Last Thursday afternoon, the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs conducted a nomination hearing to interview San Antonio Housing Authority CEO Lourdes Castro Ramírez for the position of HUD Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing. Committee Chairman Tim Johnson utilized this brief hearing to highlight some of his goals for HUD. His inquiry included questioning on how, under Castro Ramírez’s leadership, the HUD can better engage and serve Indian country; curtail the Office of Public and Indian Housing’s administrative burdens and reporting requirements; and foster effective partnerships with other federal agencies.

Castro Ramírez responded by showcasing her professional successes with the San Antonio Housing Authority and the City of Los Angeles. In particular, she championed her track record in San Antonio, where steady federal investment has bolstered SAHA’s work. Under Castro Ramírez’s leadership, the housing authority has collaborated across sectors to enhance service delivery and pursued innovative programming that provides educational resources to housing authority residents.

If confirmed for this role, Castro Ramírez would join HUD Secretary and former San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro, who left the city this August to accept the top post at HUD. She promised to forward Secretary Castro’s vision of making HUD the “Department of Opportunity” upon her confirmation.

For more on the hearing, please visit the Senate website to watch the webcast or read Castro Ramírez’s testimony.