May 2006 Issue
Page 3

NAR NEWS

WASHINGTON D.C. LEGISLATIVE MEETINGS — YOUR RPAC DOLLAR AT WORK continued...

II) ITEMS OF INTEREST

BUSINESS ISSUES COMMITTEE
The Committee will consider and discuss personal data security legislation being addressed in Congress.  A flurry of data security bills have been introduced to protect consumer’s personal information and provide notification provisions if security breaches occur.  The Committee will consider the specific provisions and mechanisms that trigger notification of the consumer and any compliance costs associated with state and/or federal law.  As part of its discussion the Committee will feature a presentation from Betsy Broder, Assistant Director, Federal Trade Commission’s Division of Privacy and Identity Protection.  Additionally, the Committee will update members on the status of pending legislation and regulatory proposals including small business health plan legislation, do-not-email regulations, insurance reform legislation, RESPA and NAR’s preemption petition before the Federal Communications Commission.

CONVENTIONAL FINANCE AND LENDING COMMITTEE
Similar to the Business Issues Committee, the Committee will review and discuss recent legislative and regulatory actions pertaining to data security and feature as a Guest Speaker, Betsy Broder, Assistant Director, with the Federal Trade Commission.  The Committee will receive a report from the Subprime Lending Work Group and be updated on pending legislation and regulations regarding financial services issues including banks in real estate, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency rulings, Wal-Mart’s bank application, predatory lending and GSE reform.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY CULTURAL DIVERSITY COMMITTEE
The Committee will address the status of its recommendations and initiatives aimed at enhancing diversity opportunities in the leadership ranks of the Association.  The recommendations encompass methods that identify minority members interested in committee participation and leadership, enhance leadership development activities, and develop tools and resources for state and local associations to use to enhance diversity within their leadership.   Additionally, the Committee will review and discuss recent fair housing testing reports communicating illegal housing practices by real estate companies.

HOUSING NEEDS COMMITTEE
The Committee will feature a discussion on workforce housing.  Guest Speaker will be Carl Guardino, President and CEO of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group.  Additionally, the Committee will feature a presentation on federal housing counseling and practice.  Guest Speaker will be Margaret Burns, Director of HUD’s Office of Single Family Program Development.  Finally, the Committee will review and discuss the REALTOR® -Habitat Gulf Coast Recovery Effort.

ISSUES MOBILIZATION COMMITTEE
The Committee will consider issue campaigns being conducted by the South Dakota Association of REALTORS® , the Virginia Association of REALTORS® , and the Mississippi Association of REALTORS® and consider their funding requests in support of their issue campaigns.  Additionally, the Committee will be updated on the funded issue campaign being conducted by the Tucson Association of REALTORS® .

RPAC TRUSTEES COMMITTEE
The Committee will feature a PAG update, reviewing the timeline and preparations for the PAG to continue to examine RPAC goal increase and fundraising structure.  The Committee will also consider RPAC contributions, with the most contentious contribution request being for the Michigan challenger to Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI).  Finally, staff will seek pre-approval for Primary Race Level 3 Opportunity Race “Legislative Thank You’s”.

REALTORS® POLITICAL INVOLVEMENT COMMITTEE
The Committee will review and discuss NAR’s Action Center including member response; the large broker program in which at least 3 and perhaps as many as 10 large brokers may be participating in generating responses for the small business health plan Call-For-Action; and a status report on the Get Active roll-out initiative.  Additionally, the Committee will review the results of the January 2006 grassroots training planning and discuss plans for the January 2007 conference and training.  Finally, the Committee will review the FPC report cards and brief members on the appointment process for 2007-2008 FPCs.

STATE AND LOCAL ISSUES COMMITTEE
The Committee will review and discuss the impact of federal tax reform on state fiscal issues featuring a presentation by David Brunori, Professor at George Washington University.  Additionally, the Committee will host a discussion on the limits of eminent domain and police power featuring a presentation by Brian Blaesser, Partner, Robinson & Cole consultants.  Finally, the Committee will review and discuss NAR’s Smart Growth program and the results of its initiatives impacting REALTOR® state associations.

PUBLIC POLICY COORDINATING COMMITTEE
The Committee will review the reports of the policy committees and coordinate appropriate policy actions.  Time permitting, the Committee will feature a summary of the forum presentations.

Continued....

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