This study responds to a request from Congressman Richard H. Baker—in his capacity as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Insurance, and Government Sponsored Enterprises, House Committee on Financial Services—that the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) update its May 1996 study Assessing the Public Costs and Benefits of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. That study provided an estimate of the value of the federal subsidy to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Congressman Baker also asked that CBO extend the estimate to include the Federal Home Loan Banks and to update its estimate of the portion of the subsidy that the government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) retain.
Congressman John M. Spratt, Ranking Member, House Committee on the Budget, separately requested an explanation of the methods and assumptions that CBO used in preparing its updated estimate. In addition, Senator Robert F. Bennett, Chairman, Subcommittee on Financial Institutions, and Senator Wayne Allard, Chairman, Subcommittee on Housing and Transportation, both of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, jointly requested that CBO review two critiques of its previous work that were prepared under contract for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. This study also responds to those requests.
