Policy Issues

REFORMING THE GOVERNMENT SPONSORED ENTERPRISES (GSEs)

ISSUE

Over a decade after the GSEs, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, were put into conservatorship, the U.S. housing finance system still has not been reformed.

GSE reform remains a top priority for the Trump Administration, Senate Banking Committee Chair Mike Crapo (R-ID) and House Financial Services Committee Chairwoman Maxine Waters (D-CA).

Position

Successful reform should meet the housing finance needs of the American economy while protecting the taxpayer. The Roundtable encourages policymakers to build upon successful risk-sharing mechanisms and products by employing the existing multifamily finance structures being used by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac that have been essential in expanding the supply of rural, senior, workforce and affordable rental housing.

Background

In February, Senate Banking Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-ID) released an outline for housing finance reform legislation. The outline incorporates elements of many plans and principles for housing finance reform legislation that have been discussed by legislators, analysts, stakeholders and thought leaders. No legislation has been introduced in the 116^th Congress.

In March, the administration put forward an outline for reforming the GSEs, and the White House recently directed the Treasury Secretary and other "relevant agencies" to develop a "Treasury Housing Reform Plan" and to determine what reforms can be made “administratively” without Congressional action.

Housing finance reform must appropriately balance taxpayer protections with the need to establish an efficient marketplace that can provide strong and sustained mortgage liquidity in single family and multifamily markets – as well as affordable housing.