SECRETARY MARTINEZ SWEARS-IN STEVEN B. NESMITH AS ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR CONGRESSIONAL RELATIONS

Secretary Martinez swears-in Steven B. Nesmith, as Deputy Secretary Jackson looks on.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Mel Martinez today swore in Steven B. Nesmith, Esq. as HUD's new Assistant Secretary for Congressional and Intergovernmental Relations. Nesmith, previously the Deputy Assistant Secretary for the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration, was appointed by President Bush and unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate on May 22 and sworn-in June 13, 2003.

"Steve is a great addition to the Department, his outstanding experience will provide the leadership we need to continue to promote the President's housing agenda," said Martinez.

Most recently, Nesmith was the Deputy Assistant Secretary for the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA). His responsibilities included Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs, National Technical Research Auditing Divisions, and Executive Secretariat functions. Prior to joining EDA, he worked as the Senior Counsel at The Legislative Strategies Group, a government relations firm in Washington, D.C. Nesmith also served as the Director of Operations for Philadelphia's Empowerment Zone, and worked with State and local governments seeking federal funding for economic development projects.

Nesmith earned his Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice at American University where he also captained the basketball team while on a four-year varsity basketball scholarship. He earned his Doctor of Jurisprudence at Georgetown University Law and clerked for the Chief Justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. Nesmith also served as the president of the Student Bar Association.

HUD is the nation's housing agency committed to increasing minority homeownership, 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.

For more information, please contact HUD Public Affairs at (202) 708-0685.

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