Today, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), the top Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee, announced that she sent letters to the leadership of the House Committee on Appropriations urging appropriators to fund provisions that would address our nation’s worsening housing and homelessness crisis, support small, minority-owned businesses, and to protect our nation’s investors and capital markets.

Congresswoman Waters sent letters to the Committee on Appropriations as follows:

Combat the Housing and Homelessness Crisis:

• To provide at least $150 billion in emergency housing investments, in accordance with Ranking Member Waters’ historic bill, the “Housing Crisis Response Act,” to address the affordable housing and homelessness crisis and fully combat inflation. See the full letter here.
  
  
• To provide increased funds for the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) homelessness programs and require HUD to assess flexibilities to improve program operations to address the growing homelessness crisis and effectively deliver new resources to communities in need. See the full letter here.
  
  
• To provide at least $100 million for HUD’s Eviction Grant Program to help low-income renters access legal assistance to avoid homelessness and housing instability when they are at risk of, or subject to, eviction. See the full letter here.
  
  
• To update a legacy appropriations provision that since Fiscal Year 2006, has continued to inadvertently lock low-income college students, including those who may be experiencing or at risk of homelessness, out of stable housing opportunities. See the full letter here.
  
  
• To increase funding and provide programmatic flexibilities to support, expand, and preserve rental assistance and affordable housing developments in rural America through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Rural Housing Service. See the full letter here. Co-signers include: Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, II, Rep. Stacey Plaskett, Rep. Nydia Velázquez, Rep. Mark DeSaulnier, Rep. Al Green, Rep. Stephen Lynch, Rep. Troy Carter, Rep. Gregory Meeks, Rep. Jim Himes, Rep. Rick Larsen, Rep. Jesús "Chuy" García, Rep. Steven Horsford, Rep. Juan Vargas, Rep. Wiley Nickel, Rep. Nikki Budzinski, Rep. Joe Courtney, Rep. Greg Casar, Rep. Val Hoyle, Rep. Mark Takano, Rep. Sylvia Garcia, Rep. Delia Ramirez, Rep. Kim Schrier, M.D., Rep. Sean Casten, Rep. Alma Adams, Ph.D., Rep. Becca Balint, Rep. Neguse, Rep. Abigail Spanberger, Rep. Maxwell Frost. 
  
  
• To provide increased funding for HUD's rental assistance programs, including public housing, to provide ongoing and expanded assistance to low-income families who continue to face rising rental costs, inflation, the end of federal and local eviction protections, and the exhaustion of Emergency Rental Assistance funds. See the full letter here. Co-signers include: Rep. Ayanna Pressley, Rep. Dan Goldman, Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, Rep. Judy Chu, Rep. Brad Sherman, Rep. André Carson, Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, II, Rep. Stacey Plaskett, Rep. Joaquin Castro, Rep. Jahana Hayes, Rep. Joyce Beatty, Rep. Jesús "Chuy" García, Rep. Lizzie Fletcher, Rep. Adam Smith, Rep. Danny Davis, Rep. Nydia Velázquez, Rep. James McGovern, Rep. Steve Cohen, Rep. Doris Matsui, Rep. Rashida Tlaib, Rep. Al Green, Rep. Jamie Raskin, Rep. Madeleine Dean, Rep. Stephen Lynch, Rep. Jan Schakowsky, Rep. Nikema Williams, Rep. Ted Lieu, Rep. Gregory Meeks, Rep. Ilhan Omar, Rep. Bill Foster, Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton, Rep. Alma Adams, Ph.D., Rep. Sean Casten, Rep. Jim Himes, Rep. Jimmy Gomez, Rep. Steven Horsford, Rep. Morgan McGarvey, Rep. Lisa Rochester, Rep. Jerrold Nadler, Rep. Dina Titus, Rep. John Garamendi, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rep. Wiley Nickel, Rep. Jared Huffman, Rep. Jamaal Bowman, Ed.D., Rep. Maxwell Frost, Rep. Joe Courtney, Rep. Nikki Budzinski, Rep. David Scott, Rep. Sylvia Garcia, Rep. Delia Ramirez, Rep. Robert Garcia, Rep. Katie Porter, Rep. Summer Lee, Rep. Frederica Wilson, Rep. John Sarbanes, Rep. Donald Beyer Jr., Rep. Troy Carter, Rep. Mike Levin, Rep. Raúl Grijalva, Rep. Sara Jacobs, Rep. Mark DeSaulnier, Rep. Robert "Bobby" Scott, Rep. Greg Landsman, Rep. Haley Stevens, Rep. Abigail Spanberger.
  
  
• To fund $100 million through HUD’s HOME Program, in line with Ranking Member Waters’ “Downpayment Toward Equity Act,” to provide downpayment, interest rate buydown, and other upfront cost assistance to first-time, first-generation homebuyers who are seeking to purchase their first home in today’s housing market. See the full letter here. Co-signers include: Rep. Jahana Hayes, Rep. Nydia Velázquez, Rep. Stacey Plaskett, Rep. Gwen Moore, Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton, Rep. Steven Horsford, Rep. Ilhan Omar, Rep. Katie Porter, Rep. Sylvia Garcia, Rep. Ayanna Pressley, Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, II, Rep. John Garamendi, Rep. Danny Davis, Rep. Mike Levin, Rep. James McGovern, Rep. Jesús "Chuy" García, Rep. Frederica Wilson, Rep. Troy Carter, Rep. Rashida Tlaib, Rep. Hillary Scholten, Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, Rep. Henry "Hank" Johnson, Jr, Rep. Wiley Nickel, Rep. Ted Lieu, Rep. Jan Schakowsky, Rep. Gregory Meeks, Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove, Rep. Stephen Lynch, Rep. Colin Allred, Rep. Brad Sherman, Rep. Madeleine Dean, Rep. Delia Ramirez, Rep. Sean Casten, Rep. Eric Swalwell, Rep. Mark Takano, Rep. Jamaal Bowman, Ed.D., Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rep. Salud Carbajal, Rep. Maxwell Frost, Rep. Alma Adams, Ph.D., Rep. Raúl Grijalva, Rep. Barbara Lee.
  
  
• To create a new $100 million community-led capacity building program to allow nonprofit organizations and intermediaries to provide local technical assistance and support to help enhance the capacity of mission driven, non-profit organizations in undertaking affordable housing-related activities. See the full letter here. Co-signers include: Rep. Stacey Plaskett, Rep. Steven Horsford, Rep. Nydia Velázquez, Rep. Katie Porter, Rep. Al Green, Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, II, Rep. Danny Davis, Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton, Rep. André Carson, Rep. Rashida Tlaib, Rep. Nikema Williams, Rep. Gregory Meeks, Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove, Rep. Stephen Lynch, Rep. Sylvia Garcia, Rep. David Scott, Rep. Madeleine Dean, Rep. Jan Schakowsky, Rep. Delia Ramirez, Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, Rep. Sean Casten, Rep. Troy Carter, Rep. Wiley Nickel, Rep. Jesús "Chuy" García, Rep. Jahana Hayes, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rep. James McGovern, Rep. Maxwell Frost, Rep. Brad Sherman.
  
  
• To provide at least $4.2 billion for the Community Development Block Grant, which is one of the most effective federal programs for growing local economies and providing a lifeline to families and communities. See the full letter here. Co-signers include: Rep. James McGovern, Rep. María Salaza, Rep. Dina Titus, Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, Rep. Raúl Grijalva, Rep. Donald Beyer Jr, Rep. Gwen Moore, Rep. Nick LaLota, Rep. Yvette Clarke, Rep. Salud Carbajal, Rep. Sharice Davids, Rep. Sean Casten, Rep. Tony Cárdenas, Rep. Val Hoyle, Rep. Gabe Vasquez, Rep. Michael Turner, Rep. Gerald Connolly, Rep. Steven Horsford, Rep. Joyce Beatty, Rep. Jennifer McClellan, Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove, Rep. William Keating, Rep. Jamaal Bowman, Ed.D., Rep. Judy Chu, Rep. Ilhan Omar, Rep. Scott Peters, Rep. Seth Moulton, Rep. Paul Tonko, Rep. Rashida Tlaib, Rep. Jason Crow, Rep. Jim Himes, Rep. Lucy McBath, Rep. Morgan McGarvey, Rep. Lisa Rochester, Rep. Steve Cohen, Rep. Shontel Brown, Rep. Mark DeSaulnier, Rep. Jared Moskowitz, Rep. Brendan Boyle, Rep. Linda Sánchez, Rep. Chellie Pingree, Rep. Richard Neal, Rep. Colin Allred, Rep. Ayanna Pressley, Rep. Kevin Mullin, Rep. Joaquin Castro, Rep. David Scott, Rep. Nydia Velázquez, Rep. Patrick Ryan, Rep. Mike Thompson, Rep. André Carson, Rep. Jenniffer González-Colón, Rep. Jan Schakowsky, Rep. Ami Bera, M.D., Rep. Danny Davis, Rep. Jerrold Nadler, Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, Rep. Adam Smith, Rep. Sanford Bishop, Jr., Rep. Doris Matsui, Rep. Christopher Smith, Rep. Eric Swalwell, Rep. Gabe Amo, Rep. Bill Foster, Rep. John Sarbanes, Rep. Jimmy Gomez, Rep. Bradley Schneider, Rep. Yadira Caraveo, M.D., Rep. Marc Veasey, Rep. Mike Levin, Rep. Angie Craig, Rep. Frank Mrvan, Rep. Suzan DelBene, Rep. Grace F. Napolitano, Rep. Adam B. Schiff, Rep. Ted Lieu, Rep. Juan Vargas, Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr., Rep. Jill Tokuda, Rep. Lori Trahan, Rep. Greg Landsman, Rep. Robert "Bobby" Scott, Rep. Zoe Lofgren, Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton, Rep. Jahana Hayes, Rep. Daniel Kildee, Rep. Stacey Plaskett, Rep. Donald Davis, Rep. Glenn Ivey, Rep. Ruben Gallego, Rep. Al Green, Rep. Dwight Evans, Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragán, Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, II, Rep. Jimmy Panetta, Rep. Jared Golden, Rep. Terri Sewell, Rep. Katie Porter, Rep. Sara Jacobs, Rep. Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan, Rep. Julia Brownley, Rep. Alma S. Adams, Ph.D., Rep. Jonathan Jackson, Rep. Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen, Rep. Cori Bush, Rep. Frederica Wilson, Rep. Jesús "Chuy" García, Rep. Abigail Spanberger, Rep. Veronica Escobar.
  
  
• To cancel $20.5 billion in National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) debt – the primary source of flood insurance coverage for homeowners, renters, and businesses nationwide – to maintain the program’s solvency and long-term stability, and to preserve the affordability of NFIP premiums. See the full letter here. Co-signers include: Rep. Steven Horsford, Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, II, Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, Rep. André Carson, Rep. Sylvia Garcia, Rep. Stacey Plaskett, Rep. Nydia Velázquez, Rep. Lizzie Fletcher, Rep. Rashida Tlaib, Rep. Al Green, Rep. Josh Gottheimer, Rep. Nikema Williams, Rep. Nikki Budzinski, Rep. Delia Ramirez, Rep. Robert Garcia, Rep. Danny Davis, Rep. Sean Casten, Rep. Stephen Lynch, Rep. Troy Carter, Rep. Madeleine Dean, Rep. Robert "Bobby" Scott, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rep. Ritchie Torres, Rep. Brad Sherman, Rep. Maxwell Frost, Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr.
  
  
• To fund the Federal Emergency Management Agency Risk Mapping, Assessment, and Planning program at $2.4 billion in Fiscal Year 2025 and commit to maintaining this funding level over the next 5 years to invest a total of $12 billion into FEMA’s Risk MAP program. This mapping effort helps communities to better understand their flood risks and how they can prepare for and mitigate those risks. See the full letter here. Co-signers include: Rep. Lizzie Fletcher, Rep. Steven Horsford, Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, II, Rep. Stacey Plaskett, Rep. Rashida Tlaib, Rep. Al Green, Rep. Madeleine Dean, Rep. Nikema Williams, Rep. Elissa Slotkin, Rep. Ritchie Torres, Rep. Jim Himes, Rep. Sean Casten, Rep. Chellie Pingree, Rep. André Carson, Rep. Sylvia Garcia, Rep. Nydia Velázquez, Rep. Jonathan Jackson, Rep. Kevin Mullin, Rep. Delia Ramirez, Rep. Jesús "Chuy" García, Rep. Stephen Lynch, Rep. Troy Carter, Rep. Josh Gottheimer, Rep. Robert "Bobby" Scott, Rep. Jared Moskowitz, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rep. Brad Sherman, Rep. Maxwell Frost, Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr., Rep. Zoe Lofgren.
  
  

Support Underserved Communities:

• To fund the Minority Business Development Agency, the only federal agency charged to focus on the unique needs of minority business enterprises. See the full letter here. Co-signers include: Rep. Al Green, Rep. Joyce Beatty, Rep. Dwight Evans, Brendan Boyle, Rep. Tony Cárdenas, Rep. André Carson, Rep. Sean Casten, Danny Davis, Madeleine Dean, Rep. Mark DeSaulnier, Rep. Lizzie Fletcher, Rep. Sylvia Garcia, Rep. Jenniffer González-Colón, Rep. Henry "Hank" Johnson, Jr., Rep. Stephen Lynch, Rep. Lucy McBath, Rep. Gregory Meeks, Rep. Gwen Moore, Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton, Rep. Ilhan Omar, Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr., Rep. Stacey E. Plaskett, Rep. Ayanna Pressley, Rep. David Scott, Rep. Adam Smith, Rep. Rashida Tlaib, Rep. Juan Vargas, Rep. Nydia Velázquez, Rep. Frederica Wilson, Rep. Nikema Williams, Rep. James McGovern, Rep. Jim Himes, Rep. Jimmy Gomez, Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, II, Rep. Troy Carter, Rep. Mikie Sherrill, Rep. Katie Porter, Rep. Morgan McGarvey, Rep. Joaquin Castro, Rep. Jill Tokuda, Rep. Steven Horsford, Rep. Wiley Nickel, Rep. Angie Craig, Rep. Jamaal Bowman, Ed.D., Rep. Joe Courtney, Rep. Ro Khanna, Rep. Lisa Rochester, Rep. Shontel Brown, Rep. Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan, Rep. Andy Kim, Rep. Jasmine Crockett, Rep. Delia Ramirez, Rep. Jesús "Chuy" García, Rep. Pramila Jayapal, Rep. Jennifer L. McClellan, Rep. Judy Chu, Rep. Steve Cohen, Rep. Josh Gottheimer, Rep. Robert "Bobby" Scott, Rep. Abigail Spanberger, Rep. Haley Stevens, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rep. Maxwell Frost.
  
  
• To fully fund the programs to support diverse and mission-driven community financial institutions, including the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund, Community Development Financial institutions and Minority Depository Institutions, the National Credit Union Administration. See the full letter here. Co-signers include: Rep. Ilhan Omar. Rep. Steven Horsford, Rep. Danny Davis, Rep. Madeleine Dean, Rep. Lizzie Fletcher, Rep. Jesús "Chuy" García, Rep. Sylvia Garcia, Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, Rep. Al Green, Rep. Stephen Lynch, Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton, Rep. Stacey Plaskett, Rep. Ayanna Pressley, Rep. David Scott, Rep. Jan Schakowsky, Rep. Juan Vargas, Rep. Nydia Velázquez, Rep. Nikema Williams, Rep. Jim Himes, Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, II, Rep. Ted Lieu, Rep. Joyce Beatty, Rep. Mark DeSaulnier, Rep. Shontel Brown, Rep. Sean Casten, Rep. Wiley Nickel, Rep. Brad Sherman, Rep. Gregory Meeks, Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Rep. Val Hoyle, Rep. Delia Ramirez, Rep. Katie Porter, Rep. Bill Foster, Rep. Rick Larsen, Rep. Troy Carter, Rep. Rashida Tlaib, Rep. Jamaal Bowman, Ed.D., Rep. Robert "Bobby" Scott, Rep. Maxwell Frost, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rep. Abigail Spanberger.
  
  

Protect Our Nation’s Investors:

• To fully fund the Securities and Exchange Commission—Wall Street’s cop on the beat, which is tasked with the important mission to (1) protect investors; (2) maintain fair, orderly, and efficient capital markets; and (3) facilitate capital formation. See the full letter here. Co-signers include: Rep. Brad Sherman, Rep. Danny Davis, Rep. Joyce Beatty, Rep. Sean Casten, Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, II, Rep. Madeleine Dean, Rep. Bill Foster, Rep. Jesús "Chuy" García, Rep. Sylvia Garcia, Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, Rep. Al Green, Rep. Stephen Lynch, Rep. Gregory Meeks, Rep. Ayanna Pressley, Rep. David Scott, Rep. Ritchie Torres, Rep. Nydia Velázquez, Rep. Nikema Williams, Rep. James McGovern, Rep. Mark DeSaulnier, Rep. Chellie Pingree, Rep. Adam Smith, Rep. Jan Schakowsky, Rep. Ilhan Omar, Rep. Jim Himes, Rep. André Carson, Rep. Tony Cárdenas, Rep. Juan Vargas, Rep. Greg Casar, Rep. Ted Lieu, Rep. Morgan McGarvey, Rep. Kevin Mullin, Rep. Val Hoyle, Rep. Delia Ramirez, Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton, Rep. Katie Porter, Rep. Rashida Tlaib, Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rep. Abigail Spanberger, Rep. Maxwell Frost, Rep. Lori Trahan.
  
  

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