Despite Trump’s Lack of Support, Bipartisan Housing Bill Set to Become Law Tonight

PROVIDENCE, RI -- Despite the fact that President Donald Trump’s costly tariffs, irresponsible war with Iran, and misguided policies have driven up costs and made housing more expensive, President Trump is now refusing to sign the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act. This legislation, passed overwhelmingly in both the U.S. House of Representatives (358-32) and U.S. Senate (85-5), will help lower the cost of housing, cut needless red tape, increase the supply of housing stock nationwide, and expand opportunities for homeownership.

After abruptly canceling a signing ceremony for the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act on June 24 and demanding that lawmakers instead prioritize his unworkable, unpopular, and unconstitutional voter-suppression bill, known as the so-called ‘SAVE Act,’ President Trump had been purposefully vague about his willingness to sign the housing bill. Today, President Trump announced he will not sign the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, in protest of the U.S. Senate not passing the so-called SAVE Act. But today marks the end of a 10-day window, and the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act will still become law tonight at midnight without President Trump’s signature.

The so-called SAVE Act is a voter suppression tool that would lead to mass disenfranchisement. It also places impossible burdens on the states and saddles taxpayers with unfunded Federal mandates. The measure has repeatedly run into stiff bipartisan resistance from state election administrators and in Congress, where it has already been defeated in a failed vote. But Trump refuses to face these facts and continues to push the SAVE Act at the expense of bipartisan solutions to the affordability crisis affecting a vast majority of Americans.

U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), a supporter of the housing affordability bill who co-authored several bipartisan provisions, says the fact that President Trump has dragged his feet and stalled the process at a time when Trump's own policies are accelerating costs and making it harder for people to afford everyday necessities and pay rent is an insult to the American people.

“This is a comprehensive housing affordability bill that takes a multi-faceted approach toward increasing the supply of housing, lowering costs, and expanding opportunity. It will benefit millions of Americans in all fifty states who are facing financial hardships due to President Trump's misguided policies. But instead of signing it, President Trump threw a tantrum. He has obstructed and delayed it because he wants to pass a voter suppression bill that would grant him unprecedented power to rig elections. It’s beyond irresponsible and Americans won’t stand for it. Elections should be secure and fair and focus on the issues, ideas, and character of the candidates. Americans support people who demonstrate the ability to govern and improve people’s lives -- not make them harder. President Trump’s indifference to people’s financial struggles and his refusal to lift a finger to help make housing more affordable tells people all they need to know about him. His policies are unpopular so he is trying an unprecedented power grab and directly interfere in upcoming elections,” said Senator Reed.

According to the National Association of Realtors’ (NAR) latest monthly report on home sales, due in large part to a dearth of housing supply, the median sales price of existing homes in the U.S. grew to $440,600, a record high. In Rhode Island, the median sale price is $500,000.

The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act would:

Provide technical assistance and competitive grants to help communities streamline zoning and permitting and build more housing;

Prevent Wall Street investors from buying up single-family homes that could go to families instead;

Create an innovation fund for communities increasing housing supply;

Help families living in federally-assisted housing build more savings and achieve greater economic independence;

Support housing opportunities for veterans, among other things;

Update HUD’s HOME Investment Partnership Program, which hasn’t been reauthorized since 1992.

Trump’s reckless, unauthorized war with Iran has also driven up domestic prices, including housing and construction costs, as it has contributed to an inflation spike that will likely lead to elevated interest rates.

Reed says that Democrats support secure elections, limited federal power, and competent, transparent election administration by states and have voted repeatedly to provide states with the resources to ensure fair, accurate, secure elections, but President Trump has taken away and blocked that funding.

“It couldn’t be any clearer: Democrats support housing affordability and President Trump only cares about himself. The American people deserve homes they can afford and strong election laws that make it simple for eligible voters to cast their ballot and have it accurately counted, that’s what we have today and it’s the system that every elected Republican won under. Meanwhile, President Trump would rather disenfranchise millions – mostly women and people of color – and become the first president in U.S. history who gets to be the final arbiter of state-run elections than lower housing costs,” said Reed.


Sens. Rick Scott, Ashley Moody Lead Resolution Honoring Fifth Anniversary of Cuba’s ‘Patria y Vida’ Freedom Movement

WASHINGTON, D.C.– Today, ahead of the fifth anniversary of the peaceful movement for ‘Patria y Vida’ in Cuba, Senators Rick Scott and Ashley Moody reintroduced a resolution honoring the brave people of Cuba in their fight for freedom and condemning the illegitimate Communist Cuban regime. On July 11, 2021, the Cuban people heroically took to the streets to decry the human rights abuses by the Castro/Díaz-Canel regime—including political imprisonment and brutal oppression—and to demand a democratic future.

Senator Rick Scott said, “Now more than ever, there is a renewed spirit of hope for a free Cuba. President Trump and Secretary Rubio have put Raul Castro on notice by indicting him for his crimes and showing the world the true nature of the regime’s atrocities. This is what the brave Cuban people who took to the streets five years ago hoped for, and we will not forget the courage and sacrifice of those Cuban freedom fighters. I will never stop working for a free and democratic Cuba – or holding this criminal regime accountable. That’s why I am proud to once again introduce this resolution with Senator Moody and stand with the Cuban people as they continue their fight for ‘Patria y Vida.’”

Senator Ashley Moody said, “Five years ago, the Cuban people rose in a series of protests against the tyrannic communist party that has ruled Cuba for more than half a century. The men and women who stood bravely against their government, faced beatings and torture but yet, they stood strong demanding the basic rights that have been eroded by socialist policies. The courage of the people of Cuba reminds me of the courage of our founding fathers who fought for their rights 250 years ago. We introduce this resolution as a reminder, not only of the evils of the oppressive Cuban regime, but as a reminder of the power of the people who boldly stand up to communism. I continue to commend the strength of those who fight for freedom, fight for their rights, and fight for a free and democratic Cuba.” Said Senator Ashley Moody

To read the full resolution, click HERE.

Senator Scott has long been one of the Senate’s strongest advocates for a free Cuba and the Cuban people, leading efforts to hold the illegitimate Communist regime accountable while standing with those courageously fighting for freedom. Since the historic July 11 protests, Senator Scott has consistently urged the United States to increase pressure on the dictatorship, defend the Cuban people’s fundamental rights, and support the cause of a free, democratic, and prosperous Cuba.

Efforts this year alone include:

January 5, 2026: Sen. Rick Scott Reintroduces No Relief for Allies of Dictators Act

April 10, 2026: Sen. Rick Scott Releases Statement Ahead of Meet the Press Interview with Cuban Dictator

April 15, 2026: Sen. Rick Scott Encourages Pres. Trump to Increase Pressure on Illegitimate Castro/Díaz-Canel Regime

April 24, 2026: Sen. Rick Scott Featured in Diario Las Américas on Letter to NBC Over Díaz-Canel Softball Interview on Meet the Press

May 20, 2026: Sen. Rick Scott Celebrates Raúl Castro Indictment and Justice for the Cuban People

June 2, 2026: Sen. Rick Scott Discusses Next Steps for Venezuela, Cuba with Sec. Marco Rubio at Senate Foreign Relations Committee Hearing

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Rosen Pushes Trump Administration to Fix Severe Visa Processing Delays Affecting Work Reauthorization Applications

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) sent a letter urging Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Joseph Edlow to fix the extensive visa processing backlogs and delays that are impacting immigrants’ ability to obtain work permits. Given that many visa categories require proof of a pending application or confirmation from USCIS to qualify for a work permit, any delays directly impact an immigrant’s ability to apply for a work permit and earn a living.

“These delays are impacting the timely processing of Employment Authorization Document (EAD) applications and renewals, with a backlog of nearly 12 million visa applications at USCIS,” wrote Senator Rosen. “Due to the growing backlog, it is possible that USCIS can receive a visa application on time, but not issue a receipt in a timely manner, leaving the applicant without the necessary proof to obtain a work authorization, at no fault of their own.”

“These delays are concerning given that many of these individuals are working in critical industries, including healthcare, education, and construction, where a gap in employment can have significant impact not only for working families, but also for the communities and local economies that rely on their contributions,” the senator continued. “When EAD’s are not issued in a timely manner due to staffing shortages and lack of resources, recipients lose employment authorization, employers experience workforce disruptions, and families struggle to support themselves as jobs in the community go unfilled.”

Find the Full Letter HERE.


Rosen Secures Purple Heart for Vietnam Veteran from Sparks After Nearly Sixty Years

SPARKS, NV – Today, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen’s (D-NV) office presented former Army Staff Sergeant Thomas Martin with the Purple Heart during a ceremony at the Nevada Veterans Memorial Plaza. Senator Rosen secured the award for SSgt. Martin – who was injured by a punji stake in September 1967 while conducting a helicopter assault during combat operations in Vietnam – after not receiving it for nearly sixty years due to administrative oversights. SSgt. Martin contacted Senator Rosen’s office for assistance, and the Senator and her team pushed the U.S. Army to evaluate the matter and retroactively award SSgt. Martin with a long-overdue Purple Heart. The Purple Heart is the oldest U.S. military award, and it’s awarded to servicemembers who are wounded or killed in combat.

“Staff Sergeant Thomas Martin bravely and courageously served our nation during the Vietnam War, and he was injured while fighting to protect our freedoms. Unfortunately, decades of delays prevented Staff Sergeant Martin from receiving the Purple Heart and properly recognizing his bravery and sacrifice during his time in uniform,” said Senator Rosen. “I’m so proud that my team and I were able to help him finally secure the Purple Heart he earned through his service to our nation. Assisting Nevadans with issues like this is one of the most important parts of my job as a United States Senator for Nevada. My team and I are always ready to help any Nevada veteran who needs assistance dealing with issues in the federal government or navigating federal agencies.”

Senator Rosen has been a champion for veterans in Nevada and across the country. She is leading the charge in Congress to secure benefits for veterans who served at the Nevada Test and Training Range during the nuclear testing era and were exposed to toxins, but have been denied benefits despite their civilian counterparts receiving support. Earlier this year, she successfully pushed the Trump Administration to reverse a rule that could have decreased benefits for disabled veterans. Senator Rosen has also introduced bipartisan legislation to cut red tape and streamline the process for medical practitioners who work with both the U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to help eliminate delays in patient care.

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NEWS: As California Leads Nation in Scientific Advancements, Schiff, Lofgren, 42 Colleagues Urge OMB to Rescind Politicized Rule on Federal Grants

California lawmakers press the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to fulfill its role of overseeing nonpartisan federal grant process

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), U.S. Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.-18), and 42 members of the California congressional delegation are demanding the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) rescind their proposed regulation for federal financial assistance, emphasizing the crucial need for federal funding for scientific research to remain independent given California’s leadership as the innovation capital of the world and a top recipient of federal research funding.

“The rule is unprecedented, expansive, and applies across the federal government to every agency that reviews grants and other financial assistance proposals. It would allow political appointees to control all aspects of the grant review process, setting the stage for politically motivated decision-making that places the whims of the President over the well-being of the American people,” the lawmakers wrote.

The California lawmakers highlight how the administration’s proposed regulation will weaken U.S. scientific research across all fields and impact California stakeholders, undermining OMB’s essential role in coordinating the advancement of federal grants in a nonpartisan manner. California leads the nation in scientific advancements across sectors – including biomedical engineering and quantum computing – and is deeply committed to investing in cutting-edge research in engineering, science, and medical research.

“The proposed rule would weaken the scientific foundations of experimental research, slowing the development of new treatments, strategies for environmental protection, technologies to expand our knowledge of space, and solutions to some of our most pressing questions,” the lawmakers continued.

Specifically, the lawmakers point to several areas of research that will be significantly impacted by OMB’s proposed rule:

National Competitiveness and the STEM Talent Pipeline: In light of the administration unlawful suspending of millions in funds for U.S.-based scientific research, the proposed rule will threaten our status as a world leader in science by harming the STEM talent pipeline, create additional barriers for international students and domestic businesses that contribute to our economic viability, and weaken the nation’s ability to compete with China and other countries.

Biomedical and Scientific Research and Development: The proposed rule will politicize agencies’ longstanding science-based review process and prevent major research development of life-saving therapies, medicine, and preventive interventions for millions of Americans – as well as threaten clinical research efforts for future medical breakthroughs.

Higher Education: California’s universities rely on grants to fund schools and resources – which will all be on the line under the politically motivated restrictions in the proposed rule, jeopardizing the long-term future of our academic research institutions.

State and Local Governments: From disrupting public services to putting vital community projects on hold, the proposed rule abandons vulnerable populations.

“The effects of this rulemaking could reverberate for generations. With such funding uncertainty and unpredictability, California and the rest of the country will backslide behind other nations in the areas of health, innovation, research, and scientific development. As such, we strongly urge you to rescind your proposed rule,” the lawmakers concluded.

In addition to Schiff and Lofgren, the letter was signed by U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and U.S. House Representatives Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.-33), Nanette Barragán (D-Calif.-44), Ami Bera (D-Calif.-06), Julia Brownley (D-Calif.-26), Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.-24), Judy Chu (D-Calif.-28), Gil Cisneros (D-Calif.-31), Lou Correa (D-Calif.-46), Jim Costa (D-Calif.-21), Mark DeSaulnier (D-Calif.-10), Laura Friedman (D-Calif.-30), Robert Garcia (D-Calif.-42), John Garamendi (D-Calif.-08), Adam Gray (D-Calif.-13), Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.-34), Josh Harder (D-Calif.-09), Jared Huffman (D-Calif.-02) Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.-51), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Calif.-37), Ro Khanna (D-Calif.-17), Mike Levin (D-Calif.-49), Sam Liccardo (D-Calif.-16), Ted Lieu (D-Calif.-36), Doris Matsui (D-Calif.-07), Dave Min (D-Calif.-47), Kevin Mullin (D-Calif.-15), Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.-19), Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.-11), Scott Peters (D-Calif.-50), Luz Rivas (D-Calif.-29), Raul Ruiz (D-Calif.-25), Linda Sánchez (D-Calif.-38), Brad Sherman (D-Calif.-32), Lateefah Simon (D-Calif.-12), Mark Takano (D-Calif.-39), Mike Thompson (D-Calif.-04), Norma Torres (D-Calif.-35), Derek Tran (D-Calif.-45), Juan Vargas (D-Calif.-52), Maxine Waters (D-Calif.-43), and George Whitesides (D-Calif.-27).

The full text of the letter can be found here and below.

Dear Director Vought:

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) serves the critical role of ensuring that federal agencies administer funding to advance federal policy goals in an objective and fair manner. We write as members of Congress with the distinct honor of representing California – the innovation capital of the world and a top recipient of federal research funding. Our state leads the country in scientific advancements across sectors – from biomedical engineering and quantum computing, to fusion energy and more – because of robust federal funding. This investment is critical to early-stage scientific discovery across fields that the commercial marketplace cannot yet support due to the long timelines and inherent uncertainties of basic research. Nevertheless, these foundational research activities ultimately serve as the essential pipeline for future commercial innovation, spinning off into market-ready technologies and new domestic industries that drive economic growth and directly improve the lives of all Californians, and by proxy all Americans.

OMB’s federal grantmaking procedures were established to provide agencies with guidance on grant management and as such, this guidance has historically emphasized the importance of performance metrics, transparency, and unbiased review. We are gravely concerned by the extent to which OMB’s proposed “Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance” would drastically alter federal grantmaking procedures and undermine the transparency and unbiased review which is central to the success of the federal grant process. The rule is unprecedented, expansive, and applies across the federal government to every agency that reviews grants and other financial assistance proposals. It would allow political appointees to control all aspects of the grant review process, setting the stage for politically motivated decision-making that places the whims of the President over the well-being of the American people.

Merit-based, independent scientific review is the foundation of the United States’ and California’s leadership in science. For over 75 years, federal agencies including the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), National Science Foundation (NSF), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the Department of Energy have used merit-based review as a competitive process to award grants to California’s leading institutions in scientific, engineering, and medical research based on quality and impact. This review process has driven discoveries and critical progress in medicine, national security, technology, and economic competitiveness. At a time when U.S. companies are already publicly expressing uncertainty about accepting federal funding from this administration, citing fears of “conditions” the administration may place on their research, it is critical that federal funding of scientific research remain independent.

Therefore, we strongly urge OMB to rescind its proposed regulation and preserve the rigor and objectivity of its grantmaking processes so that federal grantmaking can remain free of partisanship and political agendas. This should include an emphasis on peer review of grants over the political and partisan bias of any administration, the establishment of transparent evaluation criteria, and other robust safeguards to protect the independent judgment of career civil servants. OMB’s proposed revisions to the Guidance for Federal Financial Assistance undercut each of these critical guardrails necessary to protect the advancement of U.S. scientific research across all fields.

The proposed rule would weaken the scientific foundations of experimental research, slowing the development of new treatments, strategies for environmental protection, technologies to expand our knowledge of space, and solutions to some of our most pressing questions. The following implications for several areas of scientific research are particularly significant:

National Competitiveness and the STEM Talent Pipeline

Viability of Research

This proposed rule adds to the ever-growing uncertainty that scientists and researchers in California broadly face over federal funding. This administration has already unlawfully frozen millions of dollars in NSF funding, impounded NASA resources, and slashed Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) clean energy grants. These investments are critical to finding the next cures, protecting our access to clean air, and furthering our understanding of the universe. And yet, the administration’s actions will hinder our state’s best and brightest minds while denying funding to entire scientific fields the administration does not believe to be in service of their ideological and political priorities.

Harms to the STEM Talent Pipeline

These barriers, coupled with growing financial uncertainty, have forced American researchers, including those in California, to reevaluate the viability of continuing their studies in the United States. Countries like China are offering millions of dollars in research funding to our nation’s leading planetary scientists, engineers, and PhD candidates, hoping to capitalize on our nation’s unparalleled STEM talent pool. The continued slashing of NSF, NASA, and EPA funding will further damage our pipeline of future researchers and scientists, threatening our status as a world leader in STEM, and ultimately the nation’s ability to develop and innovate in the United States.

Additional Barriers on International Students and Domestic Businesses

The proposed regulation outlines new requirements for award eligibility, including mandatory participation in the Department of Homeland Security’s E-Verify program, which would create significant administrative barriers, not just for higher education institutions, but for farmers, small businesses, and construction industries. For higher education institutions, this would hinder progress for international students and researchers providing critical contributions to American and California-led scientific progress. For farmers and small businesses, mandating E-Verify would significantly harm their ability to fill roles and conduct their day-to-day work. Furthermore, E-Verify comes with extensive administrative burdens and inaccurate information about employees. Punishing farmers, small businesses, and construction companies for a system known to be flawed in its accuracy will negatively impact these institutions’ and companies’ economic viability and their contributions to the American economy.

Competition from China

The proposed rule is a form of national self-destruction. Funding reductions will seriously weaken the United States’ ability to compete with other countries, especially as China is already laying out ambitious plans to become a leader in science – particularly in space science – by 2050. China has already invested in missions to explore Neptune and return samples from Mars, and yet OMB’s proposed rule gives non-experts the power to direct NASA’s future. We cannot compete with China on the world stage if we do not channel our resources into credible and technically sound scientific endeavors. Further, we cannot grant such a significant responsibility as grantmaking authority to political appointees with no technical expertise. Doing so would erode the efficacy, integrity, and respect of these programs and cede power and influence to our competitors abroad.

Biomedical and Scientific Research and Development

Politicization of Scientific Peer Review

OMB’s proposed rule would upend U.S. biomedical and scientific research agencies’ long-standing, apolitical, and science-based review process. Peer-review systems employed by NIH, NSF, and other research agencies have long been the top benchmark for identifying the most promising scientific opportunities. Replacing scientific judgment with political review risks directing resources away from the most meritorious research. California’s universities and medical centers conduct research that benefits patients nationwide, and any reduction in merit-based funding decisions could delay the development of life-saving therapies, diagnostics, and preventive interventions for millions of Americans.

OMB should carefully consider whether codifying these restrictions serves the long-term public interest. The result would not simply be administrative inefficiency; it would mean slower progress against cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease, infectious diseases, and other conditions affecting millions of Americans. Federal research policy should be guided by scientific evidence, scientific experts, and public health needs, not structured in a manner that unnecessarily limits future administrations’ ability to support scientific innovation and respond to emerging health, public safety, and other challenges.

Erosion of Research Infrastructure and Scientific Collaboration

Provisions favoring institutions with lower indirect cost rates, combined with restrictions on publication and conference costs under the proposed rule, threaten the infrastructure that makes scientific research possible and arbitrarily penalizes research that requires higher overhead costs. For example, research universities and academic medical centers maintain laboratories, clinical trial networks, biosafety systems, data security protections, and patient oversight programs that are essential to safe and effective research.

This research ecosystem serves as a national resource, attracting talent and fostering collaboration across states. Limiting the ability of researchers to share findings and collaborate would slow the translation of discoveries into treatments that improve public health nationwide. NIH-supported research has made America the global leader in biomedical innovation. Weakening the stability, predictability, and scientific integrity of federal research funding across U.S. research agencies threatens that leadership and risks slowing the pace of discoveries that improve and save lives.

Threats to Future Medical Breakthroughs

The proposed rule would permit scientific agencies to terminate research grants based on expansive ‘national interest’ determinations. Biomedical research often requires years of continuous support to recruit patients, conduct clinical trials, collect data, and validate results. California’s institutions lead large clinical research efforts, including studies involving cancer immunotherapies, neurodegenerative diseases, rare diseases, and emerging infectious threats. If compliant grants can be terminated unexpectedly, patients may lose access to promising therapies, research findings may be delayed, and taxpayers may lose the value of prior federal investments.

Ultimately, the greatest impact of this rule would be borne by patients. Every delay in biomedical research means longer waits for earlier diagnoses, more effective therapies, preventive interventions, potential cures, and avoidable deaths. Americans confronting cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease, mental illness, rare disorders, and other serious conditions depend on continued scientific progress.

Higher Education

Limitations on Resources

Universities and institutions across California rely on grant-funded indirect cost recoveries to share their discoveries and advance the leading edge of science. OMB’s proposal would render publication costs, including open access fees for journal and periodical access, unallowable “unless such costs are expressly required by statute or approved in advance by the Federal agency on a case-by-case basis.” This change would be uniquely harmful to California-led innovation, as University of California (UC) researchers conduct 8.3 percent of all U.S. academic research. The dissemination of knowledge and academic collaboration is the foundation of these breakthroughs across critical sectors, including biotechnology, computing, semiconductors, telecommunications, and agriculture.

Politically Motivated Restrictions on Research Topics

OMB’s proposed regulations would prohibit the use of federal awards to support or promote theories of disparate-impact liability based on protected characteristics like race, sex, or age. These rules unnecessarily weaponize reasonable diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts and undermine the free speech rights of federal grantees. They allow political appointees to dictate the topics researchers are permitted to investigate, hampering intellectual freedom and vastly narrowing the scope of higher education research. Instead of supporting research that amplifies underrepresented voices, the administration is empowering political appointees to cancel grants with any mention of race or gender. Outside of the higher education system, these dangerous provisions would also restrict federal funding to crucial environmental justice work to address pollution and toxic chemical impacts on disadvantaged communities, fenceline communities adjacent to industrial facilities, and communities of color.

The destructive and chaotic consequences of this approach have already been made clear under this administration, as seen by actions taken by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to abruptly terminate hundreds of millions of dollars in active research funding using overbroad, automated keyword searches for subjective terms. A federal judge recently ruled that cuts carried out by DOGE violated the Constitution and created a broad “chilling effect” on research. Codifying these harmful practices into government-wide OMB regulations would do a disservice to diverse communities as well as to our institutions of higher learning.

Long-Term Uncertainty

Federal funding is the largest and most important source of support for UC research, and the UC system is awarded more NIH and NSF funding than any other institution in the country. In FY 2024, UCs received $7.719 billion in total research awards, $5 billion of which were federal awards. The proposed restructuring of federal grant administration will undoubtedly threaten ongoing, cutting-edge research and successful grant programs across the state and the country. OMB’s proposed rule widens the administration’s ability to terminate grants that have already been obligated and are in progress. If enacted, these proposed changes would allow political appointees to interrupt, suspend, or permanently terminate active research projects on the cusp of major discoveries if they determine the award is “no longer in the Federal interest.” Under these proposed changes, an already-approved grantee could see an agency terminate the grant months later, leaving multi-stage projects unfinished with little or no explanation and jeopardizing their scientific research. Already this is impacting the future of American science.

State and Local Governments

Disruption of Public Services

OMB’s proposed rule poses a severe threat to the fiscal stability of counties and local governments across California and the country, which budget carefully and deliberately for year-long programs that rely on federal awards to deliver critical social services. Expanding the discretionary authority of political appointees to suspend or terminate active grants mid-cycle based on shifting administrative priorities introduces unprecedented unpredictability into local governance who have varied and limited capacity to shoulder new costs. Under this proposal, local communities may experience abruptly halted federal funding, leaving vital local infrastructure projects unfinished and abandoning vulnerable populations who rely on these services.

New Compliance Burdens

Local governments frequently operate as pass-through entities responsible for administering and distributing federal funds to community subrecipients. This vital role would become significantly more punitive under this regulation, as OMB’s proposal introduces sweeping oversight, monitoring, and documentation requirements that would severely strain thin local administrative resources. Most troubling, the proposed rule stretches compliance risks to unprecedented levels by tying overall grant eligibility to local enforcement of federal executive orders, potentially endangering funding over events held on county property. Forcing resource-constrained local authorities to act as federal compliance monitors for the administration or face catastrophic funding terminations creates an unworkable landscape that will ultimately reduce the reach of federal assistance.

The effects of this rulemaking could reverberate for generations. With such funding uncertainty and unpredictability, California and the rest of the country will backslide behind other nations in the areas of health, innovation, research, and scientific development. As such, we strongly urge you to rescind your proposed rule.

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Schmitt Leads Members of Senate Anti-Fraud Task Force to Highlight Early Anti-Fraud Successes by Trump Admin, Requests Information to Support Continued Enforcement

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Eric Schmitt (R-MO) today led five members of the Senate Anti-Fraud Task Force in sending a letter to Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald commending the Trump Administration’s early anti-fraud efforts and requesting information to help Congress support and strengthen those initiatives moving forward.

The senators wrote, “We commend President Trump for the decisive action taken to establish the National Fraud Enforcement Division (NFED) and the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud. Fraud is theft from hardworking American families, and Vice President Vance’s leadership as ‘Fraud Czar’ sends the right signal: this administration will no longer tolerate billions in organized theft from taxpayers through welfare programs, election schemes, contractor abuse, federally funded nonprofits, or elite institutions. The Senate Anti-Fraud Task Force is especially concerned with fraud schemes that undermine the constitutional foundations of self-government: honest elections, lawful citizenship, equal enforcement of federal law, federal-state cooperation, and Congress’s ability to ensure taxpayer dollars are spent consistent with law.”

“Since taking office, the Trump-Vance Administration has made clear that fraud enforcement is once again a federal priority. The Task Force and NFED have driven the recovery of nearly $1 billion in misused taxpayer dollars through aggressive enforcement actions across the country, including major takedowns of welfare and entitlement scams that clawed back hundreds of millions from fraudulent SNAP, Medicaid, and housing claims. Vice President Vance’s spotlight on sponsored-immigrant benefit fraud has dismantled several high-dollar networks, while election-related prosecutions and voter-roll cleanups have secured convictions in interstate schemes. Particularly noteworthy are the swift actions against Minnesota-style operations. Large-scale, coordinated fraud networks involving daycare centers, nonprofits, and entitlement programs in Minneapolis that potentially diverted hundreds of millions, if not billions in federal funds. By targeting these interstate models head-on, the Task Force has sent a powerful message that no jurisdiction or network is above the law, delivering real money back to American taxpayers and protecting programs meant for working families. These tangible wins prove that America First enforcement works. The Task Force has already shown it will serve and protect the American people from fraudsters,” the senators continued.

In the letter, the Senators request the following:

Comprehensive Quarterly Metrics: Data from January 20, 2026, onward (with FY 2026 and FY 2027 projections), broken down by category, including:

Welfare/entitlement fraud (SNAP, Medicaid, TANF, unemployment, housing);

Election-related fraud and voter-roll integrity efforts;

Contractor and procurement fraud;

For each, provide: cases opened, indictments, convictions, dollars recovered/restituted, and average sentences. Where applicable, please highlight particularly impactful cases, enforcement actions that demonstrate the strongest returns on taxpayer investment, or show a stark contrast from previous Administrations.

Election Integrity, Citizenship, and Federalism: Status of voter-roll cleanups, specific election-fraud prosecutions, immigration-related fraud schemes, and examples of interstate schemes, including Minnesota-style operations. Detail any coordination with states on removing ineligible voters and any federal-state barriers, sanctuary policies, or information-sharing restrictions that impede enforcement.

Constitutional and Federalism Implications: Please identify any fraud schemes, enforcement barriers, or jurisdictional conflicts that implicate constitutional governance, including election integrity, citizenship and immigration status, federal-state information sharing, sanctuary policies, equal enforcement of federal law, or Congress’s ability to conduct oversight of federally funded programs. Please also identify any statutory gaps that prevent the Department from adequately enforcing federal law in these areas.

High-Impact Schemes: Focused metrics and case summaries on:

Immigrant-related and sponsored-alien fraud (benefits claimed by or for illegal immigrants or their sponsors);

Elite-institution schemes (universities, nonprofits, hospitals, Big Tech contractors, or large-scale operations).

Identify any sanctuary jurisdictions or federally funded entities obstructing enforcement.

Legislative Path to Permanence: Detailed proposals to make the NFED a permanent standalone division with dedicated funding, nationwide jurisdiction, enhanced data-sharing, extended statutes of limitations, and mandatory minimums for large-scale taxpayer fraud.

“Fraud is not merely a budgetary problem. When fraud corrupts elections, citizenship, federal programs, and equal enforcement of the law, it becomes a constitutional problem. Aggressive, transparent enforcement aligned with America First priorities will restore accountability and protect the institutions of self-government,” the senators concluded.

Download the full letter HERE.

Senators Tim Sheehy (R-MT), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Ashley Moody (R-FL), Roger Marshall (R-KS), and Katie Britt (R-AL) joined Schmitt in sending the letter.

Last month, Schmitt launched the Senate Anti-Fraud Task Force with a group of his Republican colleagues to unmask fraud and save taxpayer dollars.

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U.S. Senators Smith, Klobuchar Secure Significant Federal Funding for Infrastructure Improvements in Anoka County

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-MN) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) announced the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has awarded $18 million for the Minnesota State Highway 65 and Bunker Lake Boulevard Project. The grant, provided through the USDOT’s BUILD program, will be used to construct an interchange at the intersection of Minnesota State Highway 65 and Bunker Lake Boulevard. This project is part of a larger initiative to convert the highway into a freeway with grade-separated interchanges.

“Highway 65 is a critical link between the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota. But we’re seeing drivers intentionally avoiding the intersection at Bunker Lake Boulevard to avoid the traffic and congestion, which only increases congestion on nearby roads. This intersection is outdated and needs an update,” said Senator Smith. “A new interchange will handle more traffic and take the strain off of side-roads, meaning Minnesotans can more easily get to their families, to their work or where they need to go.”

“Investments in our infrastructure serve as down payments on the long-term economic well-being of our state,” said Senator Klobuchar. “This federal funding will help make our roads safer and more accessible and allow Minnesotans to more easily reach work, school, and other destinations in Anoka County.”

Senators Smith and Klobuchar have long supported investment in the Highway 65 corridor. In 2023, Senators Smith and Klobuchar announced $20 million in federal funding to improve road safety and accessibility on Highway 65 from 97th Avenue to 117th Avenue. In 2022, Senators Smith and Klobuchar secured $9 million for Highway 65 improvements at 99th Avenue and 109th Avenue intersections, as well as an additional $4 million for the 117th Avenue intersection in 2024.

BUILD grants, previously referred to as RAISE grants, can be used by communities across the country for a wide variety of transportation projects with significant local or regional impact. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which Senators Smith and Klobuchar supported and was signed into law in 2021, delivered a 50 percent increase in the amount of available funding for the BUILD grants, as well as resources for improving the state’s roads, bridges, public transportation and water infrastructure.

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U.S. Senators Smith, Klobuchar Secure Significant Federal Funding to Improve Rail Crossing Safety in St. Louis County

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-MN) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has awarded $6 million for the CSAH 100 Rail Crossing Grade Separation Project in Aurora, Minnesota. The grant, provided through USDOT’s BUILD program, will construct a grade separated bridge to improve connectivity for school transportation, emergency services, and freight for mining and logging. The overpass would include a dedicated space for bicycles, snowmobiles, and ATVs.

“Nothing is worse than running late and being stuck sitting on the road waiting for trains to pass on Highway 100. We hear you, and we’re fixing that,” said Senator Smith. “The new railroad overpass in Aurora will keep traffic and pedestrians moving instead of getting stuck at the crossing. We’re making it safer and more efficient for drivers.”

“Blocked rail crossings not only inconvenience drivers, but also delay emergency vehicles and threaten public safety,” said Senator Klobuchar. “This federal investment will reduce traffic, boost efficiency, and improve rail crossing safety. Investments in our infrastructure serve as a down payment on the long-term economic well-being of our state.”

BUILD grants, previously referred to as RAISE grants, can be used by communities across the country for a wide variety of transportation projects with significant local or regional impact. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which Senators Smith and Klobuchar supported and was signed into law in 2021, delivered a 50 percent increase in the amount of available funding for the BUILD grants, as well as resources for improving the state’s roads, bridges, public transportation and water infrastructure.


U.S. Senators Smith, Klobuchar Secure Significant Federal Funding to Replace Bridges Over the Red River in Norman, Polk and Clay Counties

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-MN) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has awarded $24 million for the Red River Regional Bridge System Replacement Project in Norman, Polk and Clay counties. The grant, provided through USDOT’s BUILD program, will replace up to three bridges over the Red River. This project upgrades aging bridges frequently impacted by flooding across the three counties. The bridge system supports commuters, freight movement and commercial transportation between Minnesota and North Dakota.

“The bridges connecting Minnesota and North Dakota in the Red River Valley are vital to our ag economy and the surrounding communities,” said Senator Smith. “Replacing three old bridges across the Red River will keep commodities moving to market and ensure friends and neighbors have safe crossings as they drive across the prairie.”

“The bridges over the Red River are aging, vulnerable to flooding, and need to be replaced. This federal grant will deliver resources for the bridge replacement project, ensuring both drivers and freight can safely cross the Red River between Minnesota and North Dakota,” Senator Klobuchar said.

Today’s announcement builds on Senators Smith and Klobuchar’s past work to support infrastructure in the Red River Valley. In 2022, Senators Smith, Klobuchar and John Hoeven (R-ND) secured $437 million of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers funding for the construction of permanent flood protection in the Red River Valley. With that award, the project received the complete federal funding commitment of $750 million.

BUILD grants, previously referred to as RAISE grants, can be used by communities across the country for a wide variety of transportation projects with significant local or regional impact. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which Senators Smith and Klobuchar supported and was signed into law in 2021, delivered a 50 percent increase in the amount of available funding for the BUILD grants, as well as resources for improving the state’s roads, bridges, public transportation and water infrastructure.

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Delegation Welcomes Corps Permit for King Cove Road

ANCHORAGE, ALASKA—U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan and Congressman Nick Begich (all R-Alaska) today applauded the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (Corps) approval of a permit to facilitate construction of a life-saving road between the isolated community of King Cove, Alaska and nearby Cold Bay. The one-lane gravel connector will provide reliable transportation access from King Cove to Cold Bay, which is home to an all-weather airport.

“This is more good news for King Cove and all who care about the health, safety, and wellbeing of the hundreds of people who live there,” Murkowski said. “After decades of relentlessly making the case and pushing with everything we have, this life-saving road is finally almost a reality. A combination of careful analysis and common sense from the Trump administration—the Department of the Interior and now the Army Corps—have brought us to this point. I thank them for their continued commitment to protecting and improving these Alaskans’ lives.”

“For Alaskans, the decades-long King Cove Road impasse has been a symbol of an uncaring, out-of-touch, faraway federal government that prioritizes the lives of birds over people,” said Sullivan. “The great residents of King Cove time and again have kept hope alive, despite setbacks, most recently when the Biden administration disregarded the voices of the community and withdrew the previously approved land exchange. The permit issued by the Corps of Engineers today is vindication for King Cove, putting us closer than ever before to delivering a lifesaving, 11-mile, single-lane gravel road to the all-weather airport in Cold Bay. I want to thank the Administration, especially Secretary Burgum and Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Telle, for listening to Alaskans, for caring about their safety and well-being, and for putting us on the cusp of a historic breakthrough for safe and reliable access for King Cove.”

“This permit approval by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is a critical milestone in a decades-long effort to provide the people of King Cove with the infrastructure they need to build an essential life-saving road,” said Begich. “For nearly 50 years, the community has advocated for a road connecting King Cove to the all-weather airport in Cold Bay. This project addresses an obvious public safety need and will provide a reliable route for emergency access in adverse weather conditions. I commend everyone who helped move this project forward, from residents who never stopped advocating, to Secretary Burgum, the Army Corps of Engineers, Governor Dunleavy, and Alaska’s congressional delegation over many years.”

King Cove is located between two volcanic peaks near the end of the Alaska Peninsula, and its small gravel airstrip is typically closed by bad weather for more than 100 days each year. Many flights not canceled are delayed by wind, turbulence, fog, rain, or snow squalls; travel by boat is often impacted by waves that can top 12 feet and the lack of suitable dock infrastructure in Cold Bay. By comparison, Cold Bay, which is less than 30 miles from King Cove, has one of the longest runways in the state and it is closed an average of just 10 days per year.

At present, there are roads leading out of both King Cove and Cold Bay but no connection between them. The lack of dependable transportation access to Cold Bay routinely forces emergency medevacs from King Cove that risk the lives of patients and responders alike. It also creates significant quality-of-life issues, ranging from King Cove residents’ inability to regularly receive mail to week-long travel delays for students returning home from various activities.

King Cove residents have sought this life-saving connector road for decades. In late 2025, a major breakthrough occurred when the Trump administration conveyed 490 federal acres to the King Cove Corporation in exchange for 1,739 acres of KCC-owned land near the Kinzarof Lagoon and the relinquishment of selection rights to more than 5,430 acres still owed to KCC under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act.

The Corps permit issued this week is valid for five years and allows for dredge and fill activities to occur on just over five acres of land. For perspective, the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge spans 315,000 acres and there are at least 130 million acres of wetlands across Alaska.

More information is available here.


Sullivan Secures Exemption for Registered Alaska Native Craftsmen from New Etsy Ban on Fur Sales

ANCHORAGE, ALASKA—U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), a member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, this week secured a new exemption to the animal product policy of Etsy that will allow Alaska Native craftsmen to continue selling fur items on the online crafts marketplace. The new policy, which goes into effect on August 11, will exempt taxidermy, byproduct materials, such as leather, sheepskin, shearling, cowhide, wool, or mohair, or fur products from sellers who are registered with the Indian Arts and Crafts Board from Etsy’s ban on products containing natural animal fur, regardless of age or origin.

“Just a month after the signing of my ARTIST Act into law, we’ve secured another significant win for Alaska Native craftsmen who’ve sustainably harvested wildlife and created clothing, handicrafts, and artwork for thousands of years,” Sen. Sullivan said. “When my team and I first heard about Etsy’s planned policy change this spring, we got to work, reaching out directly to Etsy’s CEO to explain how the company’s blanket prohibition affects the lawful practices of our artisans and harms the livelihoods of Alaska Native people across our many rural communities. I want to thank Etsy for being responsive to the concerns of Alaskans.”

Background

Sen. Sullivan has led several efforts to protect the rights of Alaska Native artisans and continues to educate others on the negative impacts facing Alaska Native and rural economies as a result of overly broad bans. The Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 permits Alaska Native people to take marine mammals and to create and sell “authentic Native articles of handicrafts and clothing” made from lawfully harvested marine mammals, including sea otter fur, subject to strict requirements that these harvests are not taken in a wasteful manner. TheIndian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990 further established a framework to protect authentic Alaska Native-produced art and craft products.

In June 2026, the Alaska’s Right to Ivory Sales and Tradition (ARTIST) Act, Sen. Sullivan’s legislation to protect the legal rights of Alaska Native artists using walrus ivory in traditional handicrafts, art, ceremonial regalia, and clothing, was signed into law.

In May 2026, Sen. Sullivan wrote to Etsy's CEO demanding a change to the company’s new animal product policy that would prevent Alaska Native artists from selling fur handicrafts.

In February 2019, Sen. Sullivan worked with Alaska Native artists and Facebook to clarify Facebook Marketplace’s policies regarding the sale of products or artwork made with any “part, pelt or skin from an animal, including fur.”

In February 2018, Sen. Sullivan worked with Alaska Native artists to resolve a previous issue with Etsy that banned Alaska Native products that include sealskin, sea otter, and ivory.

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PHOTO RELEASE: Tuberville Attends Ribbon-Cutting for New AIT Barracks at Fort Rucker

DALEVILLE – U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Advanced Individual Training (AIT) barracks at Fort Rucker. Sen. Tuberville secured part of the funding for these barracks in the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), his first defense bill after taking office and representing Alabama on the Senate Armed Services Committee. During his visit, Sen. Tuberville also toured Phase I of the barracks, which will be named in honor of PFC Garfield Langhorn.

View more photos from Senator Tuberville’s visit at this link.

Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP and Aging Committees.

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Welch, Sanders, Balint Lead Reintroduction of Bill to Help Protect Vermont Farmland from Flooding

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Rural Development, Energy, and Credit, alongside the Vermont Congressional Delegation, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and U.S. Representative Becca Balint (D-VT-AL), reintroduced the Building Up Farmland Frontiers for Ecological Resilience (BUFFER) Act. This bicameral legislation would ensure all states can access the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) funding to implement buffer zones, agricultural tools used by farmers to protect farmland from flooding, erosion, and water pollution.

“Our farmers deserve access to the tools and resources they need to fight climate change and make farmland more flood resilient. An essential part of that has to be cutting through red tape that forces Vermont farmers to jump through more hoops to receive compensation for their work than farmers in other states,” said Senator Welch. “I’m proud to partner with Senator Sanders and Rep. Balint on this legislation to help Vermont farmers better mitigate flooding risk and protect our state’s farmland from natural disasters.”

“Vermont farmers are still recovering from multiple years of flooding. They want to ensure their fields are better protected from future storms, especially in the face of climate change. This important legislation will cut through bureaucracy and ensure our farmers are compensated for their work to improve our state’s water quality and protect their land from the kind of damage we saw over the past few years,” said Senator Sanders.

“As climate change brings more frequent and severe extreme weather events, it’s critical that farmers in Vermont and across the country have the tools they need to protect their land and livelihoods,” said Rep. Balint. “Ahead of the anniversary of the catastrophic 2023 and 2024 floods, I’m proud to be reintroducing the BUFFER Act alongside our Senators. Our delegation stands united in support of Vermonters as folks continue to rebuild.”

The delegation first introduced the legislation in direct response to Vermont’s catastrophic July 2023 floods.

Buffer zones are agricultural tools used by farmers to protect farmland from flooding, erosion, and water pollution, and provide a habitat for pollinators. Like many states, Vermont requires farmers to implement buffer systems. As such, farmers in Vermont have sought to use the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Conservation Reserve Program (CREP) to implement buffers in their fields. However, because the State of Vermont has a buffer mandate, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) has required Vermont to follow an arduous process to access CREP buffer funding. These bureaucratic barriers have hampered Vermonters’ ability to use this vital conservation tool and receive compensation for their preventative work.

The bicameral BUFFER Act aims to ensure that Vermont farmers are compensated for their efforts to improve water quality and protect their fields from flooding. The bill would ensure that all states can access USDA’s Conservation CREP funding to implement buffer zones, even if state law already requires farmers to maintain buffer zones.

Learn more about the BUFFER Act.

Read and download the full text of the legislation.

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Wicker and Colleagues Announce Agreement on Legislation to Hold Purchasers of Russian Oil Accountable

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Roger Wicker (R-MS), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) released the following statement today:

“We are proud to announce that we have reached an agreement with the Trump Administration to move our updated Russia sanctions legislation forward. We are very pleased with this significant progress and expect to roll out the legislation very soon. As Russia intensifies its slaughter of civilians, it is imperative that the legislative and executive branches work together to create tools to exact a heavy price on those who buy Russian oil and natural gas, fueling the Putin war machine.”


Historic, Barrett-Backed Housing Package Becomes Law

Washington, D.C. — Today, Congressman Tom Barrett (MI-07) celebrated the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act (H.R. 6644) becoming law to expand affordable housing options and lower costs for Americans. Specifically, this housing package that Barrett helped pass would increase housing supply by cutting unnecessary red tape, expanding financing opportunities for local housing projects, and more. It also includes an effort that Barrett has helped lead to ban large corporations from buying up single-family homes.

“For generations, owning a home has been a cornerstone of the American Dream, but that dream is slipping away for too many Michigan families,” said Barrett. “That changes today. The 21st Century ROAD To Housing Act becoming law will finally ease the burdensome regulations that have made it impossible to build new homes and prevent corporate investors who treat family homes like their personal stock portfolio from buying up all the supply. Every American deserves a fair shot at owning a home and building a future in their community, and I was proud to fight to make sure they get it.”

According to the Competitive Enterprise Institute, hidden regulatory expenses currently cost families more than $16,000 annually, with an additional $130,000 in regulatory costs added to building a new home. This bill would cut this red tape and lower costs for homebuyers by:

Prohibiting large institutional investors that own more than 350 single-family homes from buying up more of the market.

Speeding up home construction by streamlining permitting, and reducing regulatory delays;

Modernizing federal housing programs to support more affordable housing development;

Expanding financing opportunities for community banks so they can support more local housing projects; and

Encouraging the construction of single-family homes, apartments, manufactured housing, and other affordable housing options.

On February 9, the House of Representatives passed the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act by a vote of 390-9. On June 22, the Senate passed an amended version of the bill by a vote of 85-5. The House voted to concur with the Senate version on June 23, by a vote of 358-32, sending the package to the president’s desk. The bill became law at midnight last night.

About Barrett’s Blueprint for a Better America

Restoring Trust in Government: Making Government Serve the People, Not Special Interests

Reviving the American Dream:Helping Families Afford Homes in Mid-Michigan

Making Health Care Affordable Again:Lowering Costs for Working Families

Recalibrating American Foreign Policy: Ending Endless Wars and Promoting Peace Through Strength

Reforming Campaign Finance:Putting Governing Before Campaigning

Making America Healthy Again: Prioritizing Public Health Over Corporate Profits


BEATTY CELEBRATES SIX BILLS BECOMING LAW AS PART OF LANDMARK BIPARTISAN HOUSING PACKAGE

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (OH-03) today celebrated the enactment of six of her bipartisan bills as part of the landmark 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, comprehensive legislation that will expand affordable housing, help families avoid foreclosure, strengthen community financial institutions, and increase investment in housing development across Central Ohio and communities nationwide.

The new law represents one of the most significant bipartisan housing reforms in years, advancing policies to increase housing supply, modernize housing finance, and make homeownership more attainable for working families.

“Every day, I hear from my constituents who are struggling with rising housing costs and wondering whether they’ll ever be able to afford a home of their own,” said Congresswoman Beatty. “That's why I'm proud that six of my bipartisan bills are now law as part of this landmark housing package. These reforms will help more families find a safe, affordable place to call home, keep people from losing the homes they've worked so hard to build, and bring new investment into the communities that need it most. My hope is that this legislation helps more Americans achieve—and keep—the dream of homeownership."

Beatty Bills Now Law:

H.R. 2031 – HOME Investment Partnerships Reauthorization and Reform Act

Included in Section 501, this legislation strengthens the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s HOME program by reducing burdensome compliance requirements for small properties and increasing flexibility for nonprofit housing providers serving low- and extremely low-income households.

H.R. 6726 – Reforms to Housing Counseling and Financial Literacy Programs Act

Included in Section 101, this bill supports foreclosure mitigation counseling for borrowers who are at least 30 days delinquent on mortgage payments, helping families avoid foreclosure and remain in their homes.

H.R. 5913 – Community Investment and Prosperity Act

Included in Section 203, this legislation expands banks’ ability to invest private capital into affordable housing, small business lending, and community revitalization by increasing the public welfare investment cap from 15 percent to 20 percent.

H.R. 3234 – Keeping Deposits Local Act

Included in Section 902, this bill modernizes the treatment of reciprocal deposits to improve liquidity for small and midsize banks, enabling them to expand local lending and support affordable housing development.

H.R. 3709 – Advancing the Mentor-Protégé Program for Small Financial Institutions Act

Included in Section 906, this legislation codifies the Treasury Department’s Financial Agent Mentor-Protégé Program to strengthen partnerships between large banks, community banks, and minority depository institutions (MDIs), helping smaller lenders better support housing and community development efforts.

H.R. 5429 – HUD-USDA-VA Interagency Coordination Act

Included in Section 801, this bill requires the Departments of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Agriculture (USDA), and Veterans Affairs (VA) to coordinate and share housing-related research, data, and market information to improve federal housing policy and program delivery.

The legislation was originally scheduled to be signed into law on June 24, 2026—after passing both chambers of Congress with overwhelming bipartisan support. At the last minute, Donald Trump delayed the signing ceremony to instead focus on advancing his voter suppression bill. Despite that unnecessary delay, the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act is now law, delivering long-overdue reforms that will expand affordable housing, help families avoid foreclosure, strengthen community banks, and create more pathways to homeownership for Americans.

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Congressman Cleaver’s Statement on the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act Becoming Law

(Kansas City, MO) – Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO), Ranking Member of the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance, celebrates the enactment of the Housing for the 21st Century Act, the most significant bipartisan housing reform package in nearly 50 years, which officially became law at midnight Eastern Time without the President’s signature. The bill was introduced in the House by Rep. Cleaver, House Financial Services Committee Chairman French Hill (R-AR), Ranking Member Maxine Waters (D-CA), and Housing and Insurance Subcommittee Chairman Mike Flood (R-NE), and in the Senate by Banking Committee Chairman Tim Scott (R-SC) and Ranking Member Elizabeth Warren (D-MA).

“Today, the most consequential housing legislation in nearly half a century is now law.

“This legislation was not born out of political convenience. It was forged through countless hours of difficult conversations, honest disagreements, mutual respect, and an uncommon willingness to find common ground. At a time when cynicism too often overshadows cooperation, Democrats and Republicans chose something different. We chose to listen, negotiate, and ultimately, to govern.

“For more than eighteen months, I was proud to work alongside Chairman Flood, our colleagues in both chambers, housing advocates, lenders, local leaders, and stakeholders from across the political spectrum to confront one of the defining challenges facing our nation: the cost of keeping a roof over your head. We did not always share the same approach, but we shared the same conviction that America’s housing crisis demanded action, not excuses.

“That spirit of partnership produced landmark legislation that will expand housing supply, modernize our housing finance system, remove unnecessary barriers to development, and help make homeownership and affordable housing more attainable for millions of Americans. It is proof that when we choose progress over partnership, Congress can still deliver transformative results for constituents like mine in Missouri’s Fifth District. This law stands as a reminder that our greatest achievements are rarely the product of one party’s triumph but rather born when we have the courage to build something together on behalf of the people we serve.”

The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act includes numerous individual provisions sponsored by Ranking Member Cleaver, including:

Innovation Fund: The innovation fund is a section first proposed in the American Housing and Economic Mobility Act, introduced by Ranking Member Cleaver, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Senator Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and Representative Ayanna Pressley (D-MA). This section authorizes a seven-year $200 million annual competitive grant program for jurisdictions pursuing innovative policies, interventions, or programs for increasing housing supply.

HOME Reform Act: Introduced by Ranking Member Cleaver and Chairman Flood (R-NE), the legislation is the most significant reform to the HOME Investment Partnerships Program since authorization in 1990. The legislation includes provisions introduced by Representative Joyce Beatty (D-OH) and would modernize and update the federal government’s largest block grant program dedicated exclusively to creating and preserving affordable housing for low-income households.

Rural Housing Service Program Improvements: The legislation includes sections of the Rural Housing Service Reform Act, introduced by Ranking Member Cleaver and Representative Zach Nunn (R-IA), representing the most significant US Department of Agriculture Rural Housing Service reforms in decades. The included sections would allow for greater use of the Rural Housing Service Section 504 Home Repair Program, ensure continued rental assistance for tenants in properties with expiring protections, and make it easier for nonprofits to buy and preserve housing.

Choice in Affordable Housing Act: The legislation includes sections of the Choice in Affordable Housing Act, introduced by Ranking Member Cleaver and Representative Mike Lawler (R-NY), representing a major reform to HUD’s Section 8 program. The included sections would streamline inspections, increase access to housing for voucher holders, and encourage private landlord participation.

Manufactured Housing Innovations: The legislation includes the Housing Supply Expansion Act of 2025, introduced by Rep. Cleaver and Rep. Rose (R-TN), which would update the federal definition of manufactured housing and allow for more efficient and cost-effective designs.

HUD Accountability Act: Introduced by Ranking Member Cleaver and Rep. Lawler (R-NY), the HUD Accountability Act requires the Secretary of HUD to testify on an annual basis before Congress.

Official text of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act is available here.

A one-pager on the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act is available here.

A section-by-section of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act is 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.


DOWNING’S WHOLE-HOME REPAIRS ACT INCLUDED IN THE 21ST CENTURY ROAD TO HOUSING ACT BECOMES LAW

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, comprehensive legislation to expand housing supply, modernize federal housing programs, and support affordable housing nationwide becomes law. Congressman Troy Downing’s Whole-Home Repairs Act, legislation to support essential home repairs was included in the package.

Downing’s bill, the Whole-Home Repairs Act of 2025, authorizes the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to offer grants for essential home repair assistance to low-and-moderate-income homeowners and small landlords.

“Housing affordability remains a major challenge for families across Montana and across the country,” said Congressman Downing. “This bill is a step forward in addressing the needs of homeowners and renters. I’m proud that my Whole-Home Repairs Act was included in the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act to leverage federal, state, and local partnerships and strengthen our existing housing stock. With too many Montana families cost burdened and many homes in need of repair, this funding could not come at a better time.”

The broader legislation includes several reforms aimed at expanding housing supply and modernizing federal housing policy.

The bill eliminates the permanent chassis requirement for manufactured homes, an outdated federal mandate that required manufactured homes to be built on a permanent steel frame. Removing this requirement will help lower costs and allow more design flexibility for prefabricated housing.

The legislation also includes important community banking provisions. It allows community banks to hold more custodial and reciprocal deposits without triggering brokered deposit restrictions. It also provides exam relief for banks with up to $6 billion in assets and streamlines the process for new community banks to form.

The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act also creates a two-year pilot program to support the creation of new community banks, especially in rural areas.

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Congresswoman Escobar Celebrates 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act Becoming Law

Today, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) released the following statement after the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act became law last night at midnight:

"For the first time in decades, Congress passed a bipartisan housing bill to address our nation’s housing crisis and help hard working Americans. Despite the needs it addresses and the overwhelming support it has, Donald Trump refused to sign the bill, but thankfully it became law anyway.

"Trump demonstrates time and again that he doesn’t care about the cost of living crisis Americans are living through, the result of a terrible economy that he created.

"I’m proud to have voted for this bill, and remain committed to the work to grow affordable and accessible housing for the American people, with or without the President."

This legislation became law even though President Trump refused to sign it. Under the Constitution, a bill that has passed both chambers of Congress automatically becomes law if the president doesn't sign or veto it within 10 days, excluding Sundays.

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Housing & Insurance Chairman Flood on New Housing Law: 'This Is Legislation That the American People Can Be Proud of.'

LINCOLN, NEBRASKA – Today, U.S. Congressman Mike Flood, Chairman of the Housing & Insurance Subcommittee, released a statement following the signing of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act into law. He also attended a press conference in Maumelle, Arkansas, hosted by House Financial Services Committee Chairman French Hill.

The housing package includes several provisions introduced and championed by Congressman Flood. The bill marks the first major housing legislation enacted by Congress in decades.

“I am thrilled that the '21st Century ROAD to Housing Act' is now officially law,” said Congressman Flood. “While the journey was long and, at times, delicate, we arrived at the right outcome with a meaningful bipartisan housing bill that slashes red tape, lowers housing costs, and helps put the American dream of homeownership within reach for more hardworking families. Simply put: This is legislation that the American people can be proud of.”

Congressman Flood also spoke at House Financial Services Committee Chairman French Hill’s press conference in Maumelle celebrating the new law, “[A home is more than an asset.] It’s the place where you bring your newborn home to and give her a bath under the sink. It’s the place where you tuck your seven-year-old little boy in, and you say, ‘I’m doing my part to make sure he’s living in a safe, sound home.’”

Video of Congressman Flood’s full remarks can be found by clicking here, while the full presser can found be found here. News outlets are welcome to use the footage for reporting purposes.

The text of the “21st Century ROAD to Housing Act” can be found here.

In addition to serving as Chairman of the Housing & Insurance Subcommittee, Congressman Flood is the Chairman of the Republican Main Street Caucus.

Legislation Congressman Flood previously introduced that are included in the amended version of the housing bill are detailed below:

The HOME Reform Act

“America is in the midst of a housing crisis as families struggle to live the American dream due to the shortage of millions of homes,” said Congressman Flood. “The HOME program is a federal program that builds housing supply, but it has previously been weighed down by regulatory burdens that make it hard to build housing. The reforms in this legislation will result in more homebuilding across the country as we work to tackle our nation’s housing shortage. From Columbus, Nebraska to Columbus, Ohio and beyond, local communities will have an unprecedented opportunity to build affordable homes and directly address the housing crisis gripping our nation.”

The "HOME Reform Act" modernizes the HOME Investment Partnership Program by exempting projects from NEPA and provides relief from Build America, Buy America requirements as well as establishing a “small project” exemption under Section 3 of the HUD Act of 1968. The bill raises income eligibility to 100% of area median income, extends the time communities have to commit funds, updates definitions of affordable single and multifamily housing, as well as allows funds to be used for infrastructure tied directly to new housing, such as sidewalks, sewers, and utility connections.

Read the initial press release on the "HOME Reform Act" here. The bill was co-introduced by Housing & Insurance Subcommittee Ranking Member Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO).

Unlocking Housing Supply Through Streamlined and Modernized Reviews Act

“The Unlocking Supply Through Streamlined and Modernized Reviews Act is an important step towards increasing housingsupply in America,” said Congressman Flood. “Environmental reviews can slow housing projects by months- or even years. Currently, those reviews are not properly tailored to the size and scale of housing projects. This legislation is a meaningful step towards fixing that problem.”

The "Unlocking Housing Supply Through Streamlined and Modernized Reviews Act" streamlines the environmental review process for a range of Department of Housing and Urban Development building activities.

Read the initial press release on the "Unlocking Housing Supply Through Streamlined and Modernized Reviews Act" here. The bill was co-introduced by Congressman Sam Liccardo (D-CA).

The Housing Supply Frameworks Act

“The rising cost of housing is putting the American Dream out of reach for working families across our country,” said Congressman Flood. “We need an all-of-the-above approach to addressing America’s housing crisis. To this end, the Housing Supply Frameworks Act helps establish suggested best practices for state and local governments across the country who want to break down barriers holding back development and innovation in housing and construction.”

The "Housing Supply Frameworks Act” requires HUD to publish best practices and guidelines to assist communities in maintaining modern local and state zoning frameworks that support the production of adequate housing options at every income level.

Read the initial press release on the "Housing Supply Frameworks Act" here. The bill was co-introduced by Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen (D-CO).

The UNLOCK Act

“The CDBG program has long been an important tool for Nebraska cities to fund important local projects,” said Congressman Flood. “This targeted legislation would give communities across the state the flexibility to use CDBG dollars to directly address housing supply needs.”

The “UNLOCK Act” allows grantees to use CDBG funding for housing developments.

Read more on the “UNLOCK Act" here. The bill was co-introduced by Congressman Sam Liccardo (D-CA).

The Rural Regulatory Relief Act

The "Rural Housing Regulatory Relief Act" streamlines environmental review requirements for housing developments built on previously developed infill sites. The legislation reduces duplicative NEPA review processes for projects on land that has already been developed, helping to eliminate unnecessary federal delays and costs. This legislation will help lower construction costs, accelerate housing development, and expand access to affordable housing in rural communities.

More information on the “Rural Regulatory Relief Act” can be found here. The bill was co-introduced by Congressmen Troy Downing (R-MT), Eugene Vindman (D-VA), and Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX).

The BUILD Housing Act

The “BUILD Housing Act” updates the NEPA process for housing developments by expanding collaboration between HUD, states, and localities. Specifically, the legislation gives HUD the ability to delegate and coordinate certain environmental reviews for HUD grant programs to state and localities. This bill additionally allows HUD to designate certain housingassistance as “special project funds.” By streamlining reviews and reducing administrative burdens, this legislation would help accelerate housing development and improve the delivery of federal housing assistance.


Goodlander-Backed Affordable Housing Bill Becomes Law

Washington, D.C. — The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, a comprehensive bipartisan bill championed by Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander (NH-02), was enacted into law last weekend after the 10-day constitutional clock expired. Goodlander co-sponsored six critical provisions in the final bill.

“The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act delivers a major victory for Granite Staters who are being priced out of the communities they love,” said Congresswoman Goodlander. “I fought to ensure the bill will speed up homebuilding, cut needless red tape in rural communities, expand modular and manufactured housing, support resident-owned communities, and help veterans access the home-loan benefits they earned.”

“The President’s inexplicable refusal to sign this overwhelmingly bipartisan legislation doesn’t take away from the result: Congress is taking practical, meaningful action to build more homes and lower costs. I am proud to have helped get this law across the finish line, and I will keep fighting until every hardworking Granite Stater has a fair shot at an affordable place to call home.”

BACKGROUND

The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act — a bipartisan, bicameral effort — includes six Goodlander-cosponsored provisions that will:

Accelerate home building with pre-approved “pattern books” for missing-middle and infill housing that speed up approvals and cut construction costs, especially in rural communities. (H.R. 5907)

Cut needless bureaucracy holding up the development of rural housing (H.R. 4989)

Expand the housing supply by allowing modular housing to be built and financed more easily (H.R. 6293)

Support resident-owned manufactured housing communities by reauthorizing the PRICE grant program, which supports community ownership of housing communities by helping pay for infrastructure improvements and redevelopment (H.R. 4477)

Ensure veterans and their families get the benefits they’re entitled to when it comes to seeking home loans (H.R. 2362 and H.R. 3694)

Improve Build America, Buy America by requiring updated, clearer guidance on how these requirements apply to the HOME program.

The new law is the latest success story for Goodlander’s practical, bipartisan approach to tackling the housing crisis: clear the obstacles that make homes more expensive, back the people working to add supply, and make sure every federal dollar dedicated to this cause is actually delivering more homes people can afford.

It builds on a broader push by Goodlander to take on the forces driving up housing costs. She is helping to lead bipartisan legislation to expand financing for accessory dwelling units and affordable housing development, supported cracking down on corporate landlords and private equity firms that drive up rents and home prices, and backed efforts to increase housing supply and make homeownership more accessible for working families, seniors, and first-time buyers.

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RELEASE: REP. HILL’S LANDMARK HOUSING BILL BECOMES LAW

Today, Rep. French Hill (AR-02), Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, held a press conference to celebrate his bill, the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, becoming law. The bipartisan, bicameral bill is the first major housing legislation in decades. It cuts red tape, increases housing supply, and makes homeownership more attainable for families across Arkansas and the nation. The bill passed the Senate 85-14 and the House 358-32.

Rep Hill said, "When I first ran for Congress, I set out to author and pass legislation that improves the lives of central Arkansans and prove that Washington could still work for the American people. Having this historic housing bill become law today is the realization of those goals, that by working together, debating in good faith, and putting the interests of Americans ahead of politics, good policy can become law.

"This legislation strengthens community banks, modernizes building codes, and cuts red tape. More houses will be built, more families will enter the market, and homes across the country will be more affordable. The bill also delivers on one of the President’s goals by restricting institutional investors from outcompeting American families for homes. After years of work and months of negotiations with the Senate, this bicameral, bipartisan bill is a win for families from Arkansas to every corner of this country, and I am pleased to have successfully collaborated on this priority with the Financial Services Ranking Member Maxine Waters (D-CA)."

Working in partnership with Chairman Tim Scott (R-SC), the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act includes more than 45 provisions to reduce unnecessary regulatory barriers to new home construction and modernize HUD programs, nine community banking bills to expand local lending for housing construction and mortgages, and measures to prevent large institutional investors from unfairly competing with individual homebuyers for homes.

Community banks are the backbone of Arkansas's economy, and the bill provides targeted relief to strengthen their ability to lend in local housing markets. The legislation also modernizes building codes, makes local zoning rules more competitive, and increases congressional oversight of HUD. This gives Arkansas communities greater flexibility to address their own housing needs.

Click here to watch the press conference.

Click here for the text of the bill.

Click here for a one-pager.

Click here for a section-by-section.


Lawler Applauds 21st Century Road to Housing Act Being Made Law

Washington, D.C. – 7/11/26… Today, Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17) celebrated the enactment of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, landmark bipartisan legislation that will help address the nation’s severe housing shortage and lower costs for American families.

The United States faces a shortage of as many as 8 million housing units. Regulatory delays and outdated zoning have worsened the crisis, while small and midsize banks that finance new construction have struggled under heavy regulatory burdens.

WATCH: REP LAWLER DEBATES IN FAVOR OF 21ST CENTURY ROAD TO HOUSING ACT ON HOUSE FLOOR

The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act includes real solutions that empower homeowners and renters and strengthen communities and will lead to more affordable choices for all Americans.

“When Republicans set the agenda and focus on results, we can deliver meaningful reforms that lower costs and expand opportunity. By modernizing outdated programs, supporting community banks, and keeping large institutional investors from crowding out families, we’re making the American Dream more attainable,” said Congressman Lawler.

“I’m proud of the work House Republicans did on the Financial Services Committee to get this done, and I want to thank Chairman French Hill and Ranking Member Maxine Waters as well as Subcommittee Chair Mike Flood for their leadership in advancing this critical legislation,” concluded Congressman Lawler.

Putting Families First in the Housing Market

This bill curbs large-scale institutional investor purchases to ensure that American families aren’t forced to compete with Wall Street for a home.

Removing Unnecessary Regulatory Barriers

This bill speeds up homebuilding, including allowing ready-to-use, pre-approved home designs for faster permitting, modernizing federal and local processes, and strengthening community capacity to build more affordable homes in both rural and urban areas.

Modernizing HUD Programs

This bill accelerates development, including updating rules for manufactured homes with HUD as the lead authority, reforming the HOME Investment Partnerships Program (the largest federal block grant for affordable housing), and exempting small-scale projects from burdensome environmental reviews while giving local governments more flexibility.

Enhancing Community Banking Operations

This bill cuts red tape by streamlining exams, expanding access to stable deposits for local lending, and supporting rural banks so they can better serve small businesses, farmers, and families.

Additionally, the package includes the following legislation authored by Congressman Lawler:

Community Investment and Prosperity Act, which expands banks' ability to make community investments that promote public welfare and support local economic development.

HUD Accountability Act of 2025, which requires the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to testify before Congress annually, strengthening transparency and accountability as the nation continues to face a housing affordability crisis.

Housing for America’s Middle Class Act, which directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to study income parameters for workforce housing and provide recommendations on how federal housing policy can better serve middle-income families.

Improving Public Housing Agency Accountability Act, which requires annual reporting on troubled public housing agencies, including compliance with federal law, the physical and financial condition of properties, and recommendations to improve oversight and better serve residents.

Improving Housing Access Act, which directs the Comptroller General to study barriers to housing for seniors and individuals with disabilities and identify opportunities to improve access.

Superfund Area Facts and Exposure (SAFE) Act, which directs the Comptroller General to study the number of residential units, including public housing units, located within one mile of a Superfund site to understand potential impacts on nearby communities better.

The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act passed the Senate 85-5 and the House 358-32 with strong bipartisan support.

Congressman Lawler isone of the most bipartisan members of Congress and represents New York's 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties. He was rated themost effective freshman lawmaker in the 118th Congress, 8th overall, surpassing dozens of committee chairs.

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Tafuna Students Participate in Nationwide Reading of Declaration of Independence

Pago Pago – Joined by students from the Tafuna High School Summer Bridge program, Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata read the Declaration of Independence as part of the nationwide ‘Sharing the Spirit of America’ project initiated by the Hawai’i America 250 Commission. The American Samoa America 250 Commission organized the local reading with support from the American Samoa Historic Preservation Office, the American Samoa Visitors Bureau, and the American Samoa Cultural Heritage Collective, Inc., while at least 1,098 locations around the world participated. The reading was included as a special stop for the Tafuna High School Summer Bridge program during their scheduled Fagatogo Historic District Walking Tour.

Reading the Declaration of Independence with Tafuna students

Historically, the public reading is a recognition of the first public reading, July 8, 1776, when Americans began hearing the news. Colonel John Nixon read the Declaration of Independence publicly for the first time at Noon in the State House Yard in Philadelphia, now Independence Square, to a crowd summoned by the ringing of the Liberty Bell.

The Commission selected Congresswoman Amata for the reading since she is a Member of the bipartisan Congressional America 250 Caucus, and because of the historic ties between the Declaration and Congress. The Declaration of Independence was passed by the delegates to the Second Continental Congress, forerunners of the U.S. Congress.

Tafuna Summer Bridge students

“Thank you to the Commission for inviting me, and thank you to our students for their attention and participation in honor of one of the most important documents and watershed moments in history,” said Congresswoman Amata. “We are blessed to be part of the United States, connected to these 250 years of history, and part of an ongoing national legacy of defending freedom.”

The full Declaration is 1,320 words long, with famous sections, but the forefathers reasoning is explained in a center section that is not as widely quoted. Signed by 56 delegates to the Congress, the bold “John Hancock” signature, President of the Congress, became famous in its own right. Thomas Jefferson is the main author, while a Committee including John Adams and Benjamin Franklin advised and edited. The motion for independence in the Congress was made by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia, seconded by John Adams of Massachusetts.

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Congresswoman Luz Rivas on Bipartisan Housing Bill Becoming Law after Trump’s Refusal

LOS ANGELES — Congresswoman Luz Rivas (CA-29) released the following statement after the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act became law. Trump previously refused to sign the bill into law after it overwhelmingly passed the House of Representatives because he continues to focus on disenfranchising millions of voters rather than help working Americans achieve homeownership.

“For over two weeks, Trump held our bipartisan housing bill hostage because he would rather make it harder to vote than make life more affordable for working families,” said Congresswoman Rivas. “We are in a housing crisis and Americans need help now. Too many constituents across the San Fernando Valley have told me the high costs of housing have put homeownership out of reach for them. Trump prolonged the delivery of much-needed housing relief because he believes the affordability crisis is a ‘hoax’. Trump would rather focus on restricting ballot box access for millions of Americans. I will continue working with House Democrats to make housing affordable for all, address the affordability crisis created by Trump and his Congressional Republicans, and stop Trump’s ongoing attempts to rig our elections.”

Background:

On June 23, 2026, the House of Representatives passed the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act by a vote of 358-32. This bill was originally supposed to be signed into law on June 24, 2026, by President Trump in a signing ceremony on Capitol Hill. However, hours before the bill was scheduled to be signed into law, Trump cancelled the signing ceremony because he wants Republicans to prioritize getting the SAVE Act to his desk.

The SAVE Act would restrict millions of Americans’ ability to vote by requiring voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship (DPOC); create serious risks to voters’ privacy and security through expansive data-sharing requirements; and effectively dismantle widely used and trusted voter registration methods, including mail-in registration, online voter registration, and voter registration drives.

Despite his refusal to sign the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act into law, Trump did not issue a presidential veto. The bill was presented to Trump on June 29, 2026, initiating a 10-day window for Trump to sign the bill into law. The Constitution provides for a bill to become law if a President does not sign or veto it within this 10-day window period. Trump did not sign or veto the bill.

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Congressman Brad Sherman's Bill to Help Disabled Veterans Access Housing Becomes Law Despite Trump's Refusal to Sign

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Tonight, the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act officially became law despite President Donald Trump's refusal to sign it, delivering long-overdue reforms to address America's housing crisis and enacting Congressman Brad Sherman's (CA-32) Housing Unhoused Disabled Veterans Act (HUDVA). Under the Constitution, the legislation became law without the President's signature after he declined to act on it.

The landmark legislation passed Congress with overwhelming bipartisan support and includes Sherman's HUDVA, which authorizes the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to use vouchers under the Housing Choice Voucher Program to provide housing assistance for disabled veterans experiencing homelessness.

"Today is a victory for homeless veterans and for every American struggling to find affordable housing," said Congressman Sherman. "President Trump tried to hold this bill hostage in a misguided effort to force Congress to accept his unrelated political demands. Fortunately, the Constitution prevented one man's political tantrum from stopping legislation that will improve millions of lives."

"This law includes my Housing Unhoused Disabled Veterans Act, which will help ensure that disabled veterans who sacrificed for our country are not forced to sleep on our streets. No veteran who served our nation should ever be left without a safe place to call home."

Sherman had sharply criticized Trump's earlier decision to withhold his signature from the bill, arguing that the President was using desperately needed housing reforms—and assistance for homeless veterans—as leverage to pressure Congress into passing unrelated election legislation. Trump ultimately allowed the bill to become law without his signature after continuing to refuse to endorse it.

The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act represents the most significant federal housing legislation in decades. In addition to Sherman's HUDVA provision, the law expands the nation's housing supply, cuts red tape that drives up construction costs, modernizes federal housing programs, and includes measures to improve affordability for families across the country.

"We still have much more work to do to make housing affordable and end veteran homelessness," Sherman added. "But today, Congress proved that bipartisan solutions are still possible—and that no President should be allowed to derail good legislation for unrelated political purposes."

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