Van Orden Bill to Improve VA Home Loan Program Passes House
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Derrick Van Orden’s bill, H.R. 1815 – the VA Home Loan Program Reform Act, passed the House. This bill establishes a permanent partial claims program within the VA Home Loan Program, bringing VA in line with other federal agencies in offering a fair and fiscally responsible path forward for veterans who have fallen behind on their mortgage payments.
Prior to its passage, Rep. Van Orden spoke on the House floor in support of H.R. 1815. Click here or below to watch.
(watch)
Rep. Van Orden’s remarks, as prepared for delivery:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I rise today in strong support of my bill, H.R. 1815 – the VA Home Loan Program Reform Act.
This legislation establishes a permanent partial claims program within the VA Home Loan Program —bringing VA in line with other federal agencies that lend money for homes.
As Chairman of the House Economic Opportunity Subcommittee, I am responsible for the two most successful programs in the history of the United States government – the home loan program and the GI VA home loan guarantee.
It is my responsibility to make sure every active duty servicemember, every veteran, and every American who chooses to join the military in the future has the opportunity to use this program to fulfill the American Dream of homeownership.
However, when a series of unelected bureaucrats invented a program that had not existed since someone first lent seashells to buy a cave, they greatly endangered that.
I am grateful to the Trump administration for standing up to stop this.
There was a $25,000 problem in the Veterans Affairs Administration, they threw a $320,000 fixer at it, and that had the potential to collapse this program over time.
I will not allow that on my watch.
I want to thank Chairman Bost, Secretary Collins, and President Trump for helping ensure that every American that has served, is serving, and will serve has the ability to own a home.
Thank you, and I yield back.