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Rep. Green Questions Cuts and Lack of Funding for Public Housing Agencies and HUD

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Al Green (TX-9)

(Washington, DC) — On Tuesday, February 10, 2026, Congressman Al Green, Ranking Member of the Financial Services Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, shared remarks in a Financial Services Hearing entitled, “Building a Solid Foundation: Restoring Trust and Transparency in Public Housing Agencies.”

You can access and listen to Congressman Al Green’s remarks by clicking here. The hearing remarks highlighted are also accessible on various social media platforms, including Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly known as Twitter).  

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Carter, Allen, Bishop introduce bipartisan fix to hurricane insurance program for farmers

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Earl L Buddy Carter (GA-01)

Headline: Carter, Allen, Bishop introduce bipartisan fix to hurricane insurance program for farmers

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA), alongside Reps. Rick Allen (R-GA) and Sanford Bishop (D-GA), today introduced the Farmers’ AID Relief Act, amending the Hurricane Insurance Protection – Wind Index (HIP-WI) program to better serve farmers affected by hurricane damage.

The HIP-WI program is a wind-based insurance option managed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and designed to protect farmers impacted by hurricanes. The program relies on storm-tracking data systems to determine eligibility for the program; however, those systems are vulnerable to inaccuracies, leaving many farmers who experienced significant crop losses without federal protection.  

For example, during Hurricane Helene, the data used for HIP-WI showed the storm traveling through the middle of Georgia. In reality, Helene shifted east, causing widespread damage to farms in the southeast and eastern parts of Georgia. Unfortunately, USDA is required to use the inaccurate data set when determining HIP-WI eligibility, causing unnecessary financial hardship for Georgia’s farmers.

The Farmers’ AID Relief Act updates HIP-WI so the program better reflects real-world storm paths and protects farmers affected by damage.

“By enacting this common-sense fix to the HIP-WI program, farmers will be adequately insured and protected against hurricanes that ravage crop yields. We must learn from the failures of Hurricane Helene and protect our farmers from future losses,” said Rep. Carter. “Agriculture is Georgia’s number one industry, and amending this program will strengthen food security and protect our farmers who feed the nation.”

“After the devastating effects of Hurricane Helene, many of Georgia’s farmers were unfairly denied the relief they needed and deserved. The Farmers’ AID Relief Act directs the USDA Secretary to expand the data considered and identify alternative methods for determining eligibility for indemnity payments under the Hurricane Insurance Protection–Wind Index endorsement. I am proud to co-lead this bill and will continue working diligently to deliver real solutions for our farmers,” said Rep. Allen.

“I am glad to work with Congressman Carter and Congressman Allen to introduce today’s bill which will apply the lessons we learned from Hurricane Helene so that when the next storm hits us, we are better prepared to help farmers in need,” said Rep. Bishop. “When an area is hit by a storm, the Hurricane Insurance Protection – Wind Index, or HIP-WI, is used to determine if agricultural producers can get a portion of the deductible for underlying crop insurance covered as part of disaster relief. When storms knock out the weather monitoring equipment used to measure HIP-WI, we want to make sure our producers are not left behind because these crucial data systems may be down.”

“This legislation ensures that when hurricanes strike and official weather data falters, reliable numbers from trusted sources step in to guarantee that insured farmers aren’t left stranded. It strengthens the promise of the program by providing a commonsense safeguard so Georgia farmers can count on fair assistance when storms hit hardest. We appreciate Congressman Carter’s continued focus on this issue and wholeheartedly encourage its expedited progress towards becoming law,” said Tom McCall, President, Georgia Farm Bureau.

This bill will:

  • Direct the Secretary of Agriculture to create an alternate dataset for HIP-WI determinations to be used in the event of an incomplete data set.
  • Set uniform standards for the collection and use of the alternate data set. 

Read full bill text here.

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Larsen Fights Drug Trafficking, Funds Public Safety and Addiction Recovery

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Rick Larsen (2nd Congressional District Washington)

Today, Rep. Larsen released the following statement about actions within the Fiscal Year 2026 government funding bills to combat the opioid epidemic in Northwest Washington:

“The opioid crisis has devastated families and communities in Northwest Washington, and while we have made progress reducing deaths and disrupting trafficking, there is more to be done,” said Rep. Larsen. “I have worked with my colleagues in Congress to bring home federal dollars to fund addiction recovery, public safety and law enforcement locally. I will keep fighting for legislative solutions to combat the opioid epidemic and save lives in our communities.”

Larsen Secures Local Public Safety Wins

This month, bipartisan legislation to improve public safety in Northwest Washington became law, which included:

·       $964 million for the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program, which provides funding for regional drug task forces that help Washington state communities fight the opioid epidemic;

·       $800 million for Community Oriented Policing Services Grants, which award funds to hire community policing professionals, develop and test innovative policing strategies, and provide training and technical assistance to community members, local government leaders, and all levels of law enforcement;

·       $720 million for the Violence Against Women Act, which provides survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking with lifesaving legal services and transitional housing to help rebuild their lives;

·       $540 million for the Legal Services Corporation, which provides legal assistance to low-income families, seniors, and women fleeing domestic abuse;

·       $298.5 million for the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) Program, which provides funding for intelligence sharing and coordination across federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement;

·       $1.4 billion for International Narcotics Control, which funds efforts to combat the international drug trade and keep drugs from reaching the United States;

·       $109 million for Drug Free Communities (DFC), which funds community-based coalitions with the goal of preventing youth substance use;

·       $82 million for STOP School Violence Act programs, which support school violence prevention, suicide prevention, and mental health crisis intervention programming;

·       $7.4 billion for Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), which is the primary federal agency responsible for supporting community-based mental health and substance abuse treatment and prevention services and funds the 988 Suicide Prevention Lifeline;

o   After the Trump administration abruptly cut nearly $2 billion in SAMHSA grants, including seven Health Care Authority-administered grants in Washington state, Rep. Larsen worked with both Democrats and Republicans to demand that the funding be reinstated. The Trump administration reversed their decision less than 24 hours later.

·       $600,000 for Whatcom County Sheriff Office’s Portable Radio Replacement Project, which will support the purchase of new portable radios to replace outdated radios that are failing, allowing deputies to communicate clearly with dispatch and each other; and

·       $1.5 million for the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services of Whatcom County to preserve and renovate the Douglas Building so that it can serve more survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. Representative Larsen requested funding for this project in the FY26 spending package.

Larsen Leads Fight against Opioid Crisis in Northwest Washington

Rep. Larsen is focused on supporting local efforts to combat the opioid crisis and save lives. In 2024, he published a districtwide opioid report that outlines a four-pillar framework to combat the crisis. Since the publication of that report, Larsen has introduced four pieces of legislation to fight fentanyl in Northwest Washington:

·       The PROTECT Act, which gives Tribal courts and law enforcement more tools and resources to combat the opioid epidemic.

·       The Workforce Opportunities for Communities in Recovery Act, which creates employment opportunities for people in recovery and supports communities impacted by widespread opioid use.

·       The End Fentanyl Trafficking with Local Task Forces Act, which establishes a dedicated federal funding stream to help multi-jurisdictional drug task forces combat opioid trafficking in Washington state and across the country.

·       The Closing the Substance Use Care Gap Act, which expands access to lifesaving, community-based harm reduction initiatives and services and enhances the federal response to the opioid and fentanyl epidemic.

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Velázquez Expands Cooperative Housing Access and Strengthens Public Housing Oversight in New York

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Nydia M Velázquez (D-NY)

WASHINGTON — Yesterday, H.R. 6644 the Housing for the 21st Century Act, which includes key provisions secured by Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) to expand access to affordable housing through cooperative ownership models while strengthening Congressional oversight to protect tenants in federally monitored public housing authorities, passed in the House of Representatives.

 

Velázquez successfully included targeted language in Sections 101, 201, 405, 406, and 407 of the legislation to explicitly recognize housing cooperatives as eligible entities for federal housing programs and funding. These clarifying provisions added the term “cooperative(s)” where applicable, ensuring that cooperative housing developments are not excluded from participating in existing programs due to ambiguous statutory language. 

 

“Cooperative housing is one of the strongest tools we have to preserve long-term affordability and keep working families in their communities,” said Velázquez. “In a city like New York, where rising housing costs are driving displacement, cooperatives provide a resident-owned model that stabilizes neighborhoods and protects affordability from market pressures. The provisions I secured ensure cooperatives remain accessible, sustainable, and a central part of our affordable housing strategy.”

 

Cooperative housing provides financially stable, resident-owned housing to more than 1.5 million families nationwide and remains a critical source of affordable homeownership and housing stability, in New York City. 

 

In addition to expanding cooperative housing, Velázquez secured new oversight and transparency requirements in Section 502 to strengthen accountability for public housing authorities overseen by a federal monitor or receiver.  The provision responds directly to chronic maintenance issues at New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) and the court-appointed federal monitor’s lack of coordination and collaboration with the city’s Congressional Delegation. 

 

This enhanced oversight ensures taxpayer dollars are being used effectively, residents’ needs are addressed, and lawmakers are providing NYCHA and other struggling PHAs with the resources and tools they need to improve their operations and conditions.   

 

“For too long, NYCHA residents have endured unsafe conditions while the court-ordered federal monitor has had limited interaction with our city’s Congressional delegation.  Today we are changing that.  By requiring monitors and receivers to provide annual reports and testimony to Congress we can help provide public housing authorities around the country with the resources they need to facilitate repairs and improve the lives of residents,” said Velázquez.   

 

The provisions advance a comprehensive approach to affordable housing and deliver meaningful protections and opportunities for New Yorkers facing a housing affordability crisis.

 

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Kelly calls out foreign billionaires for exploiting American taxpayers

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Kelly (R-PA)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — During a Ways & Means Committee hearing on Tuesday which addressed the foreign influence in American non-profits, U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA), Chairman of the Ways & Means Subcommittee on Tax, called out foreign billionaires and other foreign entities for exploiting American tax-exempt and nonprofit laws. Kelly also expressed concerns about foreign entities funding protests and protests throughout the U.S., such as recent protests in Minneapolis.

Prominent examples include the People’s Forum, a 501(c)(3) organization that supports disorderly conduct resulting in arrests, which received over $20 million from Neville Roy Singham, a U.S. tech-mogul who resides in Shanghai with close ties to the Chinese Communist Party. Recently, the People’s Forum has joined calls for a national day of protest against ICE and has played an active role in organizing anti ICE protests in Minneapolis, MN and across the country.

Kelly also highlighted how the tax-exempt nonprofit economy now comprises 15% of GDP, spans more than 1.8 million organizations, and manages over $8 trillion in assets.

“The American people are starting to look at foreign influence like this and say, ‘what’s the return on my investment as a taxpayer?'” Rep. Kelly said. “From a national security concern, we should be incredibly concerned. Somebody is picking up the tab, and it’s becoming clear foreign groups are cheating American taxpayers.”

BACKGROUND

The Committee has called on both the Biden IRS and Trump IRS to investigate potential revocation of nearly a dozen nonprofits with links to foreign terrorist groups, as well as organizations linked to violence and unrest in the United States. Groups include Americans for Justice in Palestine Education Foundation, American Muslims for Palestine, WESPAC Foundation, Alliance for Global Justice, and The People’s Forum.

Kelly and Ways & Means Republicans also called for greater transparency, accountability, and oversight of foreign money flowing through U.S. nonprofits to ensure the American tax-exempt privilege is protected.

Further, foreign actors also use complex systems of multiple tax-exempt organizations to cloud transparency and skirt IRS requirements while trying to influence American elections. For example, Hansjorg Wyss, a Swiss billionaire, used his 501(c)(3) Foundation and the closely tied 501(c)(4) Action Fund to influence American elections, donating $208 million to help “Democrats…win the White House and control of Congress.”

You can watch the full hearing here.

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Scott Presses Secretary Collins on Staffing Failures at VA Chesapeake North Battlefield Clinic

Source: {United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bobby Scott (3rd District of Virginia)

Headline: Scott Presses Secretary Collins on Staffing Failures at VA Chesapeake North Battlefield Clinic

“This lack of focus on adequately staffing VA’s clinics and hospitals in Hampton Roads comes after a year of attacks on the federal workforce.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03) sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins demanding answers and transparency on the continued low staffing levels at the VA North Battlefield Outpatient Clinic in Chesapeake, Virginia that opened in April 2025. Secretary Collins has repeatedly stated that the facility would be fully staffed by January 2026. 

“When the North Battlefield Outpatient Clinic first opened on April 17, 2025, with only 150 of the authorized 550 staff, I expressed concern that the clinic would be opening with only 25-30 percent of the staff needed,” the letter states. “You have repeatedly stated that the North Battlefield Outpatient Clinic would be fully staffed and operational by January 2026. Unfortunately, as of January 28, 2026, the North Battlefield Clinic has only hired 340 employees, or 62 percent, of the staff required to operate at full capacity.”

Congressman Scott also highlighted the Trump Administration’s relentless attacks on the federal workforce. 

“This lack of focus on adequately staffing VA’s clinics and hospitals in Hampton Roads comes after nearly a year of attacks on the federal workforce,” wrote Congressman Scott. “In just the first 100 days of this administration, Donald Trump took radical steps to cut services to the VA and institute a hiring freeze across the system. He then further squeezed our federal workforce and fired more than 6,000 veterans from their jobs. On August 7, 2025, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced it would terminate collective bargaining agreements for most VA bargaining-unit employees. I am concerned that further efforts to diminish and reorganize the VA workforce will exert additional strain on the Department and further exacerbate ongoing hiring challenges at the North Battlefield Outpatient Clinic.”

Congressman Scott asked Secretary Collins to respond to his list of questions by February 27, 2026. 

Full text of the letter can be found by CLICKING HERE.

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Krishnamoorthi Blasts Trump Administration’s $600 Million Public Health Cuts Hitting Illinois And Other States Led by Democratic Governors

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (8th District of Illinois)

WASHINGTON — Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, Ranking Member of the Oversight Subcommittee on Health Care and Financial Services, today condemned the Trump administration’s decision to claw back $600 million in congressionally approved public health funding from states led by Democratic governors, including Illinois, California, Colorado, and Minnesota—a move that strips critical resources from hospitals, health departments, and community-based providers responsible for disease prevention, public health monitoring, and continuity of care.

“Donald Trump’s administration is ripping $600 million in congressionally approved public health funding away from states he doesn’t like, and Illinois is squarely in the crosshairs,” said Congressman Krishnamoorthi. “In Chicago, more than $5 million is being cut from Lurie Children’s Hospital—funding that supports HIV prevention, community outreach, and continuity of care. These cuts weaken hospitals, undermine disease tracking, and put lives at risk in the middle of real public health threats. This is politically motivated cruelty masquerading as policy, and I will fight to reverse it.”

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Pappas, Bynum Introduce Bill to Lower Cost of Building New Housing

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Chris Pappas (D-NH)

Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) and Congresswoman Janelle Bynum (OR-05) introduced the Supporting Projects to Unleash Residential (SPUR) Housing Act to lower the cost of building new housing developments. The bill will increase the housing supply by establishing a five-year $1.5 billion grant program through the Department of Housing and Urban Development to provide funds to housing developers to offset state and local impact fees. Eligibility for the program would require state and local governments to also match half of the project taxes or fees.

New Hampshire continues to face a housing crisis, and it’s estimated that the state needs 90,000 more units by 2040. The SPUR Housing Act would provide cost relief and cut red tape to make it affordable for Granite Staters to build more homes.

“Addressing the shortage of affordable housing should be a top priority of everyone in Congress, and I’m committed to finding common sense ideas that will increase supply and lower costs,” said Congressman Pappas. “I’m pleased to introduce this legislation which creates a new grant program to reduce building project costs and speed the development of new housing.”

“First-time home buyers should not have to wait 20-plus+ years to afford a home,” said Congresswoman Bynum. “This bill will make crucial progress toward making it easier, faster, and more affordable to build a home. Oregonians deserve affordable housing and I will keep fighting for it in Congress.”

This bill is endorsed by the National Association of Realtors.

You can find the full text of the bill here.

Background:

Pappas is working to ensure Granite State communities have the resources they need to increase the affordable housing stock and tackle the housing crisis. His bipartisan Accelerating Home Building Act to support local governments in speeding up the permitting and home building process and lowering costs for Granite Staters passed the House this week. 

In April, Pappas introduced the bipartisan Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act to support the financing and development of affordable housing by expanding and strengthening the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit. In 2024, Pappas and the New Hampshire delegation welcomed more than $30 million in federal grants to build more affordable housing across the Granite State. 

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Pappas Helps Pass Bipartisan Legislation to Lower Housing Costs and Increase Supply

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Chris Pappas (D-NH)

This week, Pappas also introduced bipartisan legislation to lower taxes and fees associated with new housing developments

On Monday, Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) voted to pass bipartisan legislation to take on the high cost of housing for Granite Staters by cutting red tape so communities can more easily build the housing stock that meets their needs. The Housing for the 21st Century Act includes a provision introduced by Congressman Pappas, the bipartisan Accelerating Home Building Act, which would support local governments in expediting permitting and home-building processes and lowering costs for Granite Staters. 

Also included in the legislation was the Pappas-backed VA Home Loan Awareness Act, which would help more veterans take advantage of the VA Home Loan program. 

“New Hampshire continues to face some of the highest housing costs in the country, and it is critical that we use every tool available to increase supply, lower prices, and give middle-class families the relief that they need,” said Congressman Pappas. “We need an all-hands-on-deck approach to solve our housing crisis, and that is why legislation like this, to cut red tape and allow local communities to build more housing, is so critical. I’ll work with anyone to deliver for New Hampshire and ensure that homeownership can become a reality for more hardworking Granite Staters.”

New Hampshire is on track to be 90,000 units of housing short in the next decade, while the median home sale price in the state has risen to over half a million dollars. New Hampshire’s median rent has now reached $2,143 per month, the ninth highest in the country.

Pappas has worked to ensure Granite State communities have the resources they need to increase the affordable housing stock and tackle the housing crisis. In April, Pappas helped introduce the bipartisan Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act to support affordable housing financing and development by expanding and strengthening the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit. In 2024, he and the New Hampshire delegation welcomed more than $30 million in federal grants to build more affordable housing across the Granite State.

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Rep. Cuellar Secures Key Protections for Federal Health and Research Funding in South Texas

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28)

Today, U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar, Ph.D. (TX-28), highlighted provisions he helped secure in the most recent appropriations package, which was signed into law,  that prevent federal health agencies from delaying or canceling grants by cutting the staff needed to administer them: 

“South Texas depends on federal health and research dollars to keep clinics open, support rural providers, and protect public health. I worked to stop disruptions that would have hit Laredo and communities across our region. 

“This bill includes enforceable guardrails to make sure agencies cannot undermine grants by cutting the personnel needed to process and manage them. That means funding administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and the Health Resources and Services Administration, among many others, can keep moving as Congress intended.

“These dollars are not abstract. They support patient care, mental health services and frontline public health work. I will keep fighting to ensure federal health funding reaches South Texans reliably and on time.”

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Congressman Henry Cuellar, Ph.D. is a senior member of the U.S. House Appropriations Committee. Previously, he served as a Texas State Representative and Texas Secretary of State.  

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