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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E119]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING N. ERIC WEISS, PH.D. IN CELEBRATION OF HIS RETIREMENT
______
HON. DONALD S. BEYER, JR.
of virginia
in the house of representatives
Monday, February 3, 2020
Mr. BEYER. Madam Speaker, N. Eric Weiss, Ph.D., a specialist in
financial economics, retired from the Government and Finance Division
ofthe Congressional Research Service (CRS) at the Library of Congress
on January 3, 2020. In addition to his 15 years at CRS, Dr. Weiss also
worked as an economist and econometrician at the Department of Housing
and Urban Development's Office of Policy Development and Research for
12 years and the Bureau of Economic Analysis for 3 years, for a total
of 30 years' service to the American people. CRS and the Congress have
lost an exceptionally able and dedicated public servant with his
departure.
A native of Massachusetts, Dr. Weis earned a bachelor's degree from
Cornell University in economics and government; he earned a master of
arts and doctorate of philosophy, both in economics, from Washington
University in St. Louis. Dr. Weiss began his career teaching
microeconomics to MBA and undergraduate students at the University of
North Carolina at Charlotte, and although he left academia for federal
service, he returned occasionally to teach at the Institute for Urban
Studies at the University of Maryland at College Park and the
Department of Finance and Real Estate at the Kogod College of Business
at American University. Prior to joining CRS, Dr. Weiss also worked in
the private sector, providing data management and programming services
to clients such as Fannie Mae and various federal agencies.
Dr. Weiss joined CRS in September 2005 as a specialist in financial
economics, initially with a concentration in small business lending. He
retooled his research portfolio as the housing finance crisis of 2008
to 2009 developed, bringing his nationally-recognized expertise to the
forefront as CRS supported Congress in responding to a range of
housing-related policy issues, including the state of the housing and
mortgage markets and the effectiveness of federal policies toward home
ownership. During this period, he provided targeted analysis for
Members and staff on the activities of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac,
government sponsored enterprises (GSEs) to provide liquidity in the
mortgage market and promote homeownership for underserved groups and
locations. In reports and memoranda for, and personal briefings with,
Members and staff, he provided insightful analysis and detailed
information on the costs, benefits, and risks of the GSEs, along with
their impact on the housing and mortgage markets particularly after
being placed under conservatorship.
During this period, Dr. Weiss worked closely with Congress as it
drafted the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act
of 2010. For legislation and oversight hearings, he briefed Members and
staffers on current issues and policy options. Dr. Weiss's published
work for CRS demonstrated a detailed understanding of the complex and
significant policy issues surrounding these institutions and their
operations, winning him praise and achievement awards from CRS.
In addition to his primary coverage areas at CRS, Dr. Weiss (along
with fellow colleague Dr. Edward ``Ted'' V. Murphy) authored ``Congress
and Financial Crises,'' U.S. Congress, Senate Committee on Rules and
Administration, The Evolving Congress, committee print, prepared by
Congressional Research Service, 113th Cong., 2nd sess., December 2014,
S. Prt. 113-30 (Washington: GPO, 2014), pp. 325-352, which provided
historical documentation of Congress' responses to financial crises.
Dr. Weiss was also active in professional associations, including the
American Economics Association, the American Real Estate and Urban
Economics Association, and Women in Housing Finance. He has been a
regular participant in, and contributor to, numerous academic
conferences in his fields of expertise.
Away from the office, Dr. Weiss and his wife, Sheila, are the proud
parents of two adult daughters--Holly and Andrea. In addition to having
more time with family during retirement, he plans to pursue his
numerous recreational, artistic, and social interests, including
photography, scuba diving around the world, running, woodworking, and
membership in a CRS staff book club.
On behalf of the Members of the Joint Economic Committee, I express
my deep appreciation to Dr. Weiss for his many years of service to
Congress and the American people. I wish him good luck and Godspeed as
he completes his professional career and opens a new chapter in a life
of commendable public service and rewarding personal achievement.
____________________