This was a vote on a resolution setting a time limit for debate and determining which amendments could be offered to two bills relating to federal policy on home foreclosure. The first bill eliminated a federal program that provided states and local governments with funding to redevelop or demolish foreclosed homes. The second bill eliminated a program intended to help homeowners facing foreclosure to modify their home mortgage loans.

Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX) urged support for the resolution and the underlying bills: “Continued government intervention and the questionable use of taxpayer dollars only prolong our current economic crisis and ensure that the housing market will simply continue to struggle. The market needs to find its own footing free of government intervention and manipulation by this government so that we can get on with a full recovery….Job creation is the most effective foreclosure prevention tool. Job losses rather than unsustainable mortgage terms are now the driving force behind foreclosures and mortgage defaults. Eliminating these programs will not only save taxpayer dollars; it will encourage more responsible government spending by the federal government.

Rep. Jared Polis urged opposition to the resolution and the underlying bills: “At a time when Americans are calling for more jobs to improve the economy, my Republican colleagues want to pass legislation that won't create a single job and that will hurt the middle class by further destabilizing our housing markets….Rather than improving and building upon or even replacing programs that keep families in their homes, the Republicans have chosen to eliminate these four programs that keep families in their homes, and they have no plan to strengthen the housing market or to help the families who will, quite literally, be left on the street as a result.”

The House agreed to this resolution by a vote of 241-180. All 238 Republicans present and 3 Democrats voted “yea.” 180 Democrats voted “nay.” As a result, the House proceeded to formal floor debate on legislation eliminating a federal program that provided states and local governments with funding to redevelop or demolish foreclosed homes, as well as a separate bill eliminating a program intended to help homeowners facing foreclosure to modify their home mortgage loans.