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WATCH HEARING HERE

Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.), House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel ranking member, delivered the following opening statement at a joint Military Personnel and Readiness subcommittee hearing entitled "Privatized Military Family Housing: Update on Implementation of Housing Reforms."

Remarks as prepared for delivery:

I also want to welcome our privatized military housing partners that are attending today's hearing. Unfortunately, Clark Realty – one of the housing partners we wanted to hear from – declined the Committee's invitation. I'd like to note that Clark is the privatized military partner managing Fort Belvoir - an area where a group of our military families are reporting significant concerns.

I think you will all agree that our military families deserve the best housing experience we can provide them. They should not have to worry about excessive mold, pest infestation, asbestos, open sewage, radon gas, and other environmental health conditions in some of the housing units. They also should not have to worry about cumbersome property management issues regarding lagging response times, withholding work, and in some instances, retribution for bringing housing problems forward. We must do better.

Over the last couple of NDAAs, we have made extensive reforms in military privatized housing to include the tenant bill of rights. We also know some things have improved. But what I would like to understand today, is why we continue to hear from some of our military families that things are not improving. I'd also like to understand from your perspective what challenges still persist and why.

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