Dem Women’s Caucus, National Women’s Law Center Slam Republicans’ THUD Bill: Devastating for Women and Families

Washington, D.C. – Today, the Democratic Women’s Caucus (DWC) and the National Women’s Law Center (NWLC) issued the following statements slamming House Republicans’ Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) appropriations bill.

A recent NWLC and NLIHC fact sheet outlined how Republicans’ proposed housing funding cuts threaten the housing security of thousands of women\ and families. Specifically, the fact sheet also outlines how in 2022, women headed 74 percent of households served by HUD rental assistance programs, and households with children headed by women comprised 30 percent.

DWC Chair Rep. Lois Frankel said, “Having a home is more than just getting a roof over your head—it’s a place to share meals with your loved ones, where children can do their homework and families are able to feel a sense of safety and independence. The House Republican legislation that cuts housing assistance is cruel and unworthy of support. It ignores the serious need for affordable housing in our country and Americans’ need for lower everyday costs.”

NWLC President Fatima Goss Graves said: “The cuts proposed in the House THUD bill would be devastating to the lives of women, children, LGBTQI+ people, and families. As rents are far surpassing wages, emergency funding is running dry, eviction filings are skyrocketing, and more families are being pushed into homelessness, now is not the time for House Republicans to play political football with the very safety and stability of people in this country. Housing is central to the safety and success of every child; without it, a child is more likely to go hungry, miss school, and develop health issues.

The drastic, dangerous cuts being proposed – in addition to the bill’s harmful language that would block funding for critical rulemaking on fair housing and several provisions that attack LGBTQI+ people – would decimate the programs that undergird people’s ability to survive in this country. We urge Congress to ensure that all families have access to basic necessities, such as safe, accessible, and affordable housing.”

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