened its processes in the past year, allowing for greater public input to shape its agenda.Dr. O’Regan will meet next with committee members individually as part of the confirmation process.At the September 10 hearing, committee members also considered the nomination of Wanda Felton as First Vice President of the Export-Import Bank of the United States.View the hearing webcast and testimony: http://1.usa.gov/14MMTaQ