Date: March 6, 2003
Staff Contact: Alex Hecht, Legislative Analyst

Representatives Phil English (R-PA), former city comptroller of Erie, PA, and Richard Neal (D-MA), former mayor of Springfield, MA, serve as co-chairs of CREC which is endorsed by the 12 major national real estate groups of NREO: American Resort Development Association; Building Owners and Managers Association International; International Council of Shopping Centers; Manufactured Housing Institute; Mortgage Bankers Association; National Apartment Association; National Association of Home Builders; National Association of Industrial and Office Properties; National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts; National Association of Realtors; National Multi Housing Council; and Real Estate Roundtable. Since 1999, CREC and NREO have co-hosted numerous activities. In the 107th Congress, CREC's membership reached 99 and membership in CREC is currently being urged to all members of Congress in the U.S. House of Representatives for activities during the 108th Congress.

NMHC/NAA Position
The caucus is intended to serve as a forum for members of Congress and real estate professionals to discuss federal policy and its impact on the nation's real estate industry. NAA/NMHC agree with the goals of the Congressional Real Estate Caucus and strongly urge all members of Congress to join. As the relationship between a healthy realty sector and the country's continued economic growth are closely interrelated, the workings of such a bipartisan coalition can only lead to positive outcomes for the nation as a whole.

Additional Points

• Real estate accounts for a quarter of every tax dollar, constitutes half of the nation's domestic investment, and is responsible for 12 percent of the nation's gross domestic product and an estimated 8.9 million jobs. Thus, protecting and promoting a healthy real estate sector can only serve to strengthen our nation's economy.
  
• CREC will seek to ensure federal policies that further real estate's contributions to national, state and local economies. With the support of real estate organizations representing two million members and companies which own, build, manage and finance real estate, CREC will establish a strong alliance between federal lawmakers and this vital industry.
  
• Members of Congress who make daily decisions affecting tax, environmental, housing, and other federal laws will have the benefit of a heightened awareness provided by CREC with the aim of preventing unintended negative consequences for real estate and the overall economy.

2003 Membership of CREC
Co-Chairs: Rep. Phil English (R-PA) and Rep. Richard Neal (D-MA)

Rep. Gary Ackerman D-NY
Rep. Robert Andrews D-NJ
Rep. Spencer Bachus R-AL
Rep. Richard Baker R-LA
Rep. Roscoe Bartlett R-MD
Rep. Ken Bentsen D-TX
Rep. Sanford Bishop D-GA
Rep. Earl Blumenauer D-OR
Rep. Roy Blunt R-MO
Rep. Robert Borski D-PA
Rep. Robert Brady D-NJ
Rep. Dan Burton R-IN
Rep. Ken Calvert R-CA
Del. Donna Christensen D-VI
Rep. Bob Clement D-TN
Rep. Howard Coble R-NC
Rep. John Cooksey R-LA
Rep. Chris Cox R-CA
Rep. Bill Coyne D-PA
Rep. Robert "Bud" Cramer D-AL
Rep. Barbara Cubin R-WY
Rep. Jim Davis D-FL
Rep. Jo Ann Davis R-VA
Rep. William Delahunt D-MA
Rep. David Dreier R-CA
Rep. John Duncan R-TN
Rep. Jennifer Dunn R-WA
Rep. Phil English R-PA
Rep. Bob Etheridge D-NC
Rep. Mark Foley R-FL
Rep. Martin Frost D-TX
Rep. Elton Gallegly R-CA
Rep. Jim Gibbons R-NV
Rep. Paul Gillmor R-OH
Rep. Bob Goodlatte R-VA
Rep. Bart Gordon D-TN
Rep. Lindsey Graham R-SC
Rep. Jim Greenwood R-PA
Rep. Gil Gutknecht R-MN
Rep. Tony Hall D-OH
Rep. Melissa Hart R-PA
Rep. JD Hayworth R-AZ
Rep. Earl Hilliard D-AL
Rep. Stephen Horn R-CA`
Rep. Johnny Isakson R-GA
Rep. William Jefferson D-LA
Rep. Nancy Johnson R-CT
Rep. Sam Johnson T-TX
Rep. Walter Jones R-NC
Rep. Sue Kelly R-NY
Rep. Mark Kennedy R-MN
Rep. Joe Knollenberg R-MI
Rep. Jim Kolbe R-AZ
Rep. John Larson D-CT
Rep. Ron Lewis R-KY
Rep. Ken Lucas R-KY
Rep. Carolyn Maloney D-NY
Rep. Donald Manzullo R-IL
Re. Jim Marshall D-GA
Rep. Jim McCrery R-LA
Rep. Scott McInnis R-CO
Rep. Michael McNulty D-NY
Rep. Gary Miller R-CA
Rep. Sue Myrick R-NC
Rep. Richard Neal D-MA
Rep. George Nethercutt R-WA
Rep. Bob Ney R-OH
Rep. Anne Northup R-KY
Rep. Doug Ose R-CA
Rep. Frank Pallone D-NJ
Rep. Don Payne D-NJ
Rep. John Peterson R-PA
Rep. Thomas Petri R-WI
Rep. David Price D-NC
Rep. Deborah Pryce R-OH
Rep. Jim Ramstad R-MN
Rep. Max Sandlin D-TX
Rep. Jim Saxton R-NJ
Rep. Adam Schiff D-CA
Rep. Pete Sessions R-TX
Rep. Clay Shaw R-FL
Rep. Brad Sherman D-CA
Rep. Don Sherwood R-PA
Rep. Ronnie Shows D-MS
Rep. Mark Souder R-IN
Rep. John Spratt D-SC
Rep. Cliff Stearns R-FL
Rep. Patrick Tiberi R-OH
Rep. Jim Turner R-TX
Rep. Greg Walden R-OR
Rep. James Walsh R-NY
Rep. Zach Wamp R-TN
Rep. Henry Waxman D-CA
Rep. Jerry Weller R-IL