On Wednesday, January 27, the Congressional Oversight Panel will hold a field hearing in Atlanta on the state of commercial real estate lending, the potential effect of commercial real estate problems on the banking system, and the role and impact of the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) in addressing that effect. The Panel will hear from government witnesses as well as local bankers and investors about their perspectives on commercial real estate, the financing markets, and the performance of the TARP.

The hearing is open to press and public and will be webcast at cop.senate.gov.

The Panel is currently scheduled to hear from the following witnesses:

• Jon Greenlee, associate director, Division of Banking Supervision and Regulation, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
• Brian Olasov, managing director - Atlanta, McKenna, Long and Aldridge
• David Stockert, chief executive officer, Post Properties

The full witness list will be announced in advance of the hearing.

Congress created the Congressional Oversight Panel to oversee the $700 billion Troubled Asset Relief Program. In carrying out its responsibilities under the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, the Panel has published 14 monthly reports, two special reports, and held 15 hearings on a wide range of TARP and related financial stabilization initiatives.

This hearing will provide a better understanding of the Administration’s financial stabilization efforts and the impact of TARP on commercial real estate, and it will inform the Panel’s February oversight report.

WHO: Members of the TARP Congressional Oversight Panel
WHAT: Commercial Real Estate Field Hearing
WHEN: Wednesday, January 27, 2010; 10:00 a.m.
WHERE: Technology Square Research Building, Room 132