Ranking Member Clyburn Statement at the Subcommittee Markup of the 2026 Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Funding Bill

Congressman James E. Clyburn (D-SC-06), Ranking Member of the Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, delivered the following remarks at the Subcommittee's markup of the fiscal year 2026 Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies funding bill:

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. We often refer to each other as, “my good friend,” but sometimes, we really don’t mean it. And when I rejoined the Appropriations Committee, I never thought I would make new friends, but, through common human connections and shared values, when I refer to you as my good friend, I really mean it and I thank you for your enlightened leadership on this subcommittee. 

And that is why it is with regret that I cannot support this bill as written. Throughout this country, the American people are concerned about the cost of living and the economy. In fact, more than 771,000 people are experiencing homelessness and 75 percent of low-income renters spend more than half of their income on rent. In my home state of South Carolina, nearly 57,000 low-income and working households – seniors, people with disabilities or working families – count on HUD’s rental assistance programs to help make ends meet. And nearly every district is faced with a housing crisis. 

I hope that we can agree that housing is a basic human need. Yet, the bill before us proposes to shortchange HUD’s rental assistance programs by more than $5 billion and eliminate all investments for eviction-prevention. 

This would mean hundreds of thousands of HUD-assisted households would face eviction, the majority of whom are elderly, disabled, or families with children. Given the dire need to lower the cost of living for Americans, this is unacceptable.

Despite a housing shortage of more than 7 million units, this bill cuts housing construction and preservation programs by 46 percent, nearly half. This includes eliminating the PRO Housing and HOME programs, which help mayors and governors cut red tape and expand housing by 45,000 new units. 

This bill also gives HUD broad authority to increase rent costs, while cutting programs that help put residents on a path to self-sufficiency and wealth building by 31 percent. 

This bill ends grants to 10 HUD-certified housing counseling agencies in South Carolina, who, each year, educate and lead hundreds of homebuyers to successful homeownership. 

Unfortunately, this bill makes it harder for our constituents to find places to live. The bill before us has largely adopted the President’s proposal to further gut fair housing enforcement, by cutting Fair Housing activities by 67 percent. 

People with disabilities, who account for 53 percent of individuals filing discrimination claims at a time when less than five percent of America’s housing is accessible, and over 60 million Americans have a disability, including a disproportionate share of veterans, seniors, Black Americans and Tribal communities. 

The harmful cuts in this bill extend far beyond housing. 

This bill also zeroes out investments for Amtrak, leaving little to no room for making the necessary infrastructure upgrades for passenger rail; guts public transit and bus service improvement projects, many with shovels already in the ground; and, ignores the costly realities of climate change; and take $4.4 billion from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to make up for a woefully inadequate allocation.

Let’s be honest about what’s really happening here. Just weeks ago, Republicans passed their “Big Ugly Bill,” which will increase the deficit by trillions of dollars over the next decade through tax cuts for billionaires and big business. 

At the same time, in this appropriations process Republicans claim we must “responsibly” cut federal spending because of deficit concerns. But their definition of “responsible” is taking housing away from vulnerable Americans and kicking the can down the road on addressing the country’s growing housing shortage, homelessness crisis, and crumbling infrastructure – problems that will only get bigger and more expensive if we do nothing to address them now.

The funding tactics of “robbing Peter to pay Paul” have real-life consequences. What we do or don’t do in this bill is not just about numbers on a spreadsheet – it’s about a mother who will lose her housing voucher, an aging senior who can’t find accessible housing, and a working family who can’t afford both rent and reliable transportation to get to work. 

Unfortunately, this bill is full of unrealistic gimmicks and will be devastating to many communities throughout the country – especially in my home state of South Carolina. 

Mr. Chairman, I understand the challenges you face. But, I respectfully cannot support a bill that fails to make honest investments to improve daily commutes, 

modernize our rail systems, and address the public housing backlogs that have plagued our nation for decades. My Republican friends must develop the means and muster the courage to do that which is necessary to make America’s greatness accessible and affordable for all – this bill fails to meet that goal.

I urge my colleagues to vote “no” on this bill. Thank you, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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