Statement of Robert D. Broeksmit, CMB, President and CEO of the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), on the release of the housing finance reform reports from the Treasury Department and the Department of Housing and Urban Development:

"MBA applauds the Administration for releasing these reports, which highlight the critical need for comprehensive housing finance reform. We are gratified that the reports reflect many of the important priorities that MBA has long recommended, including:

• protecting taxpayers from future bailouts,
  
  
• an explicit government guarantee on qualified mortgage-backed securities for single-family and multifamily loans,
  
  
• increased competition and consumer choice via potential additional guarantors, and
  
  
• ensuring a level playing field for lenders of all sizes and business models.

"The reports recognize the need to better coordinate the roles of FHA and the GSEs. Such coordination must preserve affordable financing options for a wide range of borrowers and reflect the vital role FHA plays in the larger housing finance system.

"MBA looks forward to working with the Administration, Congress, and regulators as they address the large number of issues identified in the reports, including the appropriate role the GSEs play in the single-family and multifamily markets. Housing is a critical piece of the American economy, and reform efforts must ensure the uninterrupted flow of affordable mortgage credit for qualified borrowers through all economic cycles and in all parts of the country."