WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) today introduced the HUD Transparency Act, which would target waste, fraud, and abuse at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) by requiring the agency’s Inspector General (IG) to testify annually before Congress:

“By requiring HUD’s Inspector General to testify before Congress each year, this commonsense bill would ensure the agency is spending taxpayer dollars responsibly,” said Sen. Cornyn.

“HUD exists to make housing more affordable for hardworking families across the country,” said Sen. Cortez Masto. “This commonsense, bipartisan bill would ensure that Congress can exercise its oversight authority by monitoring the impact of HUD’s work and preventing illegal or wasteful practices in the Department.”

Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz (TX-15) led companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Background:

The HUD Transparency Act would require the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Inspector General (IG) to testify about:

• Efforts to detect and prevent fraud, waste, and abuse;
• The ability to conduct and supervise audits, investigations, and reviews;
• Actions to identify opportunities for HUD programs to progress and succeed;
• And recommendations to improve overall efficiency and public accountability.