{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-cleaver-lawler-reintroduce-bipartisan-hud-legislation-ensure", "Reps. Cleaver, Lawler Reintroduce Bipartisan HUD Legislation to Ensure Annual Oversight", "2025-06-05", "2025", "2025-06", "Democrat", "House", "MO", "Emanuel Cleaver", "C001061", "cleaver.house.gov", "cleaver", "https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "(Washington, D.C.) \u2013 Today, U.S. Representatives Emanuel Cleaver, II (MO-05) and Mike Lawler (NY-17) reintroduced the HUD Accountability Act of 2025, a bipartisan measure that would require the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to testify before Congress on an annual basis. The bill aims to strengthen transparency and ensure HUD leadership is held accountable amid an ongoing housing affordability crisis.\n\n\u201cWhether a Republican or Democratic administration, it is imperative that the people\u2019s representatives have an opportunity to provide oversight of the Executive Branch on behalf of the public, which includes bringing Cabinet officials before Congress to explain their policymaking actions and motivations,\u201d said Congressman Cleaver. \u201cI was proud to support this bipartisan legislation last Congress, and I\u2019m happy to reintroduce it with Congressman Lawler as we seek to lower housing costs and ensure transparency for the American people.\u201d\n\n\u201cWith families in New York and across the country being crushed by skyrocketing housing costs, Congress needs to take this crisis seriously, and that starts with oversight,\u201d said Congressman Lawler. \u201cIn the past, there have been long gaps between appearances by the HUD Secretary before the Financial Services Committee. That lack of regular oversight isn\u2019t acceptable. Our bill simply ensures that the Secretary provides annual testimony on the Department\u2019s programs, finances, and priorities. Last Congress, I hosted the first congressional field hearing in Rockland County in years to hear directly from constituents about how high housing costs are affecting their lives. Whether it\u2019s addressing the workforce housing crunch or improving HUD oversight, I\u2019m focused on bringing greater transparency and accountability to programs meant to serve the American people.\u201d\n\nThe HUD Accountability Act, which passed committee last Congress with bipartisan backing, would require the HUD Secretary to testify annually for five years before the House Financial Services Committee and the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee. The legislation outlines key areas for testimony, including:\n\nProgress in addressing the affordable housing and homelessness crises\n\nThe condition and performance of HUD programs, including public housing\n\nOversight efforts to combat waste, fraud, and abuse\n\nThe financial status of FHA\u2019s mortgage insurance funds\n\nThe capacity of the Department to deliver on its statutory mission\n\nOfficial text of the HUD Accountability Act of 2025 is available here.\n\nEmanuel 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.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:34:38Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-cleaver-lawler-reintroduce-bipartisan-hud-legislation-ensure"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.8762436918914318, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}