NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) on January 25, urging him to prioritize the confirmation of four highly qualified nominees for assistant secretary positions at HUD. The letter asks Majority Leader Schumer to bring to the Senate floor a discharge and confirmation vote on:
- David Uejio (nominated for assistant secretary of the Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO))
- Julia Ruth Gordon (nominated for assistant secretary of the Federal Housing Administration (FHA))
- Solomon Jefferey Greene (nominated for assistant secretary of the Office of Policy Development and Research (PD&R))
- James Arthur Jemison (nominated for assistant secretary of the Office of Public and Indian Housing (PIH))
The letter was sent after the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs held an executive session on January 19 to vote on several Biden administration nominees, including the aforementioned four (see Memo, 01/24). The committee failed to report the nominees favorably after each received a tied vote along party lines, stalling efforts to fill the leadership team of HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge.
The letter sent by NLIHC made clear the importance of bringing the nominations to the floor for discharge and confirmation votes as soon as possible to enable HUD to advance its mission and those of its respective offices.
“Affordable, accessible, and decent housing is a universal right, and we cannot let political polarization prevent HUD from executing on its critical work in communities across the nation,” said Diane Yentel. “We stand ready to work with the department to quickly confirm these nominees.”
Read the letter at: https://bit.ly/3rNt1Sx