At Thursday’s Senate Banking committee hearing, Senator Reverend Warnock questioned Scott Turner, President-elect Trump’s nominee to run the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and pushed for key commitments from Turner to support of HUD’s budget for key housing programs that lower the cost of rent and homeownership

Senator Reverend Warnock also pressed Turner for his commitment to vigorously enforce the nation’s fair housing laws and use HUD’s tools and authorities to crack down on appraisal bias

Senator Reverend Warnock grew up in public housing in Savannah and is committed to combating the affordable housing crisis, an issue impacting Georgians in every corner of the state   

Senator Reverend Warnock: “I often tell people that I am a product of good public policy. I’ve worked hard, but I wouldn’t be sitting where I am without some help, some ladders, good public policy. I grew up in public housing, and I understand the security and dignity that housing provides children and families”

Watch Senator Reverend Warnock at Thursday’s HUD nominee hearing HERE

Washington, D.C. – Today, during a Senate Banking committee hearing on the nomination of Scott Turner to lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) pushed for key commitments from Turner to support of HUD’s budget for key housing programs that lower housing costs by helping Georgians afford rent and homeownership. Senator Reverend Warnock also pushed Turner to commit to vigorously enforce the nation’s fair housing laws and use HUD’s tools and authorities to crack down on appraisal bias to improve the increasing racial homeownership gap. 

“Unfortunately, during the first Trump Administration, President-elect Trump repeatedly proposed to slash HUD’s budget–including cuts and the full elimination of key HUD programs that help people afford rent and realize the dream of homeownership, which you and I agree is so important. If enacted, these cuts would raise housing costs for millions of families. Last time, Congress stepped in year after year to save many of these programs. This time I’m not so sure that we’ll be able to do it,” said Senator Reverend Warnock. 

As one of twelve brothers and sisters growing up in public housing in Savannah, Senator Warnock is committed to combating the affordable housing crisis and helping more Americans achieve the dream of homeownership and build generational wealth. 

“The racial homeownership gap has been widening over the last few years. Yesterday we celebrated Dr. King’s actual birthday, Monday is the holiday. And folks often talk about those two key civil rights bills: the accommodations law in ‘64, voting rights law in ‘65. We don’t talk enough about Fair Housing. That is a victory of Dr. King’s. That law was signed into law just a few days after his assassination, but that is a result of his work. The first Trump Administration sought to weaken and even rescind landmark fair housing laws–laws pushed through by Dr. King. If confirmed, you would be responsible for enforcing these fair housing laws,” said Senator Reverend Warnock. 

If confirmed, Turner would take over America’s largest housing agency amid an affordable housing crisis afflicting Georgia and the nation. There is far more demand for housing than supply, especially in Georgia. As a result, many hard-working Georgians are paying significant amount of their income on rent, sometimes sacrificing food or medication, while the middle class is having a harder time buying a home. During Donald Trump’s first term, the White House repeatedly proposed steep cuts to HUD’s budget, which were often rejected by Congress. As a member of the Senate committee overseeing federal housing policies, Senator Warnock will be vigilant in defending programs that help Georgians and Americans afford rent and homeownership. 

Watch the Senator’s full remarks HERE.

See below a transcript of key exchanges between Senator Warnock and HUD nominee Scott Turner (remarks have been lightly edited for clarity): 

Senator Reverend Warnock (SRW): “I often tell people that I am a product of good public policy. I’ve worked hard, but I wouldn’t be sitting where I am without some help, some ladders, good public policy. I grew up in public housing, and I understand the security and dignity that housing provides children and families. Mr. Turner, do you believe homeownership provides dignity, security, and access to generational wealth?”

Scott Turner (ST): “I do.”

SRW: “Thank you so much. I agree. Unfortunately, during the first Trump Administration, President-elect Trump repeatedly proposed to slash HUD’s budget–including cuts and the full elimination of key HUD programs that help people afford rent and realize the dream of homeownership, which you and I agree is so important. If enacted, these cuts would raise housing costs for millions of families. Last time, Congress stepped in year after year to save many of these programs. This time I’m not so sure that we’ll be able to do it. Mr. Turner, if confirmed, will you commit to being a voice in the administration against severe cuts to HUD’s budget at a challenging time, including programs that help people afford rent and homeownership?”

ST: “My job and my goal, if confirmed by the committee, is to maximize that budget to meet the needs of the American people and to carry forth the programs at HUD. I do commit that to you.”

SRW: “Will you be a voice to hold the line to protect programs that provide the dignity of homeownership and make rent affordable for working class people?”

ST: “I do commit to having those conversations with the president and with and with Congress.”

SRW: “The racial homeownership gap has been widening over the last few years. Yesterday we celebrated Dr. King’s actual birthday, Monday is the holiday. And folks often talk about those two key civil rights bills: the accommodations law in ‘64, voting rights law in ‘65. We don’t talk enough about Fair Housing. That is a victory of Dr. King’s. That law was signed into law just a few days after his assassination, but that is a result of his work. The first Trump Administration sought to weaken and even rescind landmark fair housing laws–laws pushed through by Dr. King. If confirmed, you would be responsible for enforcing these fair housing laws. If confirmed, will you commit to vigorous enforcement of the nation’s fair housing laws? Yes or no?”

ST: “Yes.”

SRW: “And would you be a strong voice in the administration in favor of protecting existing fair housing laws from efforts to weaken them or to roll them back?”

ST: “I do commit to upholding the fair housing laws. Yes sir.”

SRW: “So one of the overlooked drivers of racial wealth inequality within our housing system is the very well documented pattern of lenders and the appraisal market persistently assessing the value of Black and brown homes lower than white homeowners. You and I discussed this a little bit the other day in my office, and my staff sent you some background information and data on appraisal bias. This is real money, hurting real people. In part, at my urging, the Biden Administration took steps to crack down on appraisal bias with HUD leading an interagency effort. If confirmed, will you commit to continue to use HUD’s tools and authorities to crack down on appraisal bias, including by continuing to provide consumers with data to push back on suspected bias?”

ST: “I do commit to upholding the law as it is on the book against all illegal discrimination.”

SRW: “Including appraisal bias?”

ST: “We will continue to look into that and I look forward to working with you on that and become more well studied. Thank you.”

SRW: “Thank you very much and I hope you will continue HUD’s important work on this matter as we go into this weekend of celebrating Dr. King’s birthday.”

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