Chairman Herseth Sandlin, Ranking Member Boozman, and distinguished members of the Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity—thank you for conducting this important hearing on legislation that will help honor our commitment to our Nation’s veterans and the sacrifices they and their families make to keep our country safe.

I am pleased the Subcommittee is considering legislation I have introduced, H.R. 4664, the "Mortgage Foreclosure Moratorium for Surviving Spouses Act of 2010."

The housing crisis has significantly affected our military communities: in early 2008, foreclosure rates in military towns were increasing at four times the national average. We must take steps to ensure our military families do not face foreclosure, particularly when their servicemember makes the ultimate sacrifice.

The Mortgage Foreclosure Moratorium for Surviving Spouses Act of 2010 would expand the existing mortgage foreclosure protections that apply to servicemembers who return from combat duty to the surviving spouses of servicemembers who are killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Rep. Perriello, a distinguished member of this subcommittee, introduced H.R. 3976, the Helping Heroes Keep Their Homes Act of 2009, which extended the expiring mortgage foreclosure moratorium for service members. As a cosponsor of this legislation, I was pleased it passed the House on March 23, 2010. Once that legislation becomes law, service members will be provided a 9-month foreclosure moratorium period upon returning from active duty, through 2015.

H.R. 4664, the "Mortgage Foreclosure Moratorium for Surviving Spouses Act of 2010," would extend this mortgage foreclosure protection to surviving spouses of service B members killed on active duty. It would prohibit the sale, foreclosure, or seizure of property owned by the surviving spouse of a service member killed on active duty in Operation Iraqi Freedom or Enduring Freedom during the one-year period following the servicemember’s death.

Giving surviving spouses a protection against foreclosure in the immediate aftermath of the death of their loved one is the least we can do for families that have already given so much for their country.

I’d like to share with you the story of Casey Werner of Amboy, Washington. While not a constituent of mine, Ms. Werner’s plight underscores the need to pass H.R. 4664.

Casey’s husband, Sergeant Earl Warner, joined the Oregon National Guard the day after 9/11. Eight years later, during his third tour in Iraq, the 38-year old soldier was killed by a roadside bomb. Casey was left to fend for herself – on her $10/hr. income – and fight for the home she and her husband built together. Unable to secure a loan modification from her mortgage servicing company, she’s missed payments and the home she built with her war-hero husband is about to go on the foreclosure auction block.

This is unacceptable. Losing a loved one to war is a tragedy that should never be compounded by losing a home. When our service men and women make the ultimate sacrifice, we have the responsibility to look out for those they have left behind.

Thank you for the opportunity to testify in support of H.R. 4664, the Mortgage Foreclosure Moratorium for Surviving Spouses Act of 2010. I urge the committee to pass this important legislation and provide foreclosure protection to our military widows.