This was a vote on an amendment by Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN) stating that the Neighborhood Stabilization Program helped local communities hurt by home foreclosures, and supported employment in those communities. The Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) provided state and local governments with funding to redevelop or demolish foreclosed homes. This amendment was offered to legislation eliminating the NSP.

Ellison urged support for his amendment: “Instead of working to keep the middle class families in their homes, the Republican plan is to foreclose on the American middle class. The amendment I have right here in front of you describes findings which talk about the positive benefits of the Neighborhood Stabilization Program. This program is a good program, and no matter what may happen here today, the record should reflect the benefits of this program. This program was good, and the amendment offers language which sets forth findings, and the findings state the positive impacts of the Neighborhood Stabilization Program, including assisting local governments, supporting jobs, and impacting approximately 100,000 properties.”

While Republicans did not speak directly to Ellison’s amendment, Rep. Judy Biggert (R-IL) outlined Republican criticisms of the NSP during earlier floor debate: “We need to break down barriers that have delayed recovery in the housing market, including expensive and ineffective government programs like NSP. We need to stop funding programs that don't work with money we don't have. NSP doesn't stabilize neighborhoods. It simply spends billions of taxpayer dollars to allow a few homes, scattered here and there, to be purchased, rehabilitated and resold. Again, upon the sale, the money is never returned to the taxpayer. We are facing a $14.1 trillion national debt. This debt is damaging our economic recovery and is stifling job growth.”

The House rejected this amendment by a vote of 183-244. Voting “yea” were 183 Democrats. All 239 Republicans present and 5 Republicans voted “nay.” As a result, the House rejected an amendment stating that the Neighborhood Stabilization Program helped local communities hurt by home foreclosures, and supported employment in those communities.