Chairman Cleaver Holds Field Hearing on Fire Safety in Federally Assisted Housing, Calls on Congress to Pass Housing Provisions from Build Back Better Act

(New York City, NY) – Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO), Chairman of the Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing, Community Development, and Insurance, held a field hearing in Bronx, New York, to examine ways in which Congress can address fire safety deficiencies in federally assisted housing. Following the tragic fire at Twin Parks North West apartment building, which took the lives of 17 Bronx residents, including 8 children, Chairman Cleaver and Financial Services Committee Democrats discussed the need for local, state, and federal officials to ensure proper inspections are occurring, life-saving laws are being enforced, and property owners are maintaining safe and decent housing. Additionally, Chairman Cleaver called on Congress to improve the health and safety of residents by advancing Committee legislation, including the housing provisions in the House of Representatives-passed Build Back Better Act, which contains historic investments to preserve and improve the condition of federally assisted housing.

"Federal, state, and local governments have an obligation to ensure the housing provided to American families is safe, sanitary, and up to sufficient standards. Yet, for far too long, elected officials at every level of government have failed to make the necessary investments, keep up with inspection and technology standards, or enforce life-saving laws that could have prevented tragedies like the one at Twin Parks North West," said Congressman Cleaver. "Year after year, we've seen health and safety standards decline in federally assisted housing across the country. That's unacceptable, and it's time for Congress to take action to protect the health and safety of residents. We can start by passing legislation that includes desperately needed housing support in the House-passed Build Back Better Act."

"The fire at Twin Parks devastated our community and the deaths of our peers and neighbors will long be mourned," Rep. Torres said. "In light of this tragedy, we must take action to ensure that all federally assisted housing units are in line with the regulations of long-standing fire legislation. Since January, I have been introducing legislation to prevent such a tragedy from ever repeating itself. As the House works to pass this legislation, it is crucial that we continue to have conversations about fire safety in the United States, with a special focus on protecting vulnerable populations who reside in federally assisted housing."

On January 9, 2022, a fire broke out at the Twin Parks North West apartment building, leading to the deadliest fire in New York City in three decades. Just days before, on January 5, 2022, a separate fire in public housing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, took the lives of 12 residents, including children. In both instances, fire safety concerns had previously been identified. According to data from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), health and safety inspection scores in federally assisted housing have been declining for years.

In November 2021, the House of Representatives passed the Build Back Better Act, which contained $150 billion to expand access to decent, safe, and affordable housing, including $65 billion to repair and modernize public housing and $5 billion to address health and safety hazards in low-income housing. The Build Back Better Act also contained multiple bills from Financial Services Committee Democrats to increase safety standards, including funding to address health and safety hazards in federally assisted housing. At the field hearing convened by Chairman Cleaver today, members of the committee examined multiple separate bills to address safety deficiencies in federally assisted housing, such as the Housing Temperature Safety Act, the Twin Parks North West Fire Safety Act, the Choice in Affordable Housing Act, and the Housing Inspections Accountability Act.

"No child or mother or father should lose their life in federally assisted housing due to neglect. We have the tools needed to prevent such unnecessary tragedies from ever being repeated—but we must find the political will to enact solutions that provide the funding and oversight essential to saving lives," said Congressman Cleaver.

Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Blue Springs, Grain Valley, Oak Grove, North Kansas City, Gladstone, Claycomo, and all of Ray, Lafayette, and Saline Counties. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee; Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Housing, Community Development, and Insurance; member of the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress; member of the Committee on Homeland Security; and a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus. A high-resolution photo of Congressman Cleaver is available here.