WASHINGTON, D.C. (WSAZ) -- West Virginia Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito (R) called for hearings into the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, also known as ACORN, Wednesday in a letter to the chair of the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity.

Representative Maxine Waters is the chairwoman of the subcommittee, while Capito serves as the ranking member for the Republican party in that group.

Capito points out recent reports of ACORN repreresentatives "providing housing assistance to a couple attempting to set up an illicit business." Capito wants the subcommittee to probe whether taxpayer dollars provided to ACORN are being used properly.

The full text of Capito's letter follows:

September 16, 2009

Rep. Maxine Waters
Chairwoman
Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity
House Financial Services Committee
2344 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Chairwoman Waters:

Over the August recess, many of the concerns expressed by my constituents involved the amount of money the federal government is spending. They want to know where this money is going and when we will begin to reduce the overall level of spending. I think we can all agree that we must bring our nation’s fiscal house in order and be good stewards of the taxpayer’s money.

With that in mind, the recent reports of inappropriate behavior by employees of the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, commonly referred to as ACORN, must be addressed. In the past few weeks, there have been numerous accounts of ACORN representatives advising a young couple on how to obtain housing assistance to set up an illicit business.

While ACORN reportedly is taking steps regarding some of the individuals involved, this is but the latest development in a series of serious charges being leveled against this group. Since 1994, the American taxpayers have provided ACORN with approximately $53 million in federal funding for housing assistance and counseling. While there may be entities within ACORN that provide appropriate assistance to Americans struggling to find housing, we cannot forget that this entity is also facing investigations regarding potential voter registration fraud in Ohio, Nevada, and Florida among others.

Many of ACORN’s activities relate directly to issues under the jurisdiction of the Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity. Specifically, the ACORN Housing Corporation provides counseling to first time homeowners, mortgage counseling and foreclosure prevention assistance, and low income housing development. Earlier this year, the Committee adopted an amendment I offered directing the Committee to conduct oversight over the use of Federal funds by non-profits, for-profits, and third party entities; especially with the identification of questionable behavior by housing personnel. It is imperative that the Subcommittee hold hearings on the current and past allegations against ACORN to ensure that the taxpayer’s money is not being used improperly or illegally.

Thank you for your consideration of this request.

Sincerely,
Shelley Moore Capito
Ranking Member
Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity