A region congressman cited a glut of subprime loans in Northwest Indiana in his call to the U.S. Senate to approve legislation that would outlaw some of the high-risk lending practices.

In a legislative newsletter to his constituents this week, U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky, D-Ind., cited a recent Times investigation revealing that 4,984 subprime loans were originated in Lake and Porter counties in 2007. That accounted for about 22 percent of all originated home loans in the two counties that year, federal mortgage disclosure data shows.

The Time investigation revealed that neighborhoods with some of the highest concentration of subprime lending in 2007 are now inundated with foreclosed homes.

Economists and federal regulators have attributed the massive number of subprime loans nationwide for helping cause the current economic downturn and recession.

In his letter, Visclosky said he voted in favor of the Mortgage Reform and Anti-Predatory Lending Act of 2009, which now awaits Senate approval.

Among several provisions, the bill seeks to ensure lenders make loans that benefit the consumer and prohibit them from steering borrowers into higher-cost loans, Visclosky said.

"The bill would outlaw many of the egregious practices that marked the subprime lending booms, and it would prevent borrowers from deliberately misstating their income to qualify for a loan," Visclosky said.