For Immediate Release                                                           Contact: Erica Daughtrey

September 14, 2010                                                               201-222-2828

Washington, D.C.-- Today, Congressman Sires chaired a summit entitled “The Continuing Crisis: Current Issues in Latino Homeownership” to examine how challenges to homeownership are transforming for Latinos as the housing market struggles to recover. The summit was held as a part of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute’s 2010 Public Policy Conference. Speaking on the panel were Alejandro Becerra, a Latino housing author and economist; Mayor Wilda Diaz of Perth Amboy, New Jersey; Angie Garcia Lathrop, Community Affairs Executive for Global Corporate Social Responsibility at Bank of America Corporation; and Timothy L. Simons, Vice President and Senior Compliance Officer in the Legislative and Regulatory Affairs Unit of the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco.

“Today’s discussion with our panelists examined Latino homeownership from several angles,” said Congressman Sires. “When we look at the current condition of the housing market, we must examine challenges to Latino homeownership. Latinos are a key component to a successful emergence from this crisis.”

Congressman Sires is a member of the Congressional Task Force on Housing Stabilization, a coalition of Representatives working to undertake a comprehensive review of housing stabilization efforts, examining programs that have been successful along with those that are in need of changes and improvements. During his years representing the 13^th District of New Jersey, Congressman Sires has sponsored several bills to improve affordable and public housing.

“I am pleased that our panel today brought a renewed focus to Latinos in our housing stabilization efforts,” said Sires. “I look forward to continuing to address the housing crisis with a particular focus on some of the issues raised during today’s Latino homeownership summit.”

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