Disabled Veterans Housing Support Act

Floor Speech

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 224, the Disabled Veterans Housing Support Act, sponsored by Representative De La Cruz.

While I appreciate Ms. De La Cruz's intention to better serve our veterans who have served this country, it is ironic that this bill seeks to improve a program that the Trump administration has already threatened to dismantle through an illegal funding freeze.

Specifically, the Trump administration and Musk's illegal DOGE unit continue to threaten to cut programs and freeze Federal funding that has already gone out the door, including funds meant to serve veterans. In fact, committee staff continue to hear that some CDBG grantees remain locked out of their payment systems and are therefore unable to access Federal funds authorized by Congress. These are funds that are meant to help low-income and moderate-income communities, including disabled veterans, the very people this bill claims to want to help.

If Republicans are concerned about housing upgrades for disabled veterans who honorably served this Nation, then they should find the honor and courage to stop the Trump administration's and the billionaire boy's illegal actions that are harming our Nation's veterans, whether it is stealing private Federal data on millions of Americans or stealing the funding that would otherwise help a disabled veteran upgrade their home to make it more accessible and livable.

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Mr. VARGAS. Mr. Speaker, I believe this is the first time the gentleman from Arkansas has been presenting as the chairman, and I want to say that, as a friend, I am very proud of the gentleman, and it is good to see him as chairman.
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Mr. VARGAS. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I am prepared to close if the gentleman from Arkansas has no further speakers.

Mr. Speaker, as the Trump administration continues its attack on the poor, the homeless, and on federally funded assistance with no Republicans stepping up to provide a check and balance on an illegal government takeover, House Democrats cannot sit here and have an honest debate about this policy.

What is more, the Trump administration has vowed to put more of America's housing in the hands of big investors and private equity firms.

The data shows what happens when private investors get their hands on more housing: Costs and junk fees go up, maintenance gets deferred, and evictions go up.

That is why I support this bill, most certainly. I think it goes the other way.

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