U.S. Rep. Gregory W. Meeks Statement on U.S. Senate Confirmation of Melvin L. Watt as FHFA Director

December 10, 2013

U.S. Rep. Gregory W. Meeks Statement on

U.S. Senate Confirmation of Melvin L. Watt as FHFA Director

Excerpt: Mel Watt is absolutely the right man to lead the FHFA, especially at a time when the housing recovery remains fragile and housing finance reforms remain at the top of our nation’s legislative priorities.

WASHINGTON, D.C. –Congressman Gregory W. Meeks (NY-05) Senior Member of the House Financial Services Committee released the following statement after Congressman Mel Watt was confirmed by the Senate as the next Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Director:

“I am very pleased that the U.S. Senate voted today to confirm Melvin L. Watt to head the Federal Housing Finance Agency. Mel Watt has been an exceptional colleague on the House Financial Services Committee where he has served for the past two decades. Before joining Congress, Mel Watt was a practicing attorney on largely real estate matters for more than twenty years, providing him with first-hand knowledge and practical experience on the various processes and contours of the real estate market. He is, therefore, highly qualified to lead our nation’s premier regulatory agency on housing finance, and has earned wide respect on both sides of the aisle and with consumers and industry groups for his openness and dedication to fair and balanced reforms.”

“As Mel and I make our way back from South Africa after attending the funeral ceremony of the great Nelson Mandela, I am pleased to have the opportunity to personally congratulate him on his confirmation and wish him well on his new responsibilities at the helm of the FHFA. I am convinced that he is absolutely the right man to lead the FHFA, especially at a time when the housing recovery remains fragile and housing finance reforms remain at the top of our nation’s legislative priorities.” [End]