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Homeownership Alliance Presents 'Homeownership Hero' Awards

Seven individuals received "Homeownership Hero" awards from the Homeownership Alliance on June 2 for their contributions to the expansion of homeownership opportunities in America.

The awards were presented during a reception in the Russell Senate Office Building in Washington kicking off National Homeownership Month activities.

The month-long celebration promotes homeownership and its many social and economic benefits and serves to build support for the policies that have made homeownership a way of life in the United States.  

“The individuals we are honoring are sincerely heroes. Each one has made a major contribution toward putting more American families in their own home,” said Richard H. Davis, president of the Homeownership Alliance.

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The following individuals were named “Homeownership Heroes”:

• Rep. Artur Davis (D-AL) — As a member of the House Financial Services Committee, Davis started a year-long effort to support housing initiatives across the country, and he has recently launched legislation to increase the availability of rural housing units; to provide incentives for lenders to offer low-interest loans and for home builders to build more homes in the community; and to provide working families with downpayment assistance to buy their first home.
• Rep. Katherine Harris (R-FL) — Harris introduced the American Dream Downpayment Act to help tens of thousands of low-income families and individuals achieve the American dream of purchasing their first home. This bill also includes the reauthorization of the HOPE VI public housing revitalization program through 2006.
• Selectman Charlie Lyons —  As president of the The National League of Cities and chairman of the Board of Selectmen in Arlington, MA, Lyons has worked to provide technical assistance to elected officials and policymakers to help them establish better local policies, laws and regulations and to promote the development, expansion and sustainability of affordable housing programs for their communities. He serves on the National League of Cities' Affordable Housing Program: Strengthening Partnerships for Housing Opportunities.
• Rep. Bob Ney (R-OH) — As a member of the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity, Ney helped move several important housing bills though the House last year, including the American Dream Downpayment Act, and held hearings on the issue of counseling for prospective home buyers. His new legislation, the Expanding Housing Opportunities Through Education and Counseling Act, would enhance and expand counseling programs currently operated through the Department of Housing and Urban Development and foster other private counseling programs.
• Gov. Ed Rendell —  As the governor of Pennsylvania, Rendell established the Governor's Task Force for Working Families, which identifies strategies and programs to build incomes and assets for working families, promote financial education and protect these families from abusive financial services. He also created the Office for Financial Education to ensure that state residents have access to financial education programs and information. The office will be working with other state agencies to promote financial literacy in Pennsylvania.
• Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA) — Sherman sponsored the Improving Homeownership Opportunities in High Cost States Act in the 108th Congress. The legislation would expand homeownership opportunities in states with high housing costs.
• Sen. Gordon Smith (R-OR) — Smith sponsored the First-Time Homebuyers' Tax Credit Act, Mortgage Insurance Fairness Act and the New Homestead Economic Opportunity Act and plans to introduce legislation that will allow Federal Housing Administration home buyers to purchase homes with a zero downpayment.

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