Skip to main content

Aumua Chairs Veterans Hearing

February 11, 2016

Washington, D.C. –Thursday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata, Chaired a House Veterans Affairs, Economic Opportunity Subcommittee hearing regarding the Veterans Administration’s (VA) Home Loan Program, which focused on how the program can be expanded and improved to provide greater access and opportunities for veterans to purchase a home.

Image
Veterans Affairs, Economic Opportunity Subcommittee hearing

Congresswoman Amata Chairs the House Veterans Affairs, Economic Opportunity Subcommittee hearing on Wednesday

“Of all of the services the VA provides for our veterans, the VA’s home loan program is perhaps the most well managed, and should be used as a model for other VA programs,” said Amata. “While the program has been a great success to date, there are things that can be done to further improve the program,” continued Amata.

Testifying as witnesses for the hearing were, Ms. Heather Ansley, Associate General Counsel for Corporate and Government Relations, Paralyzed Veterans of America; Mr. Ross A. Meglathery, MPA Director, VetsFirst; Mr. James H. Danis II, CMB, AMP President Residential Mortgage Corporation On behalf of the Mortgage Bankers Association; Ms. Sherri Meadows, 2016 Vice President National Association of Realtors; and Mr. Mike Frueh, Director Loan Guaranty Service Veterans Benefits Administration U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Each witness relayed their organizations thoughts on how the program could be improved including, increasing staffing levels to reduce any backlog, eliminating the home loan guaranty cap, reducing the amount of paperwork, and expanding the program to include home improvement and renovation loans.

“Making sure that our veterans are being provided with the benefits and services they have earned, is exactly why I sit on this committee and I am pleased to know that the VA’s home loan program has been such a success. Owning a home is an essential part of the American dream, and we must continue to make sure that our veterans are given every opportunity to reach that dream,” concluded Amata.

# # #