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Embargoed until: NEW JERSEY REALTORS® VISIT CAPITOL HILLNJAR® leadership team discusses key issues with U.S. senators and members of CongressEDISON, N.J. - Members of the New Jersey Association of REALTORS® (NJAR®) leadership team visited Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. this week to discuss key issues impacting the real estate industry. In attendance were NJAR® president Bill Hanley, president-elect Drew Fishman, first vice president Diane Dilzell, treasurer Frank Anthony, immediate past president Bonnie Fitzgerald, executive vice president Joyce Andreoli, and NJAR® staff members vice president of government affairs Jarrod Grasso, RCE and director of political affairs & member services Teresa Tilton. Throughout the visit, the 2007 NJAR® leadership team met New Jersey's congressional and senate delegation. "It's extremely important that we take this trip each year on behalf of our 57,000 members and the real estate industry in New Jersey," said Hanley. "At any time, legislation can be introduced that could impact our housing market and homeowners in our state. Meeting with our national leaders to express our position on key issues such as private property rights and affordable housing is important when it comes time for them to make decisions." NJAR® leaders voiced their support for the Community Choice in Real Estate Act (H.R. 111 / S. 413), legislation that would prohibit giving real estate brokerage, leasing and management powers to national banks and financial holding company subsidiaries. NJAR® also asked New Jersey representatives to support allowing small businesses to band together to purchase health care at a lower cost. They also discussed ways to: promote affordable and fair housing, such as enhancing the effectiveness of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) and strengthening the Government Sponsored Enterprises (GSE); create affordable and adequate flood insurance, including updating and digitizing the flood maps; and combat predatory lending. "This has been a great opportunity to bring our issues to the national level," added Hanley. "It was a pleasure meeting with our representatives so that they understand the impact their actions have on our state and local communities. We thank them for taking the time to hear our needs and concerns." The New Jersey Association of REALTORS® is a non-profit organization serving the professional needs of approximately 57,000 REALTOR® and REALTOR-ASSOCIATE® members in the state. 2007 marks the association's 90th anniversary year. REALTOR® is a registered collective membership mark which may be used only by real estate professionals who subscribe to the REALTOR® organization's strict Code of Ethics and are members of the national, state and local REALTOR® organizations. For more information, please visit www.njar.com. ###
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