National Association of Housing Cooperatives

1. National Association of Housing Cooperatives Judy Sullivan Government Relations

2. WHAT’S SO GREAT ABOUT AMERICA?

3. THE “IDEA”OF AMERICA

4. The Greatest “Idea” in Human History

5. Adapted the Ideals of Democracy to the Realities of Government. Put them on paper and made them work!

6. Declaration of Independence

7. America Is Great • Because our revolution was a genuine revolution that was fought for the sake of high principles, yielding something entirely new • The Land of the Free (with exceptions) • Self Government – It’s Up To Us!

8. Bill of Rights

9. America is great Because of our constitutional republic; Our system of checks and balances; Our system of justice based on the rule of law; The presumption of innocence; The right to a fair trial; Protections demanding government uphold rule of law

10. People lived and died for America!

11. We have a long way to go but look how far we’ve come! Martin Luther King Statue facing Jefferson Memorial

12. African American Museum

13. 3 Branches of Government Executive – President; Judicial – Supreme Court; Congress – Senate and House of Representatives

14. Congress

15. Dysfunctional Congress Hyper Partisan Congress resulting in gridlock and an inability to work together • Voted to Repeal Affordable Care Act over 60 Times; • No Hearings on Climate Change; • No Hearings on Immigration

16. Dysfunction • Can’t Pass Budget – Last minute Continuing Resolutions ; • Few Bills Passed – 219 bills passed in this 114th Congress, 196 non controversial under suspension of rules (post office naming) • Only 23 substantive bills passed in past two years!

17. Plenty of ObstaclesFrederick Douglass

18. Frederick DouglassOvercame Insurmountable Obstacles Anacostia “Cedar Hill” House in DC; • Escaped slavery; • Bought his freedom; • Taught himself to read; • Taught himself to play the violin; • One of our greatest orators; • Ambassador to Haiti; • Served on President Benjamin Harrison’s Inaugural Committee; • US Marshall for DC; • Recorder of Deeds for DC

19. Congress is Dysfunctional BUT that Doesn’t mean we have to be Dysfunctional too! “DEMOCRACY” IS ABOUT “PARTICIPATORY” GOVERNMENT

20. 2 Kinds of LobbyingMONEY OR VOTES

21. “ASTRO TURF” before Thanksgiving.

22. LOBBYISTS

23. Top Spenders US Chamber of Commerce $52,320,000 National Assn of Realtors $21,417,467 Blue Cross/Blue Shield $12,077,994 Pharmaceutical Rsrch & Mfrs of America $11,825,000 American Medical Assn $11,275,000 American Hospital Assn $10,917,793 Boeing Co $9,230,000 AT&T Inc $8,550,000 National Assn of Broadcasters $8,348,000 Business Roundtable $8,060,000 Dow Chemical $7,760,982 Lockheed Martin 7,187,77

24. Citizens United Supreme Court Case Allows Billionaires and large corporations to spend an unlimited amount of money to influence the political process.

25. PAC Spending Priorities USA/Priorities USA Action $89,704,943 L Right to Rise USA $86,817,138 C Conservative Solutions PAC $55,443,483 C Get Our Jobs Back $50,010,166 C Senate Majority PAC $43,833,756 L National Rifle Assn $35,987,211 C (501(c) Senate Leadership Fund $31,241,634 C

26. Pay to Play Congress? Not exactly, Remember it’s about Money OR, Votes

27. Elections Senators 6 year term – 34 seats up for election in 2016 Every 2 years all 435 Members of Congress up for election

28. Lame Duck Session • Congress will be back in session right after Election Day with a full agenda. There's a lot that can happen in a lame duck session and in the next session of Congress.

29. Opportunities • Every housing interest group will be looking for opportunities to push their priority issues. • It’s Time for the Housing Cooperative community to stand up for our interests too.!

30. WHOSE GOVERNMENTIS THISANYWAY?

31. WE ARE THE GRASSROOTS!

32. GRASSROOTS LOBBYING Grassroots lobbying is simply citizen participating in government. You can make a difference!

33. NON-PROFITS LOBBY TOO! AARP Sierra Club Nurses Teachers Museums Housing Cooperatives

34. People Power AARP People who weigh in with their government make a difference!

35. SAVVY SENIORS VOTE

36. Housing Cooperative Members Volume Counts on Capitol Hill. We can’t do it without you!

37. WHAT CAN YOU DO? WEIGH IN with your e-mails and convince other members to weigh in too!

38. 250 Attendees If everyone here convinces 10 members of your cooperative to send e-mails to your representatives that’s 2,500 e-mails. If 20 members of your cooperative send e-mails, that’s 5,000 e-mails sent to Congress!

39. We have the PEOPLE & the VOTES!

40. HANDOUT What AreHousing Cooperative Issues?

41. 1. FEMA Federal Disaster Relief Hurricanes Floods Earthquakes Terrorist Attacks

43. FEMA Disaster Relief Grants Only cover the INSIDE of your unit (Grants do not have to be repaid.)

44. Common Areas Are NOT covered by FEMA Disaster Relief grants. Common areas include: • Roof • Hallways • Laundry Rooms • Meeting Rooms Must apply for small business loans which are difficult to obtain and loans must be repaid.

45. FEMA Disaster Relief for Homeowners Housing Cooperatives (and Condominiums) Only “inside” of unit is covered for FEMA Disaster Relief grants. Must apply for SBA Disaster Relief loans for “common” areas. Single Family Homes • Total coverage via FEMA grants

46. HR 3863Disaster Relief for Housing Co-ops Provides FEMA Disaster Relief for Housing Cooperatives Nationwide Rep. Israel (D-NY) 21 Co-sponsors

47. 2. VA and Housing Cooperatives Veteran Home Loan Mortgage Guarantees for Housing Cooperatives

49. The main purpose of the VA home loan program is to help veterans finance the purchase of homes with favorable loan terms at a rate of interest which is usually lower than the rate charged on other types of mortgage loans.

50. VA Home Loan Guarantees Are NOT allowed to purchase shares in a housing cooperative (even though we have a shortage of affordable housing for our veterans).