Expand and Preserve Home Ownership Through Counseling Act

Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Jan 6, 2009

Expand and Preserve Home Ownership Through Counseling Act - Amends the Department of Housing and Urban Development Act to establish, in the Office of the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Office of Housing Counseling, which shall conduct activities relating to homeownership and rental housing counseling.

Amends the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968 (HUDA) to direct the Secretary to establish, coordinate, and monitor HUD administration of homeownership and rental housing counseling procedures provided in connection with any HUD program, including all related requirements, standards, and performance measures.

Requires the Secretary to provide for the certification of various computer software programs for consumers to use in evaluating different residential mortgage loan proposals.

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Directs the Director of Housing Counseling to develop, implement, and conduct national public service multimedia campaigns designed to make persons facing mortgage foreclosure, persons considering a subprime mortgage loan to purchase a home, elderly persons, persons who face language barriers, low-income persons, and other potentially vulnerable consumers aware that: (1) it is advisable, before seeking or maintaining a residential mortgage loan, to obtain homeownership counseling from unbiased and reliable sources; and (2) such homeownership counseling is available.

Requires the Secretary to provide: (1) advice and technical assistance to states, local governments, and nonprofit organizations regarding the establishment and operation of related educational programs; as well as (2) financial assistance.

Revises the requirement that organizations receiving HUD assistance for counseling activities to provide such counseling only through counselors certified by the Secretary.

Directs the Secretary to study and report to Congress on the root causes of the default and foreclosure of home loans.

Amends the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act of 1974 to revise requirements for HUD booklets designed to help consumers applying for federally related mortgage loans to understand the nature and costs of real estate settlement services.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Biggert, Judy [R-IL-13] · R–IL

Committees

Financial Services Committee

3 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

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Jan 6, 2009
Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
Jan 6, 2009
Introduced in House
Jan 6, 2009
Introduced in House

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in House · Jan 6, 2009 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Aug 14, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Analyze H.R.47 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Discuss H.R.47, 111th Congress: Expand and Preserve Home Ownership Through Counseling Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/house-bill/47

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2009-01-06.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/111/bills/hr47/BILLS-111hr47ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-14T16:14:54Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze H.R.47 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Examine H.R.47 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

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Discuss H.R.47, 111th Congress: Expand and Preserve Home Ownership Through Counseling Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/house-bill/47

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2009-01-06.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/111/bills/hr47/BILLS-111hr47ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-14T16:14:54Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.47 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

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Examine H.R.47 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

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Discuss H.R.47, 111th Congress: Expand and Preserve Home Ownership Through Counseling Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/house-bill/47

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2009-01-06.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/111/bills/hr47/BILLS-111hr47ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-14T16:14:54Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

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Examine H.R.47 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

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Discuss H.R.47, 111th Congress: Expand and Preserve Home Ownership Through Counseling Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/house-bill/47

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2009-01-06.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/111/bills/hr47/BILLS-111hr47ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-14T16:14:54Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.47 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.