{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/larson-announces-landmark-plan-reinvest-trump-ice-slush-fund-affordable", "Larson Announces Landmark Plan to Reinvest Trump ICE Slush Fund in Affordable Housing Solutions", "2025-12-09", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "John B. Larson", "L000557", "larson.house.gov", "larson", "https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) announced the Make Housing Affordable and Defend Democracy Act with Rep. Jimmy Gomez (CA-34) and 60 of their Democratic colleagues. Their plan would reinvest the $175 billion in federal funding Congressional Republicans approved in their budget for Donald Trump and Kristi Noem to target immigrant communities and instead use that funding to kickstart a 21st century housing boom across the country. It also includes Larson\u2019s bipartisan Revitalizing Downtowns and Main Streets Act, a bill to incentivize the conversion of existing vacant and underutilized commercial properties into new housing.\n\n\u201cWith construction costs on the rise, sky-high mortgage rates, and costly utility bills, it is becoming exceedingly difficult to build, own, or even save up to one day own a home,\u201d said Larson. \u201cPresident Trump ran on bringing costs down for working families, yet his administration has been focused on dismantling social safety nets and terrorizing immigrant communities. Our plan will rein in their abusive anti-immigrant agenda and finally invest in solving the housing crisis that is blocking families from owning a home or finding affordable rental options. Together, we can kickstart a nationwide housing boom and make homeownership a reality for more hard-working Americans and their families.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019m introducing this bill because families across the country are being crushed by housing costs while Trump uses $175 billion to terrorize families with his own national police force,\u201d said Gomez. \u201cThis bill flips the script. We\u2019re taking back Trump\u2019s anti-immigrant slush fund and investing it in real housing solutions that actually help people while putting a check on the unaccountable police force he built to go after our communities.\u201d\n\nThe bill would make one of the largest housing investments proposed this Congress, lowering costs for renters, providing substantial support for first-time homebuyers, and incentivizing the conversion of vacant office buildings into affordable units. It pays for these investments by redirecting funding approved by Republicans in Congress for the Trump Administration\u2019s anti-immigrant agenda, including billions for inhumane detention facilities and unaccountable Department of Homeland Security and ICE programs.\n\nThe Make Housing Affordable and Defend Democracy Act would:\n\nCreate the first-ever monthly Renter Tax Credit for individuals and families paying more than 30% of their income on rent.\n\nProvide $25,000 or more for first time homebuyers and $50,000 or more in down-payment assistance for first-generation homebuyers.\n\nConvert vacant office buildings into affordable housing through a 20\u201335% Affordable Housing Conversion Credit.\n\nLaunch a Starter Home Construction Credit targeted at first-time buyers.\n\nExpand production of deeply affordable housing through a strengthened Low-Income Housing Tax Credit.\n\nFull bill text is available HERE.\n\nThe legislation is endorsed by UnidosUS, the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), CASA, A Way Home America, the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities (CLPHA), and the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), representing millions of renters, immigrants, low-income families, and housing advocates nationwide.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"]], "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://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/larson-announces-landmark-plan-reinvest-trump-ice-slush-fund-affordable"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 2.110324101522565, "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"}