Everywhere I travel in Washington state, I hear from families
struggling to find a safe and affordable place to live. Whether it’s a family searching for rental housing near
their job, or a senior citizen who wants better access to social
services, we simply don’t have enough affordable housing. And today,
many homeowners are struggling as well. In Washington state and across
the country, families have seen their homes plummet in value. Millions
have lost their homes to foreclosure, and millions more are on the
brink.
It is critical for all of our communities that we stabilize the
housing market and ensure that every American has a safe, affordable
place to live. As a member of the Senate Democratic Leadership, I am
working with my colleagues and the President to create jobs, rebuild
the economy, and help families afford to keep their homes. And as Chair
of the Transportation and Housing Appropriations Subcommittee, I am
continuing to fight for resources to expand housing options for
low-income families, seniors, homeless veterans, victims of domestic
violence, and youth transitioning out of foster care.
My Priorities
- Restoring stability to the housing market and
expanding responsible homeownership.
- Ensuring affordable housing opportunities for working
families, seniors, and Americans with disabilities.
- Examining current laws regulating the mortgage industry to
identify needed reforms to provide stability and consumer
protection.
- Expanding housing assistance to homeless veterans.
My Accomplishments
- Consistently fought efforts to cut funding for
housing programs. Recognized as a national leader in helping to
provide accessible and affordable housing for all Americans.
- Partnered with the Veterans Administration to provide
10,000 new housing vouchers for homeless veterans, including those
recently returned from Iraq.
- Led the effort to provide over $200 million in federal
funding for home counseling programs, which have proven invaluable
in helping families avoid foreclosures.
- Led efforts to push through housing legislation in 2008
that included critical provisions to help homeowners avoid
foreclosure, to stimulate activity in the housing market, and
modernize the Federal Housing Administration.
- Increased funding for Section 8 housing, homeless housing
grants to states, housing assistance to seniors and those with
disabilities, and numerous other housing programs for low-income
Americans.
- Supported housing initiatives for victims of domestic
violence and children transitioning from temporary to permanent
housing.