Cummings Responds to Issa Letter to FBI

Oct 20, 2011
Press Release
Request Details on FHFA’s Plans to Help Homeowners Refinance Mortgages

Washington, DC  – After a disappointing meeting with Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Acting Director Edward DeMarco on October 6, Ranking Member Elijah E. Cummings and Housing Stabilization Task Force Co-Chair Congressman Dennis Cardoza requested today that DeMarco return to Congress with a more aggressive approach to the housing crisis.

In the letter, Cummings and Cardoza reiterated their profound frustration with the agency’s lack of urgency in addressing the foreclosure crisis, and called for a meeting to discuss DeMarco’s proposals to help more responsible homeowners refinance their mortgages at today’s historically low rates.

Below is a copy of the letter.

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October 21, 2011

Mr. Edward DeMarco
Acting Director
Federal Housing Finance Agency            
1700 G Street NW
Washington, DC 20551

 

Dear Acting Director DeMarco:

We are writing to schedule a follow-up meeting to our October 6, 2011, meeting with 17 Members of Congress during which we discussed the status of your agency’s plans to implement the President’s proposal to help responsible homeowners refinance their mortgages at today’s historically low rates. 

During that meeting, you informed Members that you did not yet have a plan ready to share.  You stated that the existing Home Affordable Refinance Program has not worked effectively to date and that the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) must go beyond making “tweaks” to the program to ensure it is “fixed.”  You indicated that FHFA was considering increasing the program’s loan-to-value ratio limit beyond 125%, as well as addressing problems with refinancing fees, home appraisals, and representations and warranties, but you provided no details. 

During the meeting, Members expressed their profound frustration with the agency’s lack of urgency in addressing these issues.  We expressed our concern that even if FHFA implements all of the changes you referenced, the program is likely to reach only a few hundred thousand homeowners, while millions of families are struggling and the housing market continues to spiral downward, negatively affecting the entire economy.  We requested that you develop a much more aggressive approach to this crisis.

At the conclusion of the meeting, you committed to returning before the end of the month with additional details on your proposal.  Given the urgency of ensuring that the President’s proposal is implemented effectively and efficiently, we request that you meet with us on Wednesday, October 26, 2011, at 2:00 p.m. or sooner to ensure that Members are consulted about your proposals before you announce them publicly.  Please contact Davida Walsh at (202) 225-4741 to confirm this meeting.

Sincerely,

Elijah E. Cummings                                                                         Dennis Cardoza
Ranking Member                                                                             Member of Congress
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform                              Co-Chair, Housing Stabilization Task Force

cc: The Honorable Darrell E. Issa
    Chairman, House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

112th Congress