Al Mansell, CRB President Terrence M. McDermott EVP/CEO 500 New Jersey Avenue, N.W. Washington, DC 20001-2020 202.383.1194 Fax 202.383.7580 www.realtors.org/governmentaffairs GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS Jerry Giovaniello, Senior Vice President Walter J. Witek, Jr., Vice President
January 24, 2005
The Honorable Larry Craig Chairman Committee on Veterans Affairs United States Senate 412 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 Dear Mr. Chairman: On behalf of the more than one million members of THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS , let me first congratulate you upon your election as Chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee. THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS looks forward to working with you on a range of housing issues affecting veterans under the VA Home Loan Guaranty Program. With this letter THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS is pleased to support the nomination of Jim Nicholson as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. For the past three years Mr. Nicholson has served as the U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican. Prior to this he served as Chairman of the Republican National Committee. Mr. Nicholson has a distinguished career in the military having served as an Army Ranger in Vietnam and graduating from the U.S. Military Academy. He was a practicing attorney and has an extensive background in residential real estate development. His experience in real estate will serve him well as the overseer of the VA Home Loan Guaranty Program which is an important program to our membership. THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS represents a wide variety of housing industry professionals committed to the development and preservation of the nation’s housing stock and making it available to the widest range of potential homebuyers. The Association has a long tradition of support for the VA Home Loan Guaranty Program and has worked diligently with the Department of Veterans Affairs to fashion housing policies that ensure the VA programs meet their mission responsibly and efficiently. The VA Home Loan Guaranty Program has made mortgage credit available to many veterans whose loans otherwise would not have been made. The program has helped many deserving veterans realize the American dream of owning a home and the program has had a profound impact on our nation’s economy and our mortgage markets. We stand ready to work with Secretary-Nominee Nicholson to address veterans housing issues encompassing his ideas, visions and innovations. THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS welcomes the selection of Jim Nicholson as Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and we appreciate your grateful consideration of our endorsement. Sincerely,
Al Mansell President CC: Senator Daniel Akaka Ranking Member
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