Monica De La Cruz: “I thank the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Nunn) for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge the passage of my bill, H.R.…”

“I thank the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Nunn) for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge the passage of my bill, H.R. 7280, the HUD Transparency Act of 2024. I thank the bipartisan cosponsors of this commonsense legislation aimed at enhancing the oversight and efficiency of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Mr. Speaker, for too long now, Congress has been without a formal oversight mechanism for HUD. Specific to the HUD inspector general, prior to the 118th Congress, it had been nearly 5 years since an official from HUD OIG testified. H.R. 7280 provides long-overdue, consistent oversight by mandating the inspector general of HUD testify annually before Congress. Given the magnitude of Federal dollars allocated to HUD, we know the housing affordability discussion cannot be had effectively without HUD's commitment to being responsible stewards of our tax dollars. This is not a partisan issue. It is about ensuring that those who need HUD benefits can receive them. This legislation will enable the inspector general to provide essential insights and recommendations to Congress, facilitating informed decisionmaking and timely adjustments to HUD's programs. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the passage of the HUD Transparency Act.”