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Morning News

HUD Secretary Martinez Discusses Homeownership, Faith-Based Initiative

Aired February 1, 2001 - 10:05 a.m. ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Mel Martinez is the new secretary of housing and urban development, joining us now from Washington. This is his first network interview since winning Senate confirmation

Mr. Martinez, good morning.

MEL MARTINEZ, HUD SECRETARY: Good morning to you.

KAGAN: I think it can see it.

There you are. Good to see your face on the screen.

MARTINEZ: Thank you. It's good to be with you.

KAGAN: Gale Norton made this her first stop, too, after she won confirmation. So, we like the trend we're setting here at MORNING NEWS, of having the Cabinet members stop by. So, it's good to have you.

MARTINEZ: Well, thank you very much.

I will tell you, I'm very impressed with Secretary Norton and, frankly, with the whole team that the president has assembled. It's a great group of people.

KAGAN: Take me back. Tell me a little bit about your story.

What would the young man, the 15-year-old man who arrived here from Cuba, at the age of 15. What would he say about the opportunity that you have right now?

MARTINEZ: You know, it's something, kind of a dream story, I would say. I've had the opportunity, as I say, to live the American dream. It's been a fairy tale story. And so far so good. I'm just so proud to have this opportunity to serve the country and frankly to give back to a nation that's given me so much.

KAGAN: I know you didn't get to the high position that you are today by yourself, and that you give a lot of thanks in a lot of ways to a lot of the organizations that helped you, as a young immigrant, and then find success and the American dream.

What do you think of the faith-based initiative that President Bush is pushing right now, to have religious organizations be able to compete for funds to help the needy?

MARTINEZ: I think it's a terrific initiative. And it's got, I think, widespread support. I'm so excited about it because I frankly believe I'm a product of such an initiative.

It's a -- it was a work of the Catholic church in partnering with the government back in the early '60s that allowed for me to come to this country and be placed in a foster home where wonderful people looked after me. And it was that warm and caring touch of the church and people of faith could provide that really made a difference in my life.

So I think it's a terrific initiative. It's been well received. I was with the president yesterday with a -- at a meeting with Catholic church leaders around the country.

KAGAN: You were at the National Prayer Breakfast this morning, too, weren't you?

MARTINEZ: I was, in fact. And the president touched on this subject at the prayer breakfast as well. And it was -- it's a message that, I think, is being very well-received.

And you know, it isn't about doing away with government's role. It is about making sure that faith-based organizations have barriers removed and are not discriminated against as they seek opportunities to serve those that frankly sometimes society leaves behind.

KAGAN: But let me ask you about one of the barriers that a lot of people think is a good idea. And that is separation of church and state. And a lot of people who look at this kind of initiative get very concerned when you start funneling government funds to religious organizations. That area is getting too murky.

MARTINEZ: Well, the president is making it clear that this is not in any way to fund the faith orientation of any group. But it is to allow groups that may have a faith basis in order to allow them to do social good.

And I think, in that regard, that we can maintain a clear separation between church and state, but at the same time, not build barriers that are -- that are really not appropriate of allowing social service agencies that happen to have faith based to deliver those services. Sometimes frankly, they can do it much better than government. So...

KAGAN: Which is one of the reasons you're being singled out, so I want to -- I want to pick your brain for someone who also has participated on the other side, because I know, to this day, you're still very involved in Catholic charities.

What is -- as someone involved in Catholic charities, who is doing the service so well, is told, OK, you can have this government money, but you'd better not use any of it for anything that is religious and spiritually oriented? Would you recent that? MARTINEZ: I mean -- no, of course not. And I think the Catholic Church is a good example because it's been doing that for many, many years. You know, I know Catholic charities in my home diocese in Orlando receives the United Way funds.

And those are not to be mixed with faith sort of orientation or proselytizing, if you will. It's really just to deliver a social service, because part of the mission of many people of faith is to help those in need. And that's how I was helped.

So I think, frankly, that it is a good partnership, and it doesn't infringe upon the separation of powers.

KAGAN: Do you see how that could affect your current job at HUD?

MARTINEZ: Absolutely. The HUD, frankly, has already had a faith-based office. And now, the president has directed that we create a full-fledged office of faith-based initiatives. This is going to be done in the next 45 days.

And our first job to audit how, in the work of HUD, we might have barriers to faith-based organizations from participating in our program, So we need to make those accessible now to all folks of all walks of life, including faith-based organizations.

KAGAN: Let's look another goal of yours at HUD. You want to increase homeownerships for black Americans and Hispanic Americans. How do you propose to do that?

MARTINEZ: Well, the first thing is that -- the statistics show that homeownership among minorities is really lagging where it is for majority folks.

And the fact of the matter is that the American dream is really only fulfilled by homeownership. I think that I myself can remember the pride in our family when we owned our first home.

We're looking to ways of enhancing those things that have been done in the past, that encourage homeownership. It's obviously helpful when interest rates are lower. But if we can lower the insurance rate, or FHA loan, which is typically the first way that our family obtains a home, that will help.

So it's a question of accessibility and affordability. We need to have the available stock of affordable housing, and then also to provide the means for families, that are hoping to purchase their first home, to be able to do so.

KAGAN: Taking on...

MARTINEZ: Frankly, I've only been...

KAGAN: Go ahead.

MARTINEZ: ... on the job a week or so.

KAGAN: Yes.

MARTINEZ: And I -- it's really a little soon to have very firm programs in mind. But I know the president is very committed to that goal, and I intend to work very diligently to see that occurs.

KAGAN: A little overwhelming. You're taking on a department, 9,000 employees and $30 billion. You have your work cut out for you.

MARTINEZ: Absolutely.

KAGAN: And we do appreciate you taking the time to stop by and see us. Mel Martinez...

MARTINEZ: Good to be with you.

KAGAN: ... the new HUD secretary, thank you, Mr. Martinez.

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