ms. thompson for being here. first congratulations on the audit award winning recognition. >> they're here. >> i cannot say that the policy has been award winning recently but you can hang on to those. i want to return to ms. thompson and introduce the people. i'm really excited to hear about it. >> yes, and you've been all been behind us when we took over the program in 2019, we went from from a small cohort to 7 students and now i'm proud to say we have 25 students from all over the country. >> yes, get them in here. you're on tv now. you cannot be on ig if you're not on the camera. it's your time to shine, i'm extremely proud of these people, they have worked hard to get to where they are today. this would not be possible without under the leadership, 20 years ago, i was part of this program from executive director henderson at san francisco d.a.'s office to come as a child prodigy today so to be here today is full circle moment for me. and i do want to thank our intern coordinator natalie gar tia, the dpa sta

ms. todman, good to see it. sandra thompson was confirmed fhfa in 2022. prior to leaving that agency she was the deputy director division of housing mission and goals from 2013 until 2021. prior to joining she spent 18 years at fd i see where she held a number of senior level positions including director of the division of risk management and supervision. welcome back. madame acting secretary, welcome. >> thank you. chairperson brown, ranking member scott distinguished members of the senate banking committee, thank you for the opportunity to testify today on how the department of housing and urban development is executing our mission. i went to thank the over 8000 hud employees across the country who are helping us carry out that mission but first let me say the support of this committee is critical to ensuring the american people of access to housing. they can afford communities that are strong and resilient. thank you for your continued efforts to lead and a legislate on these issues. as you are aware this is my fourth week serving as acting secretary.

thompson is -- leah thomas is a man? struggle with this and that is why i think we need more leadership. it is not just me as a 24 ms.ustice: it n iwhere it is challenging and where we need to provide guidance and we need to talk about the caring thing to do is to tell the truth. when i came to that realization other people startedonboard but it wasn't immediate. beginning because i thought i was a bad christian, a bad person, that was disobeying what the bible told me to do. as i grappled with it and prayed i came to the conclusion thate caring thing to do is to tell the truth. and this is not to shade leah thomas or any transgender individual. i wish nothing but the them and peas and our life and i wish they would not reject the body that go but there areare in and all we can do is love them and the lovinghing we them that they don't need to mutilate their bo to have acceptance. and coming to that is how i came to terms with everything i experienced. and other people have come around in my church community have now supported me. that is all u i think if you are a christian you do have to speak about this and encour