Ben Carson Gives Opening Statement At Hearing On 'The Welfare State'

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Former HUD Sec. Ben Carson delivered remarks on Wednesday at a House Oversight Committee hearing on Wednesday.

Transcript

00:00Okay, we'll start with you, Mr. Carson, for your opening statement.

00:03Dr. Carson, I'm sorry.

00:05Well, thank you, Mr. Chairman, ranking member, and members of the committee.

00:09By the way, he's got a great autobiography.

00:11I strongly encourage everybody in the room to read it.

00:13Okay, go ahead.

00:14Reclaiming my time.

00:18Thank you for the opportunity to testify today.

00:21I'm Benjamin Carson, senior, former secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development,

00:26where I had the honor of leading an agency that served the housing needs of millions of Americans.

00:32After my tenure at HUD, I followed the American Cornerstone Institute,

00:36where I currently serve as chairman of the board.

00:38I appreciate the subcommittee's commitment to examining federally-assisted housing policies and programs,

00:45and I welcome this chance to share my perspective on improving affordable housing delivery,

00:50safeguarding taxpayer dollars, and ensuring program integrity

00:54while strengthening American families and communities.

00:57I would like to address one of the most critical factors undermining American society today,

01:03how public policy, particularly housing assistance programs,

01:07disincentivizes family formation and contributes to the dissolution of American families.

01:13Marriage is an essential social institution,

01:15and while many societal factors influence family formation,

01:19federal housing assistance programs even unintentionally create barriers to marriage.

01:26We have created a system where growing numbers of citizens have become reliant upon government subsidies,

01:31incentivizing government dependency over self-sufficiency.

01:35The so-called marriage penalty embedded in the assistance programs

01:39creates a tangible disincentive to family formation.

01:43For example, when two adults marry and live together,

01:46their incomes are combined to determine eligibility and rent contribution.

01:51If their combined income exceeds program limits,

01:54they may lose eligibility or face substantial rent increases.

01:58Conversely, if they remain unmarried and maintain separate residences,

02:02each may independently qualify for benefits such as separate vouchers,

02:07lower rent contributions, or continued eligibility.

02:10This financial reality causes many individuals to delay or entirely forego marriage,

02:17undermining traditional family structures, particularly among lower-income Americans.

02:23Instead of functioning as a temporary safety net,

02:26government assistance has increasingly replaced the family

02:29as the primary provided for many Americans.

02:32If America is to reclaim its strength and spirit,

02:35we must once again elevate the role of marriage and family

02:38rather than replacing it with bureaucracy.

02:42Economic mobility is a cornerstone of the American dream,

02:45yet this dream is increasingly out of reach for many.

02:49One-third of children who grew up poor in the United States

02:51remain poor in adulthood.

02:54Addressing this perpetuating cycle of poverty

02:56requires prioritizing programs

02:59that support economic mobility and self-sufficiency

03:02as the true key to escaping generational poverty.

03:06Programs that emphasize work, education, family stability, and home ownership

03:12are essential tools to breaking cycles of poverty

03:14and building lasting prosperity.

03:18It is with this vision that public assistance can transform

03:21from a final destination into a stepping stone.

03:26As we all know, one of the keys to the American dream is home ownership

03:29as it represents more than a place to live.

03:32Owning a home is a personal achievement

03:34that favors a sense of investment in one's community.

03:39Homeownership, homeowners are more likely to engage in civic organizations,

03:45local businesses and schools, and community affairs,

03:48which strengthens the bond of civil society.

03:51Yet, homeownership has become out of reach for far too many Americans,

03:55and housing unaffordability has become a stumbling block

03:58to family formation as young people unable to afford home ownership

04:03often delay marriage.

04:06Protecting access to home ownership is not just an economic imperative

04:10and vital to the keeping of the American dream alive.

04:13It is a cornerstone to support family creation.

04:17Yet, too many believe that government involvement in housing must expand.

04:22Government should not be in the business of owning, operating,

04:24or constructing housing projects on a large scale.

04:28History has shown that government-run housing

04:30often leads to inefficiency, neglect, and the erosion of individual dignity.

04:35Government can facilitate opportunity,

04:37but it should not replace private initiative.

04:40Therefore, the low-income housing tax credit,

04:43when properly administered,

04:45can be an important tool for addressing America's housing challenges.

04:49The program leverages housing market forces,

04:53entrepreneurial innovation, and private accountability

04:55to increase housing supply.

04:58Private sector leadership through LIHTC allows communities

05:02to benefit from high-quality development and local expertise

05:06by aligning incentives towards self-sufficiency,

05:12promoting upward mobility,

05:14and reducing long-term taxpayer burdens

05:16by avoiding the pitfalls of direct government construction.

05:20LIHTC can continue to play a role

05:22in building a future where housing is available,

05:26communities are strengthened,

05:28and the American dream remains well within reach.

05:31Programs that uphold dignity of work,

05:34strengthen traditional family structures,

05:36and offer real hope for upward mobility

05:39are the ones that truly serve American people.

05:42This is why I support the efforts of the President and Secretary Turner

05:46and the Doge team

05:48in their goal of restoring fiscal health to America.

05:53This work is essential to safeguarding the future of the American dream

05:56and promoting true upward mobility.

05:59Americans rightfully demand responsible stewardship of tax dollars.

06:04Every dollar lost to mismanagement and fraud

06:06is a dollar that could have helped a struggling family

06:10secure stable housing.

06:11Government waste and fraud undermine public trust

06:14in programs meant to lift Americans out of poverty.

06:18We must restore integrity to the system,

06:20preserve opportunity for the future generations,

06:23and ensure the American dream

06:25remains within the reach of all who strive for it.

06:28Thank you for your attention to these critical issues,

06:30and I look forward to your questions.

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