Former HUD Sec. Ben Carson delivered remarks on Wednesday at a House Oversight Committee hearing on Wednesday.
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00Okay, we'll start with you, Mr. Carson, for your opening statement.
00:03Dr. Carson, I'm sorry.
00:05Well, thank you, Mr. Chairman, ranking member, and members of the committee.
00:09By the way, he's got a great autobiography.
00:11I strongly encourage everybody in the room to read it.
00:13Okay, go ahead.
00:14Reclaiming my time.
00:18Thank you for the opportunity to testify today.
00:21I'm Benjamin Carson, senior, former secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development,
00:26where I had the honor of leading an agency that served the housing needs of millions of Americans.
00:32After my tenure at HUD, I followed the American Cornerstone Institute,
00:36where I currently serve as chairman of the board.
00:38I appreciate the subcommittee's commitment to examining federally-assisted housing policies and programs,
00:45and I welcome this chance to share my perspective on improving affordable housing delivery,
00:50safeguarding taxpayer dollars, and ensuring program integrity
00:54while strengthening American families and communities.
00:57I would like to address one of the most critical factors undermining American society today,
01:03how public policy, particularly housing assistance programs,
01:07disincentivizes family formation and contributes to the dissolution of American families.
01:13Marriage is an essential social institution,
01:15and while many societal factors influence family formation,
01:19federal housing assistance programs even unintentionally create barriers to marriage.
01:26We have created a system where growing numbers of citizens have become reliant upon government subsidies,
01:31incentivizing government dependency over self-sufficiency.
01:35The so-called marriage penalty embedded in the assistance programs
01:39creates a tangible disincentive to family formation.
01:43For example, when two adults marry and live together,
01:46their incomes are combined to determine eligibility and rent contribution.
01:51If their combined income exceeds program limits,
01:54they may lose eligibility or face substantial rent increases.
01:58Conversely, if they remain unmarried and maintain separate residences,
02:02each may independently qualify for benefits such as separate vouchers,
02:07lower rent contributions, or continued eligibility.
02:10This financial reality causes many individuals to delay or entirely forego marriage,
02:17undermining traditional family structures, particularly among lower-income Americans.
02:23Instead of functioning as a temporary safety net,
02:26government assistance has increasingly replaced the family
02:29as the primary provided for many Americans.
02:32If America is to reclaim its strength and spirit,
02:35we must once again elevate the role of marriage and family
02:38rather than replacing it with bureaucracy.
02:42Economic mobility is a cornerstone of the American dream,
02:45yet this dream is increasingly out of reach for many.
02:49One-third of children who grew up poor in the United States
02:51remain poor in adulthood.
02:54Addressing this perpetuating cycle of poverty
02:56requires prioritizing programs
02:59that support economic mobility and self-sufficiency
03:02as the true key to escaping generational poverty.
03:06Programs that emphasize work, education, family stability, and home ownership
03:12are essential tools to breaking cycles of poverty
03:14and building lasting prosperity.
03:18It is with this vision that public assistance can transform
03:21from a final destination into a stepping stone.
03:26As we all know, one of the keys to the American dream is home ownership
03:29as it represents more than a place to live.
03:32Owning a home is a personal achievement
03:34that favors a sense of investment in one's community.
03:39Homeownership, homeowners are more likely to engage in civic organizations,
03:45local businesses and schools, and community affairs,
03:48which strengthens the bond of civil society.
03:51Yet, homeownership has become out of reach for far too many Americans,
03:55and housing unaffordability has become a stumbling block
03:58to family formation as young people unable to afford home ownership
04:03often delay marriage.
04:06Protecting access to home ownership is not just an economic imperative
04:10and vital to the keeping of the American dream alive.
04:13It is a cornerstone to support family creation.
04:17Yet, too many believe that government involvement in housing must expand.
04:22Government should not be in the business of owning, operating,
04:24or constructing housing projects on a large scale.
04:28History has shown that government-run housing
04:30often leads to inefficiency, neglect, and the erosion of individual dignity.
04:35Government can facilitate opportunity,
04:37but it should not replace private initiative.
04:40Therefore, the low-income housing tax credit,
04:43when properly administered,
04:45can be an important tool for addressing America's housing challenges.
04:49The program leverages housing market forces,
04:53entrepreneurial innovation, and private accountability
04:55to increase housing supply.
04:58Private sector leadership through LIHTC allows communities
05:02to benefit from high-quality development and local expertise
05:06by aligning incentives towards self-sufficiency,
05:12promoting upward mobility,
05:14and reducing long-term taxpayer burdens
05:16by avoiding the pitfalls of direct government construction.
05:20LIHTC can continue to play a role
05:22in building a future where housing is available,
05:26communities are strengthened,
05:28and the American dream remains well within reach.
05:31Programs that uphold dignity of work,
05:34strengthen traditional family structures,
05:36and offer real hope for upward mobility
05:39are the ones that truly serve American people.
05:42This is why I support the efforts of the President and Secretary Turner
05:46and the Doge team
05:48in their goal of restoring fiscal health to America.
05:53This work is essential to safeguarding the future of the American dream
05:56and promoting true upward mobility.
05:59Americans rightfully demand responsible stewardship of tax dollars.
06:04Every dollar lost to mismanagement and fraud
06:06is a dollar that could have helped a struggling family
06:10secure stable housing.
06:11Government waste and fraud undermine public trust
06:14in programs meant to lift Americans out of poverty.
06:18We must restore integrity to the system,
06:20preserve opportunity for the future generations,
06:23and ensure the American dream
06:25remains within the reach of all who strive for it.
06:28Thank you for your attention to these critical issues,
06:30and I look forward to your questions.