Politics

Sends Letter Today Voicing Severe Concerns, Disapproval of FHFA’s Stalling of Programs Proven to Create Jobs

By Mara Lee

SACRAMENTO (OBSNews.com) – Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-05) issued a letter in response to the most recent display of uncertainty by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) in their handling of the Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program – a program funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) which could have provided thousands of good American jobs and helped meet our nation’s energy efficiency goals – if properly enacted.

Congresswoman Matsui’s most recent letter, sent today, was addressed to Mr. Edward DeMarco, the Acting Director of FHFA, in response to the letter FHFA issued Friday and their follow-up announcement made today regarding the future of the PACE programs. According to Mr. DeMarco, FHFA will not implement any assessments made after July 6, 2010. That means that only about 1,000 PACE mortgages in the nation will be backed by FHFA; and the very real opportunities for communities, utilities and homeowners to benefit from the promise that the PACE programs is still a step away from being actualized.

By Mara Lee

SACRAMENTO (OBSNews.com) – Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-Sacramento) announced that Sacramento County Probation has been awarded $412,815 through the Justice Department’s Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program to retain three of its full-time deputy probation officers for the Sacramento County Probation Department’s Juvenile Court Services Division. The deputy probation officers will be responsible for investigations, case plan development, restitution and recommendations for caseloads involving violent offenders.

“As Sacramento County’s budget continues to be reduced, federal support for critical law enforcement programs – like probation – is extremely important in protecting our community and preventing and prosecuting crimes,” said Congresswoman Matsui. “This funding is especially critical as it will be used to retain specialized juvenile probation officers who act as counselors, and law enforcement and crime prevention officers for violent youth offenders.”

Requests Reauthorization Before Life-Saving Program Expires September 30th

By Mara Lee

SACRAMENTO (OBSNews.com) – Congresswoman Doris O. Matsui (D-CA) announced today that she joined Congressman C.W. Bill Young (R-FL) in introducing H.R. 6081, the Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Reauthorization Act. H.R. 6081 would reauthorize the C.W. Bill Young Cell Transplantation Program, which includes the National Registry for adult donors of bone marrow, peripheral blood adult stem cells, and umbilical cord blood units; the Office of Patient Advocacy; and the Stem Cell Therapeutic Outcomes Database. It would also reauthorize the National Cord Blood Inventory, a program that provides grants to public cord blood banks to assist them in collecting donated cord blood units that are then listed on the National Registry. Together, these programs provide a comprehensive resource for all sources of adult stem cells used in life-saving transplants.

“I am pleased to sponsor the reauthorization of this life-saving program that has already facilitated almost 40,000 transplants,” said Representative Matsui. “I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass this vital piece of legislation in a timely manner, and ensure that the thousands of patients who rely on this program each year can access it when they need it.”

By Mara Lee

SACRAMENTO (OBSNews.com) — Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA) announced that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report on the current situation of mortgage foreclosure scams occurring around the country, and an analysis of the government’s efforts to prohibit such deceptive financial practices. In May 2009, Congresswoman Matsui and House Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection Subcommittee Chairman Bobby Rush (D-IL) sent a letter to GAO requesting a thorough report on these mortgage scams, which the California Department of Real Estate had described as the biggest consumer fraud it faced that year. The report documents that because of the dramatic increase in foreclosed homes across the country since 2005, opportunities for scam artists were in abundance. But such valuable information had been kept out of the public record — until now.

“I am pleased that the GAO has completed this long-overdue report that I requested, and have finally put necessary information out into the public domain,” said Congresswoman Matsui. “It is imperative that we understand the nature of the size, scope, and type of mortgage scams so that we can help put in place necessary measures to stop them, and promote awareness for American homeowners about how to avoid them. In many instances, the report found that the same individuals that initially steered homeowners into subprime loans are the same bad actors who are offering false promises to struggling homeowners attempting to save their home. These unlawful and deceptive financial practices must stop. The GAO report sheds light on this serious problem occurring in Sacramento, and across the nation. I look forward to working with my colleagues on the Energy and Commerce Committee in reviewing this report and enacting legislation to address the loopholes that allow these scams to continue.”