San Antonio Corridor News

Today, the House of Representatives passed the HUD Transparency Act (H.R. 7280), authored by Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz (TX-15). The bipartisan legislation mandates annual testimony from the Inspector General of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) before Congress, marking a significant step toward enhancing oversight and efficiency within the department.

The bill addresses the need for consistent and formal oversight of HUD, ensuring that federal funds allocated to the department are used effectively to support those who need HUD benefits. The HUD Transparency Act aims to combat waste, fraud, and abuse while promoting responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars.

In a statement, Congresswoman De La Cruz emphasized the legislation’s importance: “With HUD's budget exceeding $70 billion, we must ensure these funds are used effectively to aid those in need. This is not a partisan issue but about ensuring that those who need HUD benefits can receive them efficiently and effectively."

The need for this legislation was underscored by the fact that the HUD Inspector General’s office had not testified before the House Financial Services Committee for five years until last year.

Passage of the HUD Transparency Act marks the fourth bill authored by De La Cruz to pass the House of Representatives. A fifth bill was rolled into a larger bill passed out of the House.