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Tri-Caucus Leads More Than 60 Democrats in Demand to Preserve Housing Assistance for Mixed-status Families

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Norma Torres (35th District of California)

April 27, 2026

Washington, D.C. — The Congressional Tri-Caucus, composed of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), and the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), condemned the Trump administration’s illegal push to gut housing assistance for thousands of families with mixed immigration statuses.

In a letter to Housing Secretary Scott Turner co-signed by more than 75 members of the House of Representatives, Rep. Norma Torres (CA-35) joined CAPAC Chair Rep. Grace Meng (NY-06), CHC Chair Rep. Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), and CBC Chair Rep. Yvette Clarke (NY-09) — in calling the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to withdraw its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking entitled “Housing and Community Development Act of 1980: Verification of Eligible Status (FR-6524).”

HUD’s proposed rule threatens housing for tens of thousands of Americans, is blatantly illegal, and strains the agency’s remaining resources.

“Like other immigration policies from this Administration, the proposed rule attempts to solve a problem that does not exist. It is based on the false premise that ineligible noncitizens are receiving housing assistance and diverting resources from citizens,” wrote the lawmakers. “In reality, current HUD rules limit rental assistance to household members with eligible immigration status, and ineligible individuals are prohibited from receiving such aid.”

The proposal flies against the intent of Congress, which in 1988 amended the Housing and Community Development Act to prioritize family unity while making sure non-eligible residents do not receive federal assistance.

If implemented, the rule will kick 80,000 people out of housing, including nearly 37,000 children, most of whom are U.S. citizens.

HUD’s own analysis shows that the proposed rule will reduce, not increase, the number of HUD-assisted units, effectively worsening the affordable housing crisis for everyone.

“HUD’s proposed rule is directly in conflict with the agency’s mandate to provide fair housing opportunities. Immigrant populations already face discrimination in housing, and the enactment of this proposed rule would exacerbate this issue. It blatantly disregards the congressional intent of the law and would disrupt the lives of thousands of families – citizen and noncitizen alike,” wrote the lawmakers.

“At a time when over 21 million renter households are cost-burdened and there is a shortage of 7.2 million affordable rental homes, HUD should not attempt to restrict safety net housing programs,” the lawmakers concluded.

Read the letter in full HERE.

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Washington, D.C. – El Tri-Caucus encabeza a más de 75 demócratas en su exigencia de preservar la asistencia de vivienda para familias de estatus migratorio mixto.

Washington, D.C. – El Tri-Caucus del Congreso, compuesto por el Caucus Hispano del Congreso (CHC), el Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) y el Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), condenó el intento ilegal de la administración Trump de eliminar la asistencia de vivienda para miles de familias con estatus migratorio mixto.

En una carta al secretario de Vivienda Scott Turner, cofirmada por más de 60 miembros de la Cámara de Representantes, la representante Norma Torres (CA-35) se unió a con el presidente del CHC, representante Adriano Espaillat (NY-13); la presidenta del CAPAC, representante Grace Meng (NY-06); y la presidenta del CBC, representante Yvette Clarke (NY-09) — instaron al Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) a retirar su Notificación de Reglamentación Propuesta titulada “Housing and Community Development Act of 1980: Verification of Eligible Status (FR-6524).”

La norma propuesta por HUD amenaza la vivienda de decenas de miles de estadounidenses, es manifiestamente ilegal y agota los escasos recursos que le quedan a la agencia.

“Al igual que otras políticas migratorias de esta administración, la norma propuesta intenta resolver un problema que no existe. Se basa en la premisa falsa de que personas no elegibles están recibiendo asistencia de vivienda y desviando recursos que corresponden a ciudadanos”, escribieron los legisladores. “En realidad, las normas vigentes de HUD limitan la asistencia de alquiler a los miembros del hogar con estatus migratorio elegible, y las personas no elegibles tienen prohibido recibir dicha ayuda.”

La propuesta va en contra de la voluntad del Congreso, que en 1988 enmendó la Housing and Community Development Act para priorizar la unidad familiar, al tiempo que garantiza que los residentes no elegibles no reciban asistencia federal.

De implementarse, la norma desalojaría a 80,000 personas de sus viviendas, incluyendo a casi 37,000 niños, la mayoría de los cuales son ciudadanos estadounidenses.

El propio análisis de HUD muestra que la norma propuesta reduciría, en lugar de aumentar, el número de unidades asistidas por HUD, lo que agravaría efectivamente la crisis de vivienda asequible para todos.

“La norma propuesta por HUD está en directa contradicción con el mandato de la agencia de brindar oportunidades de vivienda justa. Las poblaciones inmigrantes ya enfrentan discriminación en materia de vivienda, y la promulgación de esta norma propuesta agravaría aún más este problema. Desacata abiertamente la voluntad legislativa del Congreso y trastornaría la vida de miles de familias, tanto ciudadanas como inmigrantes”, escribieron los legisladores.

“En un momento en que más de 21 millones de hogares inquilinos destinan una parte excesiva de sus ingresos al pago de la vivienda y existe un déficit de 7.2 millones de viviendas de alquiler asequibles, HUD no debería intentar restringir los programas de vivienda de la red de seguridad social”, concluyeron los legisladores.

Puede leer la carta completa AQUÍ.

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NH Delegation Calls on Administration to Release Feasibility Study, Action Plan for Expanding Services at MVAMC

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

– Today Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01), U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan, and Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander (NH-02) sent a letter requesting the Trump Administration publicly release both the feasibility study and action plan developed in compliance with President Trump’s Executive Order regarding expanding services at the Manchester VA Medical Center (MVAMC). The President’s budget request for FY2027 includes increased funds to expand services at MVAMC. Still, neither the feasibility study nor the action plan developed by the Administration has been released for public review.

In the letter, the lawmakers wrote, “In a briefing on April 15, 2026, VA confirmed that both the study and the action plan are complete and have been submitted to the White House. VA also confirmed that the study presented multiple options, and that the White House and VA jointly selected the option reflected in the FY2027 Presidential Budget Request for the construction of a “new VA-owned medical center providing comprehensive outpatient services in Manchester, New Hampshire.””

However, VA has repeatedly refused to share those documents with Congress, “despite the fact that a subsequent briefing from VA officials indicated that a decision has been made and an interagency agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is set to begin implementation this month.”

The delegation closed by highlighting the importance of ensuring New Hampshire veterans have input and oversight into this decision, writing, “Transparency about what options were considered, what data was relied upon, and whether New Hampshire stakeholder input was incorporated is essential to Granite State veterans’ ability to evaluate your Administration’s actions and whether they support their needs.”

The delegation has requested that the Administration make both plans available no later than April 28, 2026.

The full letter can be found here.

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Congressman Riley M. Moore Presents $900,000 Check to Support Marshall University’s Aviation Expansion

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Riley Moore (WV-02)

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Riley M. Moore presented a $900,000 check to support the expansion of Marshall University Aviation’s in-person training program, strengthening workforce development in West Virginia’s Eastern Panhandle and addressing critical shortages in the aviation industry.

The funding, secured through Congressman Moore’s work on the House Appropriations Committee, will support the construction of a new training facility dedicated to aviation education and industry training. The expanded facility will provide hands-on instruction for aspiring pilots, dispatchers, and unmanned aerial system operators, while also offering stand-alone courses and customized training opportunities for local businesses.

The Marshall University Aviation expansion will serve both students and working professionals, helping to build a pipeline of talent equipped to meet industry needs. The facility will also play a key role in supporting regional employers by offering specialized training programs tailored to workforce demands.

The project is expected to enhance aviation training capacity in the region and position West Virginia as a leader in workforce development within the rapidly growing aviation sector.

Congressman Riley M. Moore released the following statement:

“The investment in Marshall University’s aviation program is a commitment to West Virginia’s future workforce and economy. This new facility will expand opportunities for training in pilot certification, dispatch operations, and unmanned aerial systems, while also supporting the needs of local businesses. I’m proud to have secured $900,000 in funding through my work on the House Appropriations Committee.”

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Nadler, Assemblymembers Micah Lasherand Tony Simone, State Senators Erik Bottcher and Liz Kruger, And Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal Demand “No Secret Deals On Penn Station”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jerrold Nadler (10th District of New York)

New York Elected Officials Demand Full Transparency on Costs, Developer Selection, and MTA Rights as Trump Administration Cuts Backroom Deals on Nation’s Busiest Train Station

NEW YORK, N.Y. –Today, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY-12), Assemblymembers Micah Lasher (District 69) and Tony Simone (District 75), State Senators Erik Bottcher and Liz Kruger, and Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal released the following statement on the Trump administration’s mishandling of the Penn Station renovation project in New York City:

We stand here today in front of Penn Station — united as elected officials of the State and City of New York — to send a clear message to Donald Trump and his administration: We will not stand for secret deals. Not on our watch. Not with our money. Not with our infrastructure. And not with our rights.

Let us be clear — we agree that Penn Station must be rebuilt. With the Gateway Tunnel project moving forward and new tunnels that will transform rail capacity across the Northeast corridor, this is a once-in-a-generation opportunity. We want to see it done. But we will not allow it to be done in the dark, behind closed doors, in private meetings between a president and his billionaire friends — while the State of New York, the City of New York, the MTA, and the communities we represent are left holding the financial bag.

President Trump held secret meetings to privately negotiate the future of this station. His own White House wouldn’t even confirm the meeting took place. This same president tried to leverage billions of dollars in withheld infrastructure funds to pressure Senator Schumer into a backroom renaming deal. This is a pattern — deals made in private, costs dumped on the public, and assets handed to the wealthy and well-connected.

A Word About Andy Byford

Andy Byford is a respected transit professional and we are not here to question his integrity. But Byford himself has confirmed that the White House will have final say over the winning design and developer. This is not a process insulated from politics. Donald Trump — not transit experts, not New Yorkers — makes the final call.

Three Failures. No Answers. No Accountability.

First, there is no transparency. Three developer teams have been shortlisted behind closed doors — all three with strong connections to the Trump administration and its donors, and all three actively lobbying the White House. No RFP has been released. No public hearings. No community input. When all three finalists have ties to Trump’s political world and the White House picks the winner, that is not a competitive process. That is a political favor waiting to be handed out.

Second, there is no honest accounting of the cost. Estimates run as high as $7 billion with a potential public shortfall of nearly $6 billion. The full price tag has not been disclosed. Will commuters face surcharges on their MTA and NJ Transit tickets? Will the State and City be forced to absorb billions they never agreed to fund? New York State has already pulled back its $1.3 billion commitment expecting the federal government to step up — and Washington has put forward just $43 million so far. That gap has to be filled by someone. New Yorkers deserve to know who — before a single contract is signed.

Third, the MTA has been shut out. The agency that serves millions of New York commuters every single day has no meaningful seat at this table. There are serious questions about whether the MTA’s existing rights at Penn Station — rights that protect LIRR riders and the investments New York has already made — will be respected as this process moves forward. We are putting the Trump administration on notice: those rights will be honored and New York’s investment will be respected.

No transparency. No cost accountability. The MTA frozen out. These are not oversights. These are deliberate choices — and they all point in the same direction. Public assets in. Private profits out. New York left holding the bag.

Not On Our Watch

We will not be presented with a done deal cooked up in secret between the President and politically connected billionaires. We will not allow public assets to be handed to private developers under terms the public never saw, never debated, and never approved. And we will not allow the MTA to be frozen out of decisions that directly affect its riders and operations.

We are calling today for a fully open and transparent process. Release the RFP. Disclose the full costs. Restore the MTA to its rightful place at the table. Hold public hearings. Give New York a real voice in the future of its own station.

And let us be clear about one more thing. The people who live and work around Penn Station must have a real voice in its future. This is their neighborhood. Any redevelopment of Penn Station is an opportunity to do something truly transformative — not just for commuters, but for this community and this city. We should be building a true 24/7 neighborhood around Penn Station. Housing — and especially affordable housing. Retail. Public spaces. A living, breathing community that takes full advantage of the finest transportation hub in the entire region. That is what New York needs. That is what our city and region deserve. And that vision cannot be decided in a backroom deal between a president and his billionaire developer friends. It must be decided with the community, for the community.

Amtrak owns Penn Station — but make no mistake, it belongs to the people. It will be rebuilt with public money. And it will be rebuilt on public terms.

We are not going anywhere. We are united. And we are just getting started.

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Larsen Releases Statement on Attack at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner

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

Larsen Releases Statement on Attack at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner

Washington, D.C., April 26, 2026

Today, U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) released the following statement:

“I condemn the attack at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner and all politically motivated violence. I am grateful to the first responders and law enforcement who acted quickly to prevent any deaths, and I hope the Secret Service agent who was injured makes a full recovery.”

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Congressman Adam Smith Statement on the Shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Adam Smith (9th District of Washington)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash.), released the following statement on the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. 

“This evening, law enforcement acted swiftly to protect the President, Vice President, First Lady, Cabinet members, and attendees at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner after a gunman opened fire.  

“I am deeply grateful for their dedication and service, and I am keeping those who were placed in harm’s way in my thoughts and prayers.”

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Pelosi Statement on Shooting at White House Correspondents’ Dinner

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi Representing the 12th District of California

San Francisco – Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement on the Shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

“It is a great relief that the President, First Lady and everyone in attendance at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner is safe following a terrifying act of violence inside the venue.

“The brave men and women of the United States Secret Service and local law enforcement are to be commended for their swift action to secure the scene and protect those present.

“As someone whose family has suffered political violence, my prayers are with the injured officer and all those affected by the trauma of these horrible incidents.”

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Hoyer Discusses the War with Iran, Ongoing Department of Homeland Security Shutdown, Affordability Crisis Facing Americans on C-SPAN's Ceasefire

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steny H Hoyer (MD-05)

 WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) joined Dasha Burns and Congressman Mark Amodei (NV-02) on C-SPAN’s Ceasefire for a bipartisan conversation to discuss the war with Iran, the ongoing Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown, and the affordability crisis facing Americans. Below are excerpts of his remarks during the episode:

Click here to watch the full episode.
ON THE WAR WITH IRAN

“The Constitution says it is the Congress who declares war, that has us go to war, and legislation we have passed to make sure that occurs has been ignored. In fact, the President thinks it’s unconstitutional itself. As Mark said, he didn’t come to any of us. He didn’t come to anybody, apparently. He didn’t come to any of our allies. He didn’t come to any of the countries in the Middle East, other than perhaps Israel. He decided that this was a go.”

“…and now we are in a war, the war that’s costing the American people a lot of money, not only on gasoline, but every other price, and the tariffs he imposed did the same.  …I think, had he talked to our allies, talked to Congress, had we reflected on it, we wouldn’t be in this position.”

ON THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (DHS) SHUTDOWN

“There’s been a shutdown for way too long…it’s not about appropriations. It’s about how ICE and CBP conduct themselves and particularly how they conducted themselves in Minnesota and some of the other areas in which they have ‘surged,’ as they call it, and in our opinion, undermine the constitutional rights of many people and killed some people in the process, tragically, and need to be held accountable.”

“We are prepared and, in fact, voted for a bill that funded everything else, including the Coast Guard and FEMA and other agencies which are critical to our homeland security and critical to America. But because we would not vote to fund those two agencies until we have some agreement on how they are going to correctly and constitutionally perform their duties, the Republican party would not take the bill up that the Senate sent us, which was exactly that…all the rest of DHS should be open as of today and should have been opened months ago.”

ON AFFORDABILITY AND TRUMP’S ECONOMIC POLICIES

“The President made a lot of claims of what he was going to do on the first day, or at least the first weeks. He said he was going to bring prices down – gasoline prices are up over a dollar everywhere. Utility costs are up almost everywhere. The tariffs have increased the prices on almost every good you buy that has been imported, maybe every one… people were upset about inflation and prices, and inflation went up, as I said, a point from February to March of this year. People are thinking, ‘What you told us you were going to do hasn’t been done.’”

“ …We got to stop focusing on war, stop focusing on tearing down the White House, or building super monuments, and focus on what people thought they were voting for that is reducing the costs of their everyday life.”

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Rep. Aguilar Delivers $3 Million for San Bernardino County to Build More Affordable Housing

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Pete Aguilar (31 CD Ca)

In addition to expanding affordable housing, the funding will help stimulate the local economy by creating new jobs

SAN BERNARDINO, CA – Today, Rep. Pete Aguilar (CA-33) announced that he secured $3,000,000 in community project funding for the Housing Authority of the County of San Bernardino’s (HACSB) Arrowhead Grove Affordable Housing Phase V project. This grant funding will expand affordable housing in the Inland Empire by supporting the completion of 132 new low-cost, energy-efficient housing units for low-income residents. 
Once complete, the Arrowhead Grove Affordable Housing Redevelopment project will convert the aging Waterman Gardens public housing development into a modern, sustainable community with a total of 534 new units of affordable housing, a community resource center, after-school programs, and other services that will benefit the neighborhood. You can watch the full video of the press conference here and find photos from the event above and here.
“In Congress, one of my top priorities is to lower the cost of housing so that people who want to live, work and raise a family here in the Inland Empire can do so,” said Rep. Pete Aguilar. “That is why I am proud to deliver $3 million in funding for the Housing Authority of the County of San Bernardino to expand affordable housing in our region. Arrowhead Grove will give hundreds of San Bernardino residents an affordable place to call home and improve the quality of life for the broader community. Projects like this offer more than just a roof over people’s heads—they give Inland Empire residents hope, opportunity and a chance for a brighter future. I’ll keep working to deliver investments in our community that help reduce housing costs so that families can thrive.”
“Arrowhead Grove is a great example of how new housing developments can be affordable, attractive, energy efficient, and successful,” said Mayor Helen Tran, City of San Bernardino. “We are grateful to Congressman Aguilar for securing $3 million for phase five of this development, which will bring 132 additional affordable housing units to San Bernardino.”
“On behalf of the County of San Bernardino, I want to thank Congressman Aguilar for his continued investment in our communities and his leadership in expanding access to affordable housing,” said Joe Baca, Jr., San Bernardino County Supervisor, Fifth District. “Projects like Arrowhead Grove are about more than building homes—they’re about creating stable, supportive environments where families can thrive, children can succeed, and neighborhoods can grow stronger. This $3 million investment moves us closer to that vision and reflects what’s possible when we work together to deliver real results for our residents.”
“We are deeply grateful to Congressman Aguilar for his continued leadership and commitment to expanding affordable housing in our region,” said Maria Razo, Executive Director, Housing Authority of the County of San Bernardino. “This $3 million investment brings us one step closer to delivering the next phase of high-quality, energy-efficient homes that will serve families in San Bernardino for generations to come. This milestone also reflects the power of strong partnerships between local and federal leaders, and Congressman Aguilar’s advocacy has been instrumental in moving this project forward and ensuring that more families have access to safe, stable, and affordable housing.”
“We’re grateful to Congressman Aguilar for his steadfast support of Arrowhead Grove,” said Michael Ruane, President, National CORE. “This community reflects a vision more than a decade in the making, transforming a 1940s public housing site into a modern, thriving neighborhood rooted in opportunity and services. This new funding allows us to build on that momentum and continue delivering for San Bernardino residents through strong, sustained partnership.”
Since 2022, Rep. Aguilar has secured a total of $8.6 million in funding for the Arrowhead Grove project in Fiscal Years (FY) 2023, 2024 and 2026 under the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act.
As a Member of the House Appropriations Committee and Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD), Rep. Aguilar secured $10.2 million for six projects in California’s 33rd Congressional District in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act.

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Congresswoman McCollum Announces Winners of the 2026 Congressional Art Competition

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn)

SAINT PAUL, Minn. — Congresswoman Betty McCollum, Dean of the Minnesota Congressional Delegation, hosted a recognition evening and exhibit on Thursday night to announce the winners of the 2026 Congressional Art Competition in Minnesota’s Fourth Congressional District.

The first-place winner for the 2026 Congressional Art Competition is Alyssa Wang of Woodbury, for her graphite piece entitled “Color Me Happy.” Saint Paul’s Rebecca Maas placed second for her oil painting entitled “While I Sleep In.” Lily Kroeger of North St. Paul took third place for her colored pencil piece entitled “Puppeteer My Own Limits.”

“Over the weekend, more than 6,400 people took the opportunity to view the amazing talent and creativity of the more than sixty young artists from across the Fourth District who competed in the 2026 Congressional Art Competition,” said Congresswoman Betty McCollum. “I’m grateful to all the students who applied their time, effort, and creativity to submit a piece of artwork, and I commend them for showing the courage to showcase their talents to our community. Congratulations to Alyssa, Rebecca, and Lily! 

Wang’s first place work will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol alongside winners from across the United States. Maas’ work will be displayed in Congresswoman McCollum’s Washington, D.C. office, and Kroeger’s piece will hang in the Congresswoman’s Saint Paul office. The competition was open to all Fourth District high school students and attracted dozens of entries which were displayed at the Atrium Gallery of the Schmidt Artist Lofts as part of the 2026 Spring Saint Paul Art Crawl. 

A panel of Fourth Congressional District Resident Artists generously volunteered their time to judge the students’ art. The winners were announced during a recognition evening on Thursday, April 23rd, 2026, at the Schmidt Artist Lofts. 

All 2026 entries can be viewed online here.