The objective of the CAI state-level volunteer team is to persuade the state’s Members of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate to:
Send a letter to the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) to demand they stop their efforts and overturn their policies related efforts to preempt/disqualify state priority lien laws and fighting priority lien laws in the courts. (Resource: Letter from Massachusetts Delegation)
Contact leadership of the Senate Banking Committee or House Financial Services Committee asking for leadership efforts to stop FHFA from their efforts to preempt/disqualify state priority lien laws and fighting priority lien laws in the courts.
Build a Team of CAI Volunteers in Your State Familiar with and Supportive of Priority Lien
The team members must be familiar with and supportive of priority lien laws; including the notion that the community association lien is a true priority that takes priority over all other liens - except tax liens – including extinguishment of the first and second mortgage. Ideally, the team members will have witnessed the use of priority lien laws and may provide examples of the use of the priority lien law and benefits to local neighborhood recovery. Finally, team members with political relationships with Members of Congress or state legislators who may have relationships with Members could be very valuable to the efforts.
- Community association attorney(s)
- Community association manager(s)
- Community association board member(s)
- Bank offering mortgages; including community bank
- Other CAI members, as deemed appropriate
Strategy
Familiarize the team with priority lien talking points and develop additional talking points and stories specifically to demonstrate the value of priority lien laws in your state.
Identify relationships with legislators and determine the best way to leverage the relationship.
Schedule a meeting with the Members of Congress
Contact CAI staff for guidance and access to materials, if necessary
Prepare for the meeting
Obtain materials from CAI for the meeting
Follow up with CAI after the meeting to determine best next steps and follow-up
Continue to follow-up with Members of Congress and their staff
Continue to follow-up with Members of Congress and their staff
Continue to follow-up with Members of Congress and their staff