WASHINGTON, DC – March 25, 2009 – (RealEstateRama) — Congressman Joe Sestak (PA-07) met with Patricia Coulter, President & CEO, and Michael Walker, Senior Advisor, of the Urban League of Philadelphia; Sonya Springer, President of the Urban League’s Young Professionals; and Mamie Fains, of the Urban League Guild. During the meeting the Congressman discussed their mutual concerns regarding financial literacy, housing assistance, and support for small businesses especially in these troubling economic times.
“As we navigate these challenging times, it is important to recognize and support the efforts of organizations like the Urban League of Philadelphia that work not only to protect those most economically venerable, but also provide the training and resources necessary for them to succeed,” said Congressman Sestak. “From working to helping keep people in their homes, to boosting education, to providing an incubator to new small businesses, the Urban League is a great regional resource.”
As they talked about steps being taken to address those facing dire housing situations, Congressman Sestak discussed his vote earlier this month for H.R. 1106, the Helping Families Save Their Homes Act, to avoid an estimated 8.1 million additional homeowners from defaulting on their mortgages over the next four years—with potentially 5 million homes lost through foreclosure or short sales.
Congressman Sestak also discussed the need for more to be done to promote financial literacy. As recent events have made evident, many Americans lack the ability to properly understand financial arrangements from mortgages to balancing a checkbook. That is the reason why Congressman Sestak has co-sponsored H.Res. 65 to express support for efforts to increase financial literacy in the United States.
Ms. Coulter presented Congressman Sestak with a newly release copy of the “The State of Black America.” Published since 1976, the State of Black America is the annual Urban League report that addresses the issues central to Black America in the current year. Congressman Sestak thanked Ms. Coulter for providing him with such an important resource.
The Congressman also invited Ms. Coulter and her members to attend the Pennsylvania 7th Congressional District Business Procurement Summit this Friday. The summit will provide area businesses, organizations, and municipalities direct access to more than 50 government agencies, prime contractors, and experts on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Speakers include Dr. Mark Zandi, the chief economist at Moody’s Economy.com who has advised Members of the House and Senate, Lt. General Mark Shackelford, Military Deputy Assistant to the Air Force for Acquisition, and Senator Robert P. Casey.
Born and raised in Delaware County, former 3-star Admiral Joe Sestak served in the Navy for 31 years and now serves as the Representative from the 7th District of Pennsylvania. He led a series of operational commands at sea, including Commander of an aircraft carrier battle group of 30 U.S. and allied ships with over 15,000 sailors and 100 aircraft that conducted operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. After 9/11, Joe was the first Director of “Deep Blue,” the Navy’s anti-terrorism unit that established strategic and operations policies for the “Global War on Terrorism.” He served as President Clinton’s Director for Defense Policy at the National Security Council in the White House, and holds a Ph.D. in Political Economy and Government from Harvard University. According to the office of the House Historian, Joe is the highest-ranking former military officer ever elected to the U.S. Congress.
