May 19, 2026
Ms. Garcia of Texas introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Financial Services
To direct the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to conduct a study on the implementation of work requirements by public housing agencies, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Improving Self-Sufficiency of Families in HUD-Subsidized Housing Act
.
Sec. 2. Improving self-sufficiency of families in HUD-subsidized housing
(a) In general
(1) Study
Subject to subsection (b), the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall conduct a study on the implementation of work requirements implemented prior to the date of enactment of this Act by public housing agencies described in paragraph (4) participating in the Moving to Work demonstration authorized under section 204 of the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 1996 (42 U.S.C. 1437f note).
(2) Scope
The study required under paragraph (1) shall—
(A)
consider the short-, medium-, and long-term benefits and challenges of work requirements on public housing agencies described in paragraph (4) and on program participants who are subject to such requirements, including the effects work requirements have on homelessness rates, poverty rates, asset building, earnings growth, job attainment and retention, and public housing agencies’ administrative capacity; and
(B)
include quantitative and qualitative evidence, including interviews with program participants described in subparagraph (A) and their respective resident councils.
(3) Report
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives a report on the initial findings of the study required under paragraph (1).
(4) Public housing agencies described
The public housing agencies described in this paragraph are public housing agencies that, as part of an application to participate in the demonstration authorized under section 204 of the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 1996 (42 U.S.C. 1437f note), submit a proposal identifying work requirements as an innovative proposal.
(b) Determination
The requirement under subsection (a) shall apply if the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development determines that—
(1)
there are a sufficient number of public housing agencies described in subsection (a)(4) such that the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development can rigorously evaluate the impact of the implementation of work requirements described in that subsection; and
(2)
the study would not negatively impact low-income families receiving assistance through a public housing agency described in subsection (a)(4).