WASHINGTON- Speaking recently during a special session of the board of the National Association of Home Builders, Vice President Dick Cheney praised efforts to create broader homeownership across the United States and touched on a proposal that the president has offered to make that goal easier to reach. He was introduced by Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Mel Martinez and crossed the stage to wild cheering and a standing ovation. "Homeownership is an anchor for families and a source of stability for families," Cheney said. He commented that minority homeownership was up 50% but still has a long way to go to reach the levels of nonminorities. He explained that President George W. Bush has proposed to streamline the home buying process and eliminate barriers to bring down transaction costs. Recent studies of Home Mortgage Disclosure Act information demonstrate that credit unions have a better track record of serving low-income persons and minorities within their fields of membership than other types of financial institutions. The speech also promoted making the Bush tax cuts permanent, creating a balanced budget, and fighting the war on terrorism.