On Wednesday, September 23, 2009 at 10:00 a.m., the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee held a hearing titled “The Silent Depression: How are Minorities Faring in the Economic Downturn. The hearing examined the disparate effects of the current economic downturn on minority populations in the United States, with particular attention on the recent increases in unemployment and home foreclosures. Additionally, the hearing explored the effectiveness of Federal government initiatives in ensuring that minority populations are adequately included in the nation’s efforts toward economic recovery.

The hearing took place in room 2154 Rayburn House Office Building. The witnesses who testified were:

Panel I

The Honorable Raymond Skinner
Secretary
Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development

Mr. James Carr
Chief Operating Officer
National Community Reinvestment Coalition

Dr. Christian Weller
Senior Fellow
Center for American Progress Action Fund

Panel II

Mr. Marc Morial
President and Chief Executive Officer
national Urban League

Ms. Janet Murgua
President and Chief Executive Officer
National Council of La Raza

Ms. Lisa Hasegawa
Executive Director
National Coalition for Asian and Pacific American Community Development

Ms. Jacqueline Johnson-Pata
Executive Director
National Congress of American Indians

Mr. Harry Alford
President and Chief Executive Officer
National Black Chamber of Commerce

To view a webcast of the hearing, please click on the link below:

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