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July 14, 2026

NEWS: Essential Pressley Bills Enacted into Law in Most Robust Housing Package in Decades

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07)

Pressley-Led Bills Will Address Bias in Home Appraisals, Expand Affordable Housing, Strengthen Oversight of Corporate Landlords, and Help Families Reach Financial Stability

Pressley Condemned Trump’s Refusal to Sign Housing Package into Law

WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), a member of the House Financial Services Committee, issued a statement following the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act being enacted into law—the most robust housing package in decades. The package includes Rep. Pressley’s four bills to address bias in home valuations, expand affordable housing, strengthen oversight of corporate landlords, and help families reach financial stability.

“I’m proud to deliver essential housing resources to families in the Massachusetts 7^th and throughout the country,” said Congresswoman Pressley. “This robust housing package and my four bills within it will bring necessary relief to Americans struggling to keep up with soaring housing costs. My bills will confront racial bias in home appraisals, protect renters from abusive corporations, expand access to affordable housing, and help families build long-term financial stability. It’s time we treat housing as the human right that it is—and these laws are an essential step forward to do exactly that.”

Rep. Pressley’s four bills in the housing package include:

The Appraisal Modernization Act. This bill would promote equity and combat systemic bias in the home appraisal process that has disadvantaged many current and aspiring homeowners—especially homeowners of color.
The Innovation Fund Act. This bill would establish a grant program to reward communities that are taking innovative steps to increase housing supply.
The Renter Resource Center Act. This bill would protect renters and strengthen oversight of corporations by creating a database of institutional investors that buy single-family homes, requiring HUD to provide resources to renters, and more.
Helping More Families Save Act.This bill would help families receiving federal housing assistance achieve financial independence as a pathway to wealth building by modernizing and expanding HUD’s Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program.

Following Trump’s refusal to sign the package into law without advancing his voter suppression bill, Rep. Pressley joined lawmakers in demanding Trump support the housing package and the essential, expanded access to housing it would deliver for Americans.

In January 2026, Rep. Pressley, alongside Congresswomen Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03) and Ilhan Omar (MN-05) held the Congressional Progressive Caucus’ (CPC) Lowering Costs Taskforce’s first shadow hearing, titled “Building the New American Dream: Lowering Housing Costs for All.” The shadow hearing brought together housing experts and CPC Members to advance solutions to lower costs by building more affordable, public, and market-rate housing; cracking down on corporate and landlord greed; and expanding federal assistance for low-income families.

As a Member of the Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance of the House Financial Services Committee (FSC), Rep. Pressley has consistently advocated for policies that affirm housing as a human right and center the dignity and humanity of all people.

In May 2026, during Fair Housing and Second Chance Month, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) and Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (MI-12) reintroduced the Housing for Formerly Incarcerated Reentry and Stable Tenancy (Housing FIRST) Act of 2026, bold legislation to help people who are formerly incarcerated and those with criminal histories access safe and stable housing. The bill would advance housing justice and help disrupt the prison-to-homelessness pipeline by removing unjust barriers to housing and limit tenant screening criteria for criminal records in background checks.
In April 2026, Rep. Pressley along with Rep. DeLauro and Rep. Gomez, founder and co-chair of Congressional Renters Caucus, introduced the Housing Emergencies Lifeline Program (HELP) Act to protect tenants facing illegal evictions, crack down on credit reporting of evictions, and more.
In March 2026, Rep. Pressley joined Financial Services Committee Democrats in a comment letter condemning HUD’s proposed mixed-status families rule, which would increase evictions, separate families, and increase homelessness across the country.
In December 2025, Rep. Pressley convened local advocates and community partners to sound the alarm on the housing crisis created by Donald Trump.
In December 2025, Rep. Pressley underscored the need to support grandfamily and kinship households, which are vital to preventing homelessness and keeping families and communities whole.

In November 2025, Rep. Pressley joined House Financial Services Committee Ranking Member Maxine Waters (CA-35) and 52 colleagues in sending a letter to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner, calling on him to rescind a recent HUD decision to slash essential Continuum of Care (CoC) program funding.
In November 2025, Rep. Pressley introduced the Appraisal Modernization Act, legislation to promote equity and combat systemic bias in the home appraisal process that has disadvantaged many current and aspiring homeowners—especially homeowners of color.
In May 2025, Rep, Pressley, along with Representatives Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), and Greg Casar (TX-35), reintroduced the Tenants’ Right to Organize Act, legislation to protect the power of tenants, including those with federal vouchers, to organize.
In June 2024, Rep. Pressley, along with Representatives Maxine Waters (CA-43) and Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), re-introduced the Tenant Empowerment Act, bold legislation to strengthen HUD tenant protections and provide renters with the tools necessary to improve the quality of their homes.
In March 2024, Rep. Pressley, along with Mayor Wu, visited Roxbury to celebrate the $1,000,000 in federal funding she secured to provide emergency childcare support for families experiencing homelessness in the City of Boston.
In March 2024, Rep. Pressley, along with Senators Warren and Markey, applauded the final passage of $850,000 in federal community project funding for The Pryde, an affordable housing development for LGBTQ+ seniors in Hyde Park.
In March 2024, Rep. Pressley urged Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell to cut interest rates to boost home affordability and construction of affordable housing.
In January 2024, Rep. Pressley, during a House Financial Services Committee Hearing, highlighted the growing housing crisis and how appraisal bias and discriminatory tenant screening practices exacerbate the racial wealth and homeownership gaps, especially for Black communities.
In January 2024, Rep. Pressley celebrated the $2.4 million in federal funding she secured to support the community-led transformation of the Clarendon Hill housing community, an ethnically, linguistically and economically diverse neighborhood in Somerville.
In December 2023, Rep. Pressley requested the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to provide data on housing needs for Medicaid beneficiaries and feedback on challenges the agency is having in covering housing support for people requiring home and community-based services (HCBS).
In July 2023, Rep. Pressley, along with Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) and Congresswoman Cori Bush (MO-01), reintroduced the Housing Emergencies Lifeline Program (HELP) Act, critical legislation to provide much-needed assistance to those facing eviction amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
In September 2021, Rep. Pressley joined Rep. Bush and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) in introducing the Keeping Renters Safe Act of 2021 to enact an urgently needed nationwide eviction moratorium.
On July 2021, ahead of the expiration of the previous CDC eviction moratorium, Reps. Pressley, Bush, Gomez and their progressive colleagues sent a letter renewing their calls for President Biden and CDC Director Rochelle Walensky to extend the federal eviction moratorium and prevent the historic and deadly wave of evictions that would occur if the government failed to do so.
On July 30, 2021, Rep. Pressley joined House Financial Services Committee Chairwoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) in introducing the Protecting Renters from Evictions Act of 2021, legislation to extend the eviction moratorium through the end of the year.
In June 2021, Rep. Pressley, along with Reps. Gomez and Bush, led over 40 of their colleagues on a letter urging President Biden and CDC Director Walensky to extend and strengthen the moratorium for the duration of the public health crisis.
In June 2021, Congresswoman Pressley, along with Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), re-introduced the Rent and Mortgage Cancellation Act, a bill to institute a nationwide cancellation of rents and home mortgage payments through the duration of the coronavirus pandemic.
On May 18, 2021, Reps. Bush and Pressley sent a letter to the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), calling on the CDC to strengthen and extend the federal moratorium on evictions, ensuring families can remain safely in their homes for the duration of the COVID-19 global health emergency.
On July 28, 2020, Rep. Pressley, Rep. DeLauro and Sen. Harris introduced the Housing Emergencies Lifeline Program (HELP) Act to provide much-needed, layered assistance to those facing eviction amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
On July 24, 2020, in a Financial Services Committee hearing, Rep. Pressley discussed the unprecedented financial cliff facing millions of renters and homeowners, the economic consequences of millions losing their homes, including the ability to return to work, and why funding for legal representation is so critical.
On May 11, 2020, Reps. Tlaib, and Joe Neguse (D-CO) urge House and Senate leadership to include $11.5 billion in funding for Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) in the next relief package to aid the nation’s homeless population who are experiencing heightened vulnerability during the COVID-19 pandemic.
On April 10, 2020, Rep. Pressley urged Congressional leadership to prioritize recurring monthly cash payments to those most at-risk during the COVID-19 crisis. This funding would allow people to cover all their bills, including rent.
On April 17, 2020, Reps. Pressley, Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and colleagues introduce the Rent and Mortgage Cancellation Act, a bill to institute a nationwide cancellation of rents and home mortgage payments through the duration of the coronavirus pandemic.

On March 23, 2020, Reps. Pressley and Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) introduced the Public Health Emergency Shelter Act of 2020, legislation to provide critical funding to states and local governments responding to the needs of families and individuals experiencing homelessness during the COVID-19 crisis. This legislation was included and passed through the HEROES Act and H.R. 7301, the Emergency Housing Protections and Relief Act of 2020.
On March 19, 2020, Rep. Pressley, along with progressive lawmakers and organizations, introduced the Housing is a Human Right Act to authorize more than $200 billion in federal spending over 10 years for crucial housing infrastructure and reduce homelessness.
On March 18, 2020, Reps. Pressley, Katie Porter (D-CA) and Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) wrote to HUD calling for a moratorium on evicting renters during the coronavirus pandemic.
In July 2019, Rep. Pressley announced legislation that would prohibit the use of biometric recognition technology in most public and assisted housing units funded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), protecting tenants from biased surveillance technology.
In November 2019, Rep. Pressley and Rep. Tlaib wrote to HUD blasting the agency for ignoring low-income tenants seeking to save their homes.

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July 14, 2026

SCHNEIDER CALLS FOR ICE ACCOUNTABILITY FOLLOWING FATAL SHOOTINGS

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Brad Schneider (D-IL)

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Brad Schneider (IL-10) released a statement following ICE-involved shootings in Texas and Maine:

“For the second time in less than a week, ICE personnel have shot and killed a person during an immigration enforcement operation. Since January of 2025, more than 20 people have been shot by federal immigration officials. We demand fully independent and transparent investigations into the circumstances of the shootings in Texas and Maine, and every other ICE and CBP related shooting. More than one instance of an innocent person being shot by ICE or CBP is too many. To make matters worse, there have been far too many instances of false or incomplete official reports covering up the actions by ICE and CBP officers. Again, even one false or incomplete report would be too many.

“It is long past time for ICE and CBP officers to drop their masks and turn on their body cameras! Under Trump and now Homeland Security Secretary Mullin, DHS continues to push dangerous and reckless tactics, disregarding the rule of law and public safety. Secretary Mullin must take immediate action to end the unnecessary escalations to deadly force and address the dehumanizing and extremist culture driving these actions.”

Last week, the New York Times published a report on the number of people shot by federal immigration agents since January 2025.

July 14, 2026

Reps. Smith, Khanna, Sánchez, and Williams Introduce Protecting American Homes from Hedge Funds Act

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Reps. Smith, Khanna, Sánchez, and Williams Introduce Protecting American Homes from Hedge Funds Act

New legislation would permanently drive hedge funds out of the single-family housing market

Washington, D.C. (July 13, 2026) – Today, Representative Adam Smith (WA-09), joined by Representatives Ro Khanna (CA-17), Nikema Williams (GA-05), and Linda Sánchez (CA-38), introduced the Protecting American Homes from Hedge Funds Act, legislation to remove hedge funds and large institutional investors from America’s single-family housing market and restoring opportunities to working-class communities these homes were intended to serve.

This bill is introduced after the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act — the largest federal housing package in decades — became law over the weekend. That law caps institutional investor ownership of single-family homes at 350 units per entity, marking the first time Congress has acted to restrict corporate ownership of family homes. The Protecting American Homes from Hedge Funds Act builds on that foundation by phasing hedge funds out of the single-family housing market entirely.

Rep. Smith, who supports the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act’s historic investments in housing supply, said its passage shows Congress is finally ready to confront corporate ownership of homes — and that this legislation carries that momentum forward.

“The housing law that took effect over the weekend is a real, bipartisan step forward — Congress has now said clearly that family homes should belong to families,” said Rep. Adam Smith.

Though the 21^st Century ROAD to Housing Act is a step in the right direction, hardworking Americans deserve the chance to build wealth through homeownership without the threat of corporate greed.

“This bill takes the next step. In 1971, my father bought the house I grew up in for $15,000 on the salary he earned as a baggage handler at SeaTac Airport,” said Rep. Adam Smith. “Today, families working just as hard as he did are losing homes to all-cash offers from investment funds that will never live in them. The Protecting American Homes from Hedge Funds Act will get these institutional investors out of our neighborhoods and put those homes back within reach of the families they were built for.”

“Homes should be owned by people, not institutional investors. I’m proud to join this effort to make homeownership more affordable for families and to make the American dream of owning a home more accessible,” said Rep. Ro Khanna.

“Homes are for families, not billion-dollar hedge funds. Wall Street has turned our housing crisis into a profit venture, buying up homes and pricing working families out of their own communities. Our bill will put a stop to this so that the American Dream is back within reach for those who want to live in a home, not just invest in them,” said Rep. Linda Sánchez.

“Homeownership remains one of the most powerful pathways to building generational wealth and closing the racial wealth gap. Yet, across Atlanta and communities nationwide, working families are being priced out of the American Dream by hedge funds and corporate investors that can outbid them and buy up entire neighborhoods,” said Rep. Nikema Williams. “The Protecting American Homes from Hedge Funds Act puts families—not Wall Street—first by helping level the playing field so more Americans can afford to buy a home, build wealth, and invest in their communities. The chance to own a home should never depend on whether a hedge fund got there first,”

The bill is supported by a broad coalition of housing advocates, consumer protection organizations, fair housing groups, and economic justice organizations, including: Popular Democracy in Action, National Consumer Law Center (on behalf of its low-income clients), Private Equity Stakeholder Project (PESP), Americans for Financial Reform, National Housing Law Project (NHLP), Consumer Action, and Washington Low Income Housing Alliance.

“The Private Equity Stakeholder Project is proud to support this essential bill. The Protecting American Homes from Hedge Funds Act would significantly level the playing field for the millions of Americans struggling to buy a home and prevent corporate landlords from using government assistance to expand their rental inventory,” said Chris Noble, Policy Director for the Private Equity Stakeholder Project. “This bill creates sorely needed guardrails to counter Wall Street profiteering amidst the ongoing housing affordability crisis facing our country.”

“Private equity firms and hedge funds are snapping up housing with cash and pocketing lucrative tax breaks and getting sweetheart financing that makes it even harder for families to become first-time homebuyers,” said Caroline Nagy, Associate Director for Housing Policy at Americans for Financial Reform. “Americans for Financial Reform is proud to support the Protecting American Homes from Hedge Funds Act, which would kick big Wall Street landlords out of our single-family homes.”

Background

Following the 2008 housing crisis, large private equity firms and hedge funds bought substantial portfolios of foreclosed homes. In 2011, no single entity owned more than 1,000 single-family rental units. By 2022, large institutional investors and hedge funds owned roughly 700,000 single-family rental homes, and financial analysts have forecast that institutional ownership could reach 40 percent of all single-family rentals by 2030.

A March 2026 Government Accountability Office study of six metro areas found that once homes enter the institutional market, they rarely return to families: in some regions, fewer than four in ten homes sold by institutional investors went to owner-occupants, with the rest cycling to other investors and corporate buyers. In the fastest-moving market GAO studied, institutional investors grew from 7 percent of single-family rentals to 22 percent in just six years.

What the Bill Does

The Protecting American Homes from Hedge Funds Act would:

Exempt nonprofits, government entities, and organizations that primarily build or rehabilitate single-family housing

Rep. Smith first introduced legislation to remove hedge funds from the single-family market in 2022, strengthened it in 2023, and offered it as an amendment to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act in 2025.

A fact sheet is available [here]. Full bill text is available [here].

ABOUT: Congressman Adam Smith represents Washington’s 9th Congressional District and is the Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee. He is focused on building a community that supports working families through investments in affordable housing, mental and behavioral health, economic equality, and workforce development.

CONTACT:
Jessica Davis, Communications Director
jessica.davis1@mail.house.gov | (202) 823-3461

July 14, 2026

Griffith Announces More Than $1.2 Million FEMA Grant for Helene Relief Bridge Repair

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA)

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded a Hurricane Helene-related grant of $1,203,957 to the Commonwealth of Virginia. This funding will support repairs to a 160-feet long and 14-feet wide bridge in Damascus, Virginia, that was lifted off its foundations and washed downstream as a result of intense flooding from Hurricane Helene.

In response to this grant notice, U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement:

“Hurricane Helene’s impact continues to be felt in Virginia’s Ninth District.

“This FEMA grant for more than $1.2 million helps the Virginia Department of Transportation deliver renewed access to a bridge in Damascus, Virginia.”

BACKGROUND

FEMA funds are obligated to the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Commonwealth will be responsible for providing the funds to the sub-recipients.

In January 2025, Rep. Griffith announced $46.67 million in Helene relief to Virginia from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

In April 2025, Congressman Griffith announced nearly $6 million in Helene relief in a separate grant for Washington County water line repairs.

In January 2026, Congressman Griffith announced more than $4.2 million in Helene relief for a Wytheville wastewater treatment system.

In February 2026, Congressman Griffith announced more than $8.6 million in Helene relief for water line repair.

In April 2026, Congressman Griffith announced more than $1.7 million in Helene relief for bridge repair.

In June 2026, Congressman Griffith announced more than $2.8 million in Helene relief for road repair.

In July 2026, Congressman Griffith announced more than $9.3 million in Helene relief for waterline repair.

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July 14, 2026

Congressman Cleaver Receives Carl A.S. Coan, Sr., Lifetime Achievement Award for Public Service

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II (5th District Missouri)

Cleaver was presented the award by the National Housing Conference for his work in helping enact the most significant housing proposal in over three decades with the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act

(Washington, D.C.) – At the end of June, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO), Ranking Member of the Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing & Insurance, received the Carl A.S. Coan, Sr., Lifetime Achievement Award for Public Service from the National Housing Conference. Congressman Cleaver was presented the award, along with Congressman Mike Flood, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Housing & Insurance, at the NHC’s Housing Visionary Awards Gala in Washington, D.C. for their work in helping pass the bipartisan 21^st Century ROAD to Housing Act, including the HOME Reform Act, the most significant housing proposal passed by Congress in nearly four decades.

“The American people do not wish to see their elected officials bicker and grandstand when they go to Washington—they want to see cooperation, compromise, and concrete solutions that will improve the lives of everyday Americans,” said Congressman Cleaver. “From day one of the 119^th Congress, Chairman Flood and I have chosen to work together to deliver real results for those we represent. Because of that bipartisan commitment, we were able to work in partnership with Ranking Member Waters and Chairman Hill to pass the most significant housing reform package in nearly four decades. This award is recognition of the long hours and difficult road it took to arrive at this moment and I’m grateful to the National Housing Conference, and its many member organizations, for helping pave the way. Together, we will continue pushing to expand access to affordable housing and revitalize the American dream for hardworking families in Missouri and all across this great nation.”

The Carl A.S. Coan, Sr., Lifetime Achievement Award for Public Service recognizes their bipartisan leadership on the 21^st Century ROAD to Housing Act, including the HOME Reform Act, an effort to expand the nation’s affordable housing supply at a time when millions of Americans face rising housing costs and limited availability.

The HOME Reform Act modernizes the federal HOME Investment Partnerships Program, one of the primary tools used by states and localities to build and preserve affordable housing, by streamlining regulations, reducing administrative barriers, and strengthening public-private partnerships to help communities more efficiently develop housing and address the nationwide shortage.

Founded in 1931, the National Housing Conference is the nation’s oldest and broadest coalition of affordable housing stakeholders, with more than 300 member organizations spanning lending, homebuilding, affordable housing advocacy, real estate, nonprofit development, and housing finance.

Photos from the event are available here.

NHC tribute video available here.

Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee’s Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Greenwood, Blue Springs, North Kansas City, Gladstone, and Claycomo. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance.

July 14, 2026

One Year Later: Democrats Tout Tax Cuts They Voted Against

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Johnson (LA-04)

One Year Later: Democrats Tout Tax Cuts They Voted Against

House and Senate Democrats are regretting their votes in support of a $5 trillion tax hike on working families

Washington, July 13, 2026

WASHINGTON — One year after President Trump signed the Working Families Tax Cuts into law, hardworking American families across the nation are paying lower taxes and keeping more of what they earn – outcomes the legislation was written to achieve. Democrats unanimously opposed these transformational tax provisions for working families, instead voting for a $5 trillion tax hike – the largest in history.

However, despite Congressional Democrats’ vehement and unanimous opposition and state-level Democrat attempts to actually block implementation of these tax provisions, many Democrats are now claiming to see the wisdom of providing tax relief to working families. Many House and Senate Democrats are lying to their voters, taking credit for legislation they actively opposed.

“With their unanimous opposition to the Working Families Tax Cuts, Congressional Democrats in unison voted against no tax on tips and overtime, the doubled child tax credit, $50 billion for rural healthcare, and investment accounts for every newborn in America,” Speaker Johnson said. “Now, as tens of millions of citizens are benefitting from this historic tax relief, Democrats are attempting to mislead the American people and claim credit for something they opposed vehemently. Republicans will not let the American people forget that if Democrats had it their way, every taxpayer would have faced the largest tax increase in American history.”

A few examples of how Democrats support the Working Families Tax Cuts:

Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) introduced a bill that would make Trump Accounts permanent and automatically enroll newborns into the program, which he renames “American Dream Accounts,” and a bill to make No Tax on Tips permanent, saying “we must ensure that […] as many workers as possible can benefit as much as possible.”
Reps. Dina Titus (D-NV), Steven Horsford (D-NV), and Susie Lee (D-NV), along with Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and Jacky Rosen (D-NV) wrote a letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent “to ensure the successful implementation of this [No Tax on Tips] provision for our constituents and tipped workers across the country.” They all voted no, despite knowing they are “lawmakers representing our nation’s most hospitality and service industry dependent economy.”
Reps. Tom Suozzi (D-NY) admitted, “There are certain things that I liked in the big, ugly bill.” He and Emilia Sykes (D-OH) helped introduce a bill to expand eligibility for No Tax on Overtime.
Rep. Emmanuel Cleaver (D-MO) and Rep. Sharice Davids (D-KS) sent a joint press release, and Rep. Nellie Pou (D-NJ) also took credit, for securing hundreds of millions of dollars in security funding for the World Cup – despite trashing the Working Families Tax Cuts, voting against the legislation which included the funding, and taking repeated voted to keep the Department of Homeland Security –the agency tasked with World Cup security – closed.

Why are Democrats taking credit for this monumental legislation? Because the policies – and the successful results that followed – speak for themselves:

KEEPING MORE OF YOUR MONEY

97% of filers received a tax cut this past filing season, who would have otherwise owed taxes absent the extension of President Trump’s 2017 tax cuts.
$82 billion has been returned to the American people from the individual tax cuts in the WFTC.
96% of filers receiving a tax cut earned less than $200,000.

Filers earning between $100,000 to $200,000, who claimed one of President Trump’s signature tax cuts, received an average tax cut of over $1,250.

Nearly 70% of filers receiving a tax cut earned less than $100,000.

Filers earning between $50,000 to $100,000, who claimed one of President Trump’s signature tax cuts, received an average tax cut over $815.

No Tax on Tips: Over 7.5 million filers have claimed No Tax on Tips, with an average deduction of over $7,000.

90% of filers claiming the No Tax on Tips deduction had income under $100,000.
99% of filers claiming the No Tax on Tips deduction had income under $200,000.

No Tax on Overtime: Over 29 million filers have claimed No Tax on Overtime, with an average deduction of over $3,100.

75% of filers claiming the No Tax on Overtime deduction had income under $100,000.
96% of filers claiming the No Tax on Overtime deduction had income under $200,000.

Enhanced Senior Deduction: Over 35 million seniors have claimed the Enhanced Deduction for Seniors, with an average deduction of over $7,500.

68% of filers claiming the Enhanced Senior Deduction had income under $100,000.
94% of filers claiming the Enhanced Senior Deduction had income under $200,000.

No Tax on Car Loan Interest: Over 1.4 million filers have claimed No Tax on Car Loan Interest on their new American vehicles, with an average deduction of over $1,800.
- 62% of filers claiming the No Tax on Car Loan Interest deduction had income under $100,000.
- 98% of filers claiming the No Tax on Car Loan Interest deduction had income under $200,000.

Enhanced Child Tax Credit: Nearly 40 million families have claimed the enhanced Child Tax Credit, which is permanently doubled and expanded by the Working Families Tax Cuts.

65% of all families claiming the credit had income under $100,000.
89% of all families claiming the credit had income under $200,000.

Doubled Standard Deduction: Over 127 million filers, or 90% of all tax filers, have claimed the permanently doubled standard deduction, simplifying tax filing for millions across America.
Boosts take home pay for a typical hardworking family by over $10,000 a year.
More than 6 million Trump Accounts have been opened for American children, and 1.4 million are eligible to receive the initial $1,000 seed contribution from the Working Families Tax Cuts.

86% of Trump Accounts opened are linked to families earning less than $200,000 annually.
500,000 children received the $1,000 seed fund on July 4, 2026 from the Trump administration.

THE WORKING FAMILIES TAX CUTS

Puts American Farmers First: Prevents foreign countries from flooding our markets with biofuel feedstocks that compete with American grown agriculture.
Invests in Rural America: Created the Rural Health Transformation Program and invested $50 billion over five years to transparently and efficiently transform rural health access.
Supports Family Farms: Protects two million family farms from excessive taxation by raising the death tax exemption, helping generational farms stay in the family by increasing the amount family farms can inherit tax free.
Expands Access to Disaster Aid: Expands access to standing disaster programs and conservation programs.
Invests in American Agriculture: Expands affordable crop insurance and improves risk management tools for livestock, aquaculture, honeybees, and specialty crops.
Ensures Tax Dollars Benefit Americans, Not Illegals: Ensures American taxpayers are no longer funding benefits for illegals on Medicaid and SNAP.
Provides Small Business Relief: Provides immediate tax relief to farmers, ranchers, and rural Americans by increasing the small business expensing threshold and permanently extending the Small Business Deduction.
Delivers Historic Tax Relief: This landmark legislation puts more money back into Americans’ pockets with American families and workers claiming $82 billion in individual relief directly from the Working Families Tax Cuts.

Makes Permanent the Child Tax Credit: Permanently increased and enhanced $2,200 child tax credit for tens of millions of families.
Supports School Choice and Parental Rights: Creates the first-ever federal tax credit to provide scholarships to children to attend a K-12 school of their choice.
Creates Trump Accounts: Gives eligible children born between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2028, a $1,000 contribution from the Treasury Department.
Expands the Adoption Tax Credit: Improvements to the Adoption Tax Credit make adoption more affordable
Expands Skills-Based Training: Allows students to pay for short-term vocational and technical training programs that align with in-demand, high-skill, high-wage jobs.
Expands Education Savings: Doubles the allowed annual distribution amount for K-12 expenses and expands qualified K-12 expenses to include materials, books, testing fees, online programs, tutoring. Expands qualified distributions for post-secondary career paths to include trade schools, technical certifications, and other workforce development credentialing.

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July 14, 2026

Norton Introduces Bill to Address Retirement Issues for Certain Public Servants Under D.C. Revitalization Act

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (District of Columbia)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) introduced a bill to address several retirement issues for several categories of workers who used to be under the District of Columbia retirement system. First, the service of some employees from 1987-1997 who participated in D.C.’s defined contribution plan and were transferred to the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) had those 10 years of service not fully counted for their annuity. The bill would allow those employees to buy into the FERS annuity amount from those 10 years, which would give them the full retirement benefit to which they should be entitled.

“D.C.’s dedicated civil servants, including teachers, police, firefighters and judges, should receive the full federal pension benefits they earned,” Norton said. “These workers should have all of their service recognized and counted in determining the annuity they receive.”

The bill also addresses two benefit issues for employees in the teachers, police officers, and firefighters pension plans, whose pre-1997 benefits are funded by the federal government. First, the bill would recognize domestic partner benefits for pre-1997 benefits, like D.C. enacted for benefits post-1997. Second, the bill would change the age at which a surviving spouse may remarry without losing survivor benefits to bring them in line with both the post-1997 benefits and the retirement benefits for most federal employees, and also make the analogous change for D.C. judges, whose retirement benefits are funded by the federal government.

Norton’s introductory statement follows.

Statement of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton on the Introduction of the National Capital Revitalization and Self-Government Improvement Act of 1997 Technical Corrections Act of 2026

July 13, 2026

Today, I introduce the National Capital Revitalization and Self-Government Improvement Act of 1997 Technical Corrections Act of 2026, which would address several retirement issues for current and former District of Columbia employees that resulted from the National Capital Revitalization and Self-Government Improvement Act of 1997 (Revitalization Act). The Revitalization Act, among other things, transferred several categories of employees who were in the D.C. retirement system to the federal retirement system and transferred responsibility from D.C. to the federal government for funding pension benefits earned by D.C. teachers, police officers, firefighters and judges before 1997.

First, the Revitalization Act transferred several categories of employees, primarily related to D.C.’s criminal justice system, who participated in D.C.’s defined contribution plan from 1987 to 1997 to the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). However, these employees’ service from 1987 to 1997 was not counted for purposes of creditable service or annuity amount in FERS. In 2009, Congress passed legislation counting this service for creditable service, but not annuity amount. This bill would allow these employees to buy into the FERS annuity amount for 1987 to 1997 by paying 1.3 percent of their base pay plus interest, essentially the employee contribution for this time, which would give them the full retirement benefit to which they should be entitled.

Second, this bill would address two benefit issues for employees in the D.C. teachers, police officers and firefighters pension plans, whose pre-1997 benefits are funded by the federal government. In 2018, D.C. enacted a law to provide domestic partner benefits for the police and firefighters pension plan, which mirrored a law already enacted for teachers. However, these domestic partner benefits apply only to service accrued after 1997, since the federal government funds pre-1997 benefits. This bill would make the domestic partner benefits available for pre-1997 benefits, too.

Finally, in 2012, D.C. enacted a law that reduced from 60 to 55 the age after which a surviving spouse can remarry without losing survivor benefits in the D.C. teachers, police and firefighters pension plans. However, these benefits apply only to service accrued after 1997, since the federal government funds pre-1997 benefits. This bill would bring those pre-1997 benefits in line with both the post-1997 benefits and the retirement benefits for federal employees in the Civil Service Retirement System and FERS and make an analogous change for D.C. judges, whose retirement benefits are funded by the federal government. In general, for federal retirees, 55 is the age after which a surviving spouse can remarry without losing survivor benefits.

This bill would give these workers the retirement benefits they deserve. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

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July 14, 2026

ICYMI: Congresswoman Schrier, Local Leaders Hold Roundtable Discussion on Deteriorating Wilderness Conditions at the Enchantments

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08)

LEAVENWORTH, WA – On Friday, Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) joined local leaders, emergency responders, outdoor enthusiasts, and volunteers to discuss the impacts of the Trump Administration’s cuts to the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) on the Enchantments Wilderness Area.

Congresswoman Schrier was joined by Chelan County Commissioner Kevin Overbay, Leavenworth Mayor Carl Florea, Leavenworth Chamber of Commerce Director Troy Campbell, Chelan County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Management Sergeant Jason Reinfeld, Chelan County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Management Specialist Rich Magnussen, Retired Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Wilderness Program Manager Suzanne Cable, and TREAD Executive Director Mat Lyons, among other local leaders and advocates.

BACKGROUND: The Trump Administration’s Forest Service cuts forced the Wenatchee River Ranger District, which staffs the Enchantments, down to just one employee from 11 in 2025. Insufficient staffing has led to diminished capacity to serve visitors, inadequate land management, and overflowing toilets that threaten Icicle Creek: Leavenworth’s drinking water source.

The administration recently proposed an additional 25% cut to USFS research, and is carrying out a complete reorganization of the agency as wildfire season begins.

Congresswoman Schrier has urged the Trump Administration to remedy these deteriorating conditions and pressed the administration to address poor Forest Service trail conditions and insufficient staffing in the Enchantments.

“The Enchantments are a beloved part of the Eighth District, and it is our duty to protect the area for future generations,” said Congresswoman Schrier. “Due to the Trump Administration’s erratic staffing cuts and reorganization of the Forest Service, and also due to overcrowding, conditions at the Enchantments have deteriorated and even become unsafe – poorly maintained public lands and overflowing toilets have threatened public health and the environment. As wildfires blaze across our state, the failure to properly manage these lands poses a severe threat to the safety of our communities and health of our forests. I was grateful to speak with local leaders and advocates to better understand the impacts they are seeing on the ground, and ways we can advocate to restore healthy conditions. I want to be clear that however incredible these volunteers are, they cannot be expected to backfill the responsibilities of the Forest Service. I will continue to do all I can in Congress to protect the Enchantments Wilderness Area, and fight back against devastating Forest Service cuts.”

“We have demonstrated here at this roundtable discussion broad community support for taking action. We have local elected officials, law enforcement, business owners, and recreation and conservation organizations that are all united in asking the Forest Service to manage day use in the Enchantments to improve conditions not only to benefit the wilderness, but also to benefit the local community and visitors to the area that are important to this rural economy,” said retired Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Wilderness Program Manager Suzanne Cable.

“The Chelan County Sheriff’s Office is responsible for search and rescue in the Enchantments, which is why it is so important this area is protected. I was grateful to join Congresswoman Schrier and local leaders to talk about how best to improve conditions in the area. The public should be aware that many hikes in the Enchantments area, including Colchuck Lake, are not for beginners. Hikers: Please research the route, bring proper clothing and equipment, and don’t exceed your physical capabilities,” said Chelan County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Management Sergeant Jason Reinfeld.

“The Enchantments are one of Chelan County’s greatest natural treasures, and protecting both visitors and this unique wilderness requires strong partnerships,” said Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison. “This collaborative effort enhances public safety, helps preserve our natural resources, and supports the Sheriff’s Office as we balance the growing demands of backcountry rescues and law enforcement while continuing to serve the day-to-day needs of our communities.”

“No single organization or agency can protect the Enchantments alone. Lasting solutions require strong partnerships, especially as the Forest Service faces extreme capacity and funding challenges. I’m grateful to Congresswoman Schrier for bringing local leaders together to strengthen our shared commitment to protecting one of Washington’s most iconic landscapes,” said TREAD Executive Director Mat Lyons.

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July 14, 2026

New Dems Celebrate ROAD to Housing Package Finally Becoming Law

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

July 13, 2026

Washington, D.C. — Today, Housing, Infrastructure, & Transportation Working Group Chair Norma Torres (CA-35), New Democrat Coalition Vice Chair for Policy Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), and Housing Task Force Chair Emilia Sykes (OH-13) issued a statement after President Trump’s 10-day window to either sign the bill or veto it expired, and the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act automatically became law.

The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act is a comprehensive plan to address the housing crisis and help families afford to keep a roof over their heads. It delivers on many of the key objectives laid out in the New Democrat Coalition’s Housing Affordability Agenda, such as building more homes and getting them on the market faster, making it easier for families to buy or rent a home, and leveraging better housing data to surge resources where they are needed.

“After countless unnecessary delays, Congress is finally taking a crucial step forward in the fight to lower costs.

“We could not be more proud of the work that so many of our New Dem colleagues have put into this package—which contains provisions from 22 New Dem Member-led bills and two New Dem proposals. They have spent countless hours meeting with housing experts and families from across the country to put forward bold recommendations to drive down housing costs. It is thanks to their hard work that we can finally start to deliver real relief to working Americans.

“By refusing to sign this bill, the President has once-and-for-all proven that he is not willing to lift a finger to address affordability or ensure that all families have a safe, comfortable place to live.”

New Dems has engaged with the House Financial Services Committee, our partners in the Senate, and outside stakeholders to ensure our Members’ priorities are reflected in housing legislation. This bipartisan agreement reflects provisions of numerous New Dem-sponsored or co-led bills, including:

H.R. 5990, Whole-Home Repairs Act, Rep. Nikema Williams (GA-05)
H.R. 6363, Build Now Act, Rep. Jim Himes (CT-04)
H.R. 4810, BUILD Housing Act, Rep. Sam Liccardo (CA-16)
H.R. 4660, Unlocking Housing Supply Through Streamlined and Modernized Reviews Act, Rep. Sam Liccardo (CA-16)
H.R. 5907, Accelerating Home Building Act, Rep. Janelle Bynum (OR-05)
H.R. 5591, RESIDE Act, Rep. Sam Liccardo (CA-16)
H.R. 6293, Housing Supply Expansion Act, Rep. Scott Peters (CA-50)
H.R. 7792, Property Improvement and Manufactured Housing Loan Modernization Act, Rep. Jim Himes (CT-04)
H.R. 6025, Appraisal Industry Improvement Act, Reps. Brad Sherman (CA-32) and Janelle Bynum (OR-05)
H.R. 1981, Choice in Affordable Housing Act, Rep. Sean Casten (IL-06)
H.R. 965, Housing Unhoused Disabled Veterans Act, Rep. Brad Sherman (CA-32)
H.R. 4989, Streamlining Rural Housing Act, Rep. Brittany Pettersen (CO-07)
H.R. 975, Credit Union Board Modernization Act, Rep. Juan Vargas (CA-52)
H.R. 6327, Rural Housing Regulatory Relief Act, Reps. Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34) and Eugene Vindman (VA-07)
H.R. 7791, Increasing Housing in Opportunity Zones Act, Rep. Josh Harder (CA-09)
H.R. 6726, Reforms to Housing Counseling and Financial Literacy Program Act, Rep. David Scott (GA-13)
H.R. 2840, Housing Supply Frameworks Act, Rep. Brittany Pettersen (CO-07)
H.R. 2362, VA Home Loan Awareness Act, Rep. Brittany Pettersen (CO-07)
H.R. 7504, Housing for America’s Middle Class Act, Rep. Josh Gottheimer (NJ-01)
H.R. 1640, HEIRS Act, Rep. Nikema Williams (GA-05)
H.R. 2031, HOME Investment Partnerships Reauthorization and Improvement Act, Reps. Julia Brownley (CA-26), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Bill Foster (IL-11), Emilia Sykes (OH-13), and Juan Vargas (CA-51)
H.R. 3694, VALID Act of 2025, Rep. Brittany Pettersen (CO-07)

Other provisions added:

Sec. 301(d)(2) (Energy Efficiency Standards) – Page 10 of our 118th Congress Housing Action Plan called for streamlining standard setting on energy efficiency for manufactured homes.
Re-authorizing the PRICE Housing Program, which New Dems called to fund in annual appropriations before authorization lapsed.

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July 14, 2026

Ranking Member Huffman Statement on Trump’s Move to Decimate Habitats, Kill Off Treasured Species

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Huffman Representing the 2nd District of California

July 10, 2026

Washington, D.C. – Today, House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) issued the following statement on the Trump administration’s changes to the Endangered Species Act that will allow special interests to destroy imperiled species’ habitats:
“Trump is doing everything in his power to let his billionaire, big industry buddies ravage and obliterate our country to turn a quick buck. This move would let special interests destroy an endangered animal’s home, its food, its clean water – the basic things it needs to survive and recover – with zero repercussions or accountability. He’s pushing species to the brink of extinction and hurting the surrounding communities that depend on thriving ecosystems for their businesses, healthy air and water, and way of life.

“This is corrupt, illegal, and completely untethered from scientific reality.”

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