Realtors continually urge Congress to pass a comprehensive National Flood Insurance Program reform bill all year. A Call for Action was conducted in April, of 2010 and REALTORS testified at Congressional hearings and urged action during our midyear hill visits which are made by REALTORS each year during the NAR MID YEAR MEETINGS in DC. Yet once again, Congress left town before reauthorizing the NFIP and the Section 502 Rural Housing Program. As a result, thousands of transactions have come to a stop, again.
If I were to tell you, many of your fellow REALTORS will be without income for the next several months: you might respond, "By all means, how much do you think each of us needs to give?" That is not even what I am asking. I am asking you to PAY ATTENTION! Give a little of your time instead of your money (at this time). The NFIP and the Section 502 Rural Housing Program are critically important to Americans and the U.S. economy. The real estate recovery can't afford prolonged Congressional inaction. If we, AS REALTORS, ALL REALORS, made our voice heard during the VERY 1ST Call For Action in April of this Year, we might not be discussing this now.
Regardless of your location, REALTORS must provide a unified front. This issue has a direct effect on our INDUSTRY and on the individuals rebuilding our markets in every corner of America is in every Realtor's interest. The Realtor Party must speak with one voice to urge Congress to renew both NFIP and the Rural Housing 502 program today. Please contact Congress today. Go to REALTOR.org and sign up for the auto notification of Call to action if you have not already completed this before now. If your Broker has not signed up for the "Brokers Call to Action Program", which allows the "Call to Action" notification to automatically arrive via your Broker so that most agents will be less likely to delete. Most of all, when you have completed your Call to action, forward it to a REALTOR Friend or two. Help us keep this INDUSTRY Strong, by pulling together. Do not forget the personal touch. Anytime you have a chance, make time to make a personal contact with your local legislators.
I recently returned from the Washington, DC NAR, Mid Year Conference and Expo. It is our pleasure and part of our schedule to visit with as many Legislators as possible while in Washington. One of the events that Louisiana REALTORS hold each year is a social for all of the Louisiana Legislators and their aids as well as any Louisiana REALTORS who wish to attend, which is usually most attending the conference. This year our function was a Crawfish boil. The one message that always comes back from every visit is how much they appreciate hearing from their constituents. They want to hear from everyone, but BOTTOM LINE, what is the opinion of the people back home. Talk to your LEGISLATORS! They are serious about wanting YOUR opinion. When you register for the Call to Action Program, it is for this reason it is important that you use the home address that appears on your voter registration card or your current residence. Most elected officials utilize software systems that screen out non-constituents. When you think about it, isn't that what you want them to do. When you elected them as YOUR Legislator, you wanted them to WORK for your best interest and vote according to your beliefs. How could they, accomplish this task if we do not express these Ideals and Beliefs to them! TALK to you LEGISLATORS! They want to hear from YOU!
The links below are provided to make it easy to register.
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