House Democrats Criticize Republican Bill for Exacerbating Affordability Crisis

House Democrats expressed strong disapproval over the Republican-backed bill to fund the Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development (THUD) agencies, calling it a "pro-eviction, pro-road congestion agenda" that harms Americans struggling with the high cost of living. The bill, marked up in the House Appropriations Subcommittee, fails to address the growing housing shortage, homelessness crisis, and crumbling infrastructure, leaving thousands of low-income households at risk of eviction and making transportation unreliable.

Key Takeaways:

• The bill eliminates the sole Federal program dedicated to building new affordable rental and homeownership housing, stripping all investments in the PRO Housing program.
• It removes Housing Counseling assistance for thousands of housing counselors, who educate potential homebuyers on how to successfully achieve and leverage homeownership.
• The bill threatens to push nearly 415,000 households off of HUD assistance or face eviction, making it more difficult for Americans to find and stay in affordable housing or own a home.
• Investments in commuter rail, bus infrastructure, and Amtrak operations are cut, resulting in the loss of thousands of future jobs, service cuts, and delays to station improvements and advancements in rail system safety and reliability.
• Funding for Fair Housing Activities programs is gutted by 67 percent, including programs that protect housing choice for people with disabilities.
• The bill ignores rising costs and walks away from investments in commuter rail and Amtrak, instead increasing congestion on roads and shrinks the workforce.
• It adds costs and red tape for housing developers to expand affordable housing for American families.

Statistics:

• Nearly 415,000 households are at risk of eviction under the Republican-backed bill.
• The bill cuts funding for the PRO Housing program, which helps mayors and governors fund locally driven solutions to cut red tape and expand affordable housing and transit-oriented development.
• The housing shortage has led to an increase in homelessness, with a 18 percent surge in homelessness nationwide.
• Over 60 million Americans have a disability, including a disproportionate number of Black Americans, veterans, seniors, and Tribal communities.
• The majority of America's housing is inaccessible to people with disabilities.

Sources:

• House Democrats - Appropriations Committee
• Democrats-Appropriations.house.gov
• News release by Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro, D-Connecticut, ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee, on July 14, 2025.