Banking Committee Advances HUD Secretary Nominee

January 23, 2025

Banking Committee Advances HUD Secretary Nominee

Ahead of the vote, Chairman Scott said: "I urge my Republican and Democrat colleagues on this committee to advance Scott Turner's nomination to the Senate Floor. He is the solution we have been looking for to usher in the golden era of homeownership."

Washington, D.C. - Today, the Senate Banking Committee advanced the nomination of Scott Turner to serve as Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) by a vote of 13-11. Ahead of the vote, Chairman Tim Scott (R-S.C.) highlighted Mr. Turner's record and their shared goal of addressing the housing crisis and increasing access to quality, affordable housing opportunities for Americans across the country.

Chairman Scott's opening remarks as delivered:

At his inauguration, President Trump made a promise to the American people to usher in a new golden era of peace and prosperity.

That starts with making America's economy work for everyday Americans.

Today is a new day.

And I look forward to closely partnering with the President to deliver real results for everyday Americans by building stronger communities where families can thrive and create a better, brighter future.

It's time to undo the Biden Administration's far-left policies and burdensome regulations that have put the American Dream out of reach for millions of Americans.

It's time for a blue-collar comeback.

And the man who will be leading that comeback at the Department of Housing and Urban Development is Scott Turner, someone with a remarkable life story and the skillset necessary to enact change.

Solving the problems before our country requires grit and determination.

Whether as a young man, working as a dishwasher at the Spring Creek Barbeque.

Or the man who built a successful NFL career-Scott never let his circumstances define his capability to succeed.

He works his hardest every single day to make opportunity a reality.

We saw that he when he was a state legislator in Texas and when he was leading the White House initiative on Opportunity Zones and economic opportunities.

Scott believes in his community and improving the lives of those living there.

For him, it's a calling, and I wholeheartedly agree with him.

HUD's mission is to create strong and sustainable communities and support quality affordable homes - serving the most vulnerable in our nation.

Scott Turner's story and perspective are important tools that he brings to the table.

Unfortunately, we are facing a housing crisis all across our country, and HUD is failing at its core mission.

Under the Biden Administration, HUD's spending has soared.

Even according to their own surveys, homelessness in the last 12 months is up 18 percent. Since 2020, up 33 percent.

And we as a committee, in a bipartisan fashion, can work with HUD to tackle some of these lingering, stubborn problems facing millions of Americans today. It's our opportunity.

Since President Biden took office, housing prices have soared by 150 percent, rent up over 20 percent.

Despite all the subsidies - and all of the trillions of dollars spent - not much has changed.

Scott Turner believes that we need millions, millions more homes of all kinds, single-family homes, apartments, condos, duplexes, and manufactured housing - and I agree with him.

Families need a roof over their heads and a place to call home.

Scott Turner won't just focus on fixing what's broken; I know he will work hard to find innovative solutions and I look forward to working with him on my ROAD to Housing legislation and Opportunity Zones.

Under his leadership of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council, we saw more than $50 billion enter into majority minority communities without gentrifying those communities, under 5 percent gentrification.

Hope for a better future begins for millions of Americans with a home.

And HUD has a critical and crucial role to play.

Struggling to pay the rent is not a Republican or Democrat issue.

Struggling to afford groceries is not a Republican or Democrat issue.

Struggling to keep the lights on is not a Republican or Democrat issue.

For the millions of Americans who feel forgotten and left behind--you no longer have to carry that burden alone.

I urge my Republican and Democrat colleagues on this committee to advance Scott Turner's nomination to the Senate Floor.

He is the solution we have been looking for to usher in the golden era of homeownership.

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