December 14, 2018
The Honorable Mitch McConnell
Republican Leader
United States Senate
317 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
The Honorable Charles E. Schumer
Democratic Leader
United States Senate
322 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Senator McConnell and Senator Schumer:
The undersigned organizations, representing a wide range of voices in the housing and mortgage financing industry, support the nomination of Seth D. Appleton for Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research at the Department Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Mr. Appleton possesses the knowledge and expertise to lead this important arm of HUD.
As the current General Deputy Assistant Secretary for Congressional and Intergovernmental Relations at HUD, Mr. Appleton is deeply familiar with the day-to-day workings of the Department and the important role HUD plays in our nation’s housing market. During his 13 years as a Capitol Hill staffer, Mr. Appleton gained a strong understanding of housing policy and was instrumental in helping pass the Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act (HOTMA), which made much needed reforms to the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) condominium loan program, federal assisted housing programs and Rural Housing Service loan programs. In May, Mr. Appleton received the unanimous approval of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs to move his nomination forward. His extensive experience serving the public coupled with a solid housing policy background makes Mr. Appleton an ideal leader of the Office of Policy Development and Research at HUD.
With a new Congress ready to take office in January 2019, ensuring HUD has the right leaders in place is a key consideration. Mr. Appleton will provide HUD with sound leadership that will enable the Department to move forward on important initiatives. The undersigned groups respectfully urge you to support Mr. Appleton’s confirmation as Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research and bring up his nomination for a vote in the full Senate.
Sincerely,
American Academy of Housing and Communities
American Escrow Association
America’s Homeowner Alliance
American Land Title Association
Community Home Lenders Association
The Community Mortgage Lenders of America
Consumer Mortgage Coalition
Council for Affordable and Rural Housing
Make Room
Manufactured Housing Institute
Mortgage Bankers Association
Multifamily Lenders Council
National Affordable Housing Management Association
National Apartment Association
National Association of Affordable Housing Lenders
National Association of Home Builders
National Association of Housing Cooperatives
National Association of REALTORS®
National Leased Housing Association
National Multifamily Housing Council
National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association
Public Housing Authorities Directors Association
Real Estate Services Providers Council, Inc. (RESPRO)
The Realty Alliance
cc: U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs