In my role as secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, it is my duty to lead an agency that helps create sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all.
During my tenure, one of the most frustrating things that I have witnessed includes congressional procedural tactics to delay nominations for Senate-confirmed positions. The games employed by one side of the aisle to deny the other side its proposals has the deleterious effect of hurting the general public.
As nominations for crucial positions throughout the federal government continue to languish — including HUD’s very own noncontroversial nominations for assistant secretary for Public and Indian Housing as well as assistant secretary for Policy Development and Research — millions of Americans are forced to wait. The obstruction of such nominations as these is harming many of the low-income people who rely on public housing and rental assistance. As the months of waiting for confirmations turn into years, one can only hope that Senate Democrats will abandon these fruitless delay tactics. Unfortunately, this seems unlikely based on historical trends and the recent actions undertaken by Congress.
While the administration continues to push for border security, we would appreciate efforts by Congress to work with President Trump on a plan to protect all Americans from the ongoing humanitarian crisis that inflicts pain and suffering on innocent families. A lack of bipartisanship and an inability to acknowledge that a problem exists will not only exacerbate the inadequacies of our immigration system, but it will also prevent our government from addressing many other important issues that negatively affect the lives of our children, the vulnerable elderly, persons with disabilities, and families in need.
At HUD, we need more support and funding for the crucial modernization of our systems, as our programs affect millions of citizens. Unfortunately, conversations and actions required for enhancing these systems remain at a standstill due to antagonistic behavior in Congress. It must be remembered that those in Congress have a responsibility to work to overcome partisan gridlock for the sake of the public interest.
As a diverse society — something that we as Americans embrace and promote as a defining characteristic — there has to be give-and-take on behalf of all the different elements at play in order for harmony and success to ensue. By attempting to attack and oppose the president at every turn, many members of Congress are hurting their own constituents. Is the satisfaction of inflicting harm on your perceived enemy worth destroying your values, and indeed your soul? If we become a nation where policy is rooted in ideology and hatred rather than common sense, the outcome will prove ruinous.
It is disheartening to see empowered individuals within Congress refrain from taking action that can clearly improve our nation’s well-being, and yet it is critical that we all maintain faith that this problem will be resolved. It is common knowledge that a house divided cannot stand — let us hope that those inside the beltway make an earnest effort to stand together as one nation.
Benjamin S. Carson, Sr., M.D. is the secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
