America approves home mortgage measureActing amid more bad news about the pace of home mortgage foreclosures in the United States,the US House of Representatives approved by a vote of 234 to 191 legislation that would allow judges to order changes in mortgage terms to help more Americans facing job losses financial troubles to stay in their homes.Congressional approval of the legislation, if the Senate also acts on its own version,is a key part of President Barack Obama’s effort to help prevent further economic damage resulting from more families losing their homes in the midst of the recession.The measure approved on March 5 by the House would allow bankruptcy judges to alter the terms of mortgages to give homeowners a better chance of avoiding foreclosure.A vote was set for last week, but was delayed as some moderate Democrats, along with the home lending industry,demanded changes to prevent abuse by people who might seek reductions while still being able to make mortgage payments under their existing terms.House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said approval of the measure is but one component of President Obama’s program announced last month to refinance and modify mortgages to help as many as nine million homeowners.“There are several components to the economic turnaround that need to be addressed. Certainly, the housing crisis and facing the mortgage foreclosure crisis, changing that is good for the economy,"she said.
