Urging omb to Withdraw Proposed Rule

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(Mr. Latimer of New York was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.) Mr. LATIMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call attention to the sweeping proposed rule from the Office of Management and Budget that would fundamentally overhaul how Federal agencies award and administer grant funds. Under this proposal, Federal grant funding would be tied to the President's ideological agenda and subject to intense scrutiny by political appointees of the President instead of nonpartisan scientific peer review. The proposed rule would also make it easier for agencies to suspend or cancel grants if administration priorities change. This rule would prevent grantees from having the opportunity to contest political decisions from the administration without incurring expensive litigation costs. If implemented, this rule would force already burdened local governments, nonprofits, and community health centers to operate in an ever-shifting environment, making it more difficult to provide vital services, including housing, food, and disaster assistance. Mr. Speaker, I urge OMB to withdraw this rulemaking in full.

Protect TPS for Haitians and Syrians

Mr. LATIMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today 1 week after the Supreme Court decision to end temporary protected status for immigrants from Haiti and Syria. When the TPS program was created in 1990 by Congress, its purpose was to ensure an immediate solution for immigrants fleeing emergent crises, whether that may be ongoing armed conflict, environmental disaster, or other extraordinary conditions. Today, 350,000 Haitians and 6,000 Syrians face potential deportation to parts of the world where crises remain, and their security is threatened. Engineers, students, doctors, and caregivers who came to this country to give, not take, are being thrown to the wayside. While I joined a majority of my colleagues in the House to pass a bill protecting TPS for Haitians, until it becomes law, over 350,000 lives remain in limbo. Mr. Speaker, on the 250th anniversary of the United States, this decision turns its back on a founding promise to give refuge to the persecuted. It is time we get back to honoring that promise.

Supporting Housing Affordability

Mr. LATIMER. Mr. Speaker, when we talk about the American Dream, most imagine settling down with a good-paying job and a constant roof over their head. Sadly, that goal continues to grow out of reach for many with rising inflation and the lack of affordable housing. I saw the pressures of that crisis as Westchester County executive, where I worked to create more than 2,500 affordable housing units. In Congress, I have continued to support legislation to expand housing opportunities and improve affordability. That is why I was proud to support the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, which would build more homes, make it easier to buy or rent a home, and provide better data to improve resources in underserved communities. Although President Trump refused to sign this crucial piece of legislation into law, this will not stop Congress from delivering for the American people. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to show my constituents and people across the country that despite the disarray handed down from the President, on this particular issue, Democrats and Republicans worked together to address the affordability crisis.

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