WASHINGTON - Housing and Urban Development Secretary Mel Martinez today announced the 21 members of the Consensus Committee for Manufactured Housing (CCMH). The Committee was established by the Manufactured Housing Improvement Act of 2000.

The CCMH is an advisory body charged with providing recommendations to the Secretary on the revision and interpretation of HUD's manufactured housing construction and safety standards and related procedural and enforcement regulations. The CCMH is also charged with developing proposed model installation standards for the manufactured housing industry and will forward its proposals to HUD's Manufactured Housing Program for review.

"Manufactured Housing comprises roughly one quarter of all new single-family homes in the U.S. annually and it constitutes a majority of the housing that is affordable for low-moderate income Americans," said HUD Secretary Martinez. "This distinguished group of housing experts will ensure that this country's manufactured housing is of the highest standards and quality."

Since 1976, more than five million manufactured homes have been built in the U.S.

CCMH members are expected to serve two-year terms from one of three categories: producers, users, and general interest and public officials. The first CCMH members will be:

Producers
C. Edgar Bryant, Auburn Hills, MI; William Farish, Riverside, CA; Danny Ghorbani, Washington, DC; Douglas Gorman, Tulsa, OK; Ronald LaMont, Grand Prairie, TX; Nader Tomasbi, Goshen, IN; and Frank Walter, Arlington, VA.

Users
Jack Berger, Camp Hill, PA; Karl Braun, Las Vegas, NV; Susan Brenton, Tempe, AZ; Earl Gilson, Port Angeles, WA; Charles Leven, Millbrook, NY; Jerome McHale, Port Charlotte, FL; and Alan Youse, Salem, OR.

General Interest and Public Officials
William Lagano, Clearwater, FL; Bryan Portz, Cleveland, OH; Dana Roberts, Salem, OR; Randy Vogt, St. Paul, MN; Christine Walsh Rogers, Seattle, WA; Richard Weinert, Sacramento, CA; and Michael Zieman, Long Beach, CA.

Congress established HUD's Manufactured Housing Program in 1974 for the purpose of reducing personal injuries, deaths, property damage, insurance costs, and improving the quality and durability of manufactured homes. With the Manufactured Housing Improvement Act of 2000, Congress added new emphasis on protecting the affordability of manufactured housing, and provided for uniform enforcement of practical performance based standards, and the establishment of "a balanced consensus process for development, revision and interpretation" of the construction and safety standards and regulations.

Through the Manufactured Housing Program, HUD establishes and enforces Federal Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards. HUD is assisted in this effort by the 37 states that have established state administrative agencies to oversee the industry. HUD enforces these standards by inspecting factories, conducting investigations, obtaining records and holding hearings. HUD also has the authority issue orders requiring remedial action or notification of homeowners.

HUD is committed to increasing homeownership, particularly among minorities, creating affordable housing opportunities for low-income Americans, supporting the homeless, elderly, people with disabilities and people living with AIDS. The Department also promotes economic and community development as well as enforces the nation's fair housing laws. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet.