AUSTIN – Today the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs met to conduct a hearing on President-elect Donald Trump’s nomination of Scott Turner to be the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Commissioner Dawn Buckingham, M.D., released the following statement:
Today Scott Turner testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs about his bold and compassionate vision for leading the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Affairs.
Nominee Turner spoke eloquently about streamlining regulatory burdens, improving efficiency, focusing on the intent of strategic housing programs, and eliminating the political distractions that have prevented solution-minded people from helping resolve the housing affordability problems our nation faces.
I stand with President Trump and Mr. Turner in saying it is time for federal employees to return to the office and get to work.
I look forward to the Senate confirming Mr. Scott as Secretary of HUD so that we can begin advancing HUD’s core missions to improve housing affordability and help communities rebuild effectively and efficiently after disasters.
Since 2011, the Texas General Land Office (GLO) has distributed more than $8.6 billion in federal disaster recovery funds from HUD in response to hurricanes, floods, wildfires, and other natural disasters. To date, the GLO has helped thousands of Texas communities and families with vital housing recovery assistance:
- More than 9,200 homes rebuilt for Texas families
- Nearly $1.2 billion to construct 137 rental developments to provide 12,581 affordable homes for Texas renters
- 3,907 homeowners reimbursed for more than $126 million for disaster related home repairs
Overall, the GLO has helped more than 13,000 Texas families to receive assistance rebuilding or repairing their homes and their lives. Texas Back in Business, the GLO’s economic revitalization program, also helped 570 small, local businesses with more than $89 million to create or retain 1,780 jobs for Texans.
"The GLO is setting a record pace in administering disaster recovery funds across several disasters," said Commissioner Dawn Buckingham, M.D. "The GLO is committed to working alongside federal, state and local leaders to cut through federal red tape and expedite critical disaster recovery and mitigation projects. Every day, the GLO stands with Texans to build stronger, safer places to live."