This was a vote on an amendment by Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) that would have required the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to conduct a study determining the number of foreclosed and abandoned homes that would not be purchased or rehabilitated in each congressional district as a result of terminating the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP). The NSP provided state and local governments and non-profit organizations with funding to redevelop or demolish foreclosed homes. This amendment was offered to legislation eliminating the NSP.

Waters urged support for her amendment: “My NSP study amendment would provide critical information to members of Congress. If members knew the number of abandoned and foreclosed properties in their district that will not be mitigated because of this rescission of funds, they would be better prepared to help grantees access responsible private market sources of funds that can help community revitalization.”

Rep. Gary Miller (R-CA) urged opposition to the amendment: “…[The amendment is]… asking HUD to do a study. That is like the fox guarding the hen house….they [HUD] strongly support the program and they are strongly encouraging the president to veto this bill, should it get to him. So let's just have the very organization do a study on a program that they said they support and love and, if we are successful in getting the bill passed, would encourage the administration to veto it. That is the biggest conflict of interest I have ever had presented to me to vote on, but it is an easy conflict of interest that I say is a conflict of interest. I would strongly encourage my colleagues to vote `no.'

The House rejected this amendment by a vote of 178-249. Voting “yea” were 177 Democrats and 1 Republican. 238 Republicans and 11 Democrats voted “nay.” As a result, the House rejected an amendment that would have required a study to be conducted determining the number of foreclosed and abandoned homes that would not be purchased or rehabilitated in each congressional district as a result of terminating the Neighborhood Stabilization Program.