April '10 Nevada Government—U.S. Congresswoman Dina Titus Column

Titus Hosts More Than 200 People at a Small Business Conference on Contracting with the Federal Government

March 31, 2010 – Henderson, NV – Congresswoman Dina Titus of Nevada’s Third District hosted a federal procurement conference today to connect local small businesses with federal agencies and provide them important information about how to do business with the federal government. Titus put on the event with the Nevada Small Business Development Center, the Nevada Procurement Outreach Program, the Service Corps of Retired Executives and the Nevada Micro-Enterprise Initiative. More than 200 people representing over 145 businesses in Southern Nevada were in attendance.

“Too many of Nevada’s small businesses are still struggling with the economic recession. That is why I am working every day to ensure that Southern Nevada receives its fair share of federal resources to help turn our economy around,” Congresswoman Titus said. “Today’s procurement conference provided local small businesses with an important opportunity to gain valuable information on small business financing, tax incentives, and other provisions in the Recovery Act that are available for small businesses. Connecting Southern Nevada businesses with federal agencies and helping them take advantage of the resources available is an important step in my efforts to ensure that our small businesses are once again the engines of growth in our economy that put people back to work.”

Judy Jenner, co-owner of Twin Translation, said of the conference, “I didn’t know there were all these opportunities at the federal level. There was no other way I could have found these resources, and I’m looking forward to easing into the process of contracting with the federal government.”

“I had no idea where to start or what to do,” Holly Sweet, president of Custom Line, said. “To hear how the process works, who to go to, and where to start, this helped me take that first step to work with the federal government.”

“It was great and I received a lot of helpful information,” said Shawn Toyozaki of Advanced Pro. “There are a lot of people interested in helping stimulate small businesses in Nevada.”

Joining Titus at the procurement conference, which was held at the Henderson Convention Center, were representatives from Nellis Air Force Base, the Department of Interior, the Department of Agriculture, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Small Business Administration.

Titus’ Focus on Casework Puts More Than $2.4 Million Back in the Pockets of Southern Nevadans

March 26, 2010 – Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Dina Titus of Nevada’s Third District announced today that she has helped Southern Nevadans save or receive more than $2.4 million through constituent casework targeted at mortgage modifications and money owed from the federal government for veterans’ benefits and Social Security benefits.

“I promised the people of District Three that I would be a powerful voice on their behalf, and that I would serve them in Nevada while fighting for them in Washington,” Congresswoman Titus said. “I am proud that because of our hard work, we have put money back in the pockets of so many Southern Nevadans. In many cases, this was money that they were rightfully owed, but because of the federal bureaucracy and red tape, they were struggling to receive. While there is a lot of focus on the legislation coming out of Washington, I have made it a priority to work with individual folks in my district and help them with the challenges they face. I encourage anyone from District Three who is struggling to get in touch with their lender or get the veterans benefits or Social Security benefits they deserve to call me so I can fight for them.”

Congresswoman Titus, who represents nearly one million people in the nation’s most populous district, has made it a point to stay connected to her constituents during her time in office, reaching out to them through a number of channels, from Congress on the Corner and telephone town halls to mail and housing workshops, to hear about the challenges they are facing and the issues of concern. Through these efforts, her office has responded to a large number of cases. Since coming to Congress, Titus and her office have helped more than 1,500 people in the Third District get $2,460,350. A number of the cases involved housing issues, in which Titus’ office helped homeowners get mortgage modifications that allowed them to stay in their homes.

Titus: Latest Changes to Housing Plan a Positive Step,
But More Must Be Done

March 26, 2010 – Henderson, NV – Congresswoman Dina Titus of Nevada’s Third District highlighted today the Obama administration’s adjustments to the Home Affordable Modification Program and the Federal Housing Administration programs. For months, Titus has been pushing the Obama administration to do more to address the foreclosure crisis, which has hit her district especially hard.

“Addressing the foreclosure crisis has been one of my top priorities since coming to Congress, and I have long called on the Administration to take additional steps that target regions like Southern Nevada that are suffering from high foreclosures and unemployment,” Congresswoman Titus said. “Today’s announcement is a positive step forward; but for our efforts to be successful and help Nevadans who are at risk of losing their home, the same Wall Street banks that took a taxpayer-funded bailout need to step up and be part of the solution, rather than continue to contribute to the problem.”

Among the changes announced today, services will be required to consider an alternative modification approach that emphasizes principal relief. This alternative modification approach will include incentive payments for each dollar of principal write-down by servicers and investors. The principal reduction and the incentive will be earned by the borrower and lender based on a pay-for-success structure. Additional changes were announced to provide temporary assistance for unemployed homeowners as they search for reemployment.

Today, Titus also sent letters to Bank of America and Wells Fargo, two banks which own some of the largest mortgage portfolios in Southern Nevada, demanding that they do more to help families struggling to avoid foreclosure. “It is important that these banks, who owe their continued existence to the American taxpayer, send staff to Southern Nevada with the authority to modify loans,” said Titus. “These banks have lost too much paperwork and returned too few calls. It is time for them to do their part to help families in Southern Nevada.”

Earlier this month, Titus outlined a plan for housing funds Nevada is set to receive that puts an emphasis on principal reduction to help people stay in their homes. “I am pleased the administration is focusing on principal reduction, a step that I believe is necessary to not only provide short-term assistance, but long-term stability as well. I hope the state will offer a plan to use the additional housing funds that expands upon these efforts,” added Titus.