STATEMENT BY HUD SECRETARY STEVE PRESTON ON TRANSITION EFFORTS

WASHINGTON � U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Steve Preston today issued the following statement reaffirming the agency's commitment to a seamless transition of operations to the next Administration. Preston has made a smooth transition a priority of his iMPACT 200 agenda.

"For several months, HUD has been aggressively working toward a seamless Agency transition. We have established a team of 22 knowledgeable, senior career officials to work with incoming personnel. The team has set up a fully equipped, professional transition office and it has also developed comprehensive briefing materials, including employee recommendations and web-based tools to access critical information.

HUD's ongoing efforts to help stabilize the housing market, keep families in their homes, reduce chronic homeless, and provide public housing residents with reasonable accommodations are too important not to ensure a seamless handoff. We owe a smooth, transparent transition to the millions of Americans that depend on HUD. We also owe Americans our best efforts to finish what we have started and support the success of the team that follows. We are committed to doing this during the two months that remain."

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