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Huizenga, Olszewski, Kim, Thompson, and Bilirakis Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Strengthen American Manufacturing

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Today, Congressman Huizenga (R-MI), Congressman Johnny Olszewski (D-MD), Congresswoman Young Kim (R-CA), Congressman Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA), and Congressman Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) announced the introduction of H.R. 9097, the American Manufacturing Revitalization Exchange Program Act. This bipartisan legislation will help train the next generation of technicians, machinists, engineers, and production specialists for the US manufacturing workforce. By 2033, American manufacturing will require 3.8 million additional workers, yet nearly half of these positions may remain unfilled, resulting in an economic cost of nearly $1 trillion by 2030.

Specifically, the American Manufacturing Revitalization Exchange Program Act establishes an international exchange program, known as the American Manufacturing Revitalization Exchange Program, at the State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Under this program, the State Department will send eligible Americans working in manufacturing fields abroad for hands-on manufacturing training and certifications in allied countries with deep manufacturing expertise, who then return to the U.S. with new skills to help meet the labor skill shortage in the U.S. manufacturing industry and aid in reshoring efforts.

“Having a strong manufacturing sector is critical to our economy, national security, and ability to compete globally,” said Congressman Bill Huizenga. “By focusing on advanced manufacturing in sectors such as automotive, semiconductors, and aeronautics, this bipartisan legislation will help reshore American manufacturing, equip American workers with in-demand skills, and rebuild our nation’s middle class.”

"Strengthening American manufacturing starts with investing in our workforce," said Congressman Olszewski, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. "I'm proud to help lead this effort to give workers greater access to the tools and experience they need to compete and succeed in a global economy. This will keep America competitive, strengthen our economic prosperity, and ensure our workforce is ready for the next generation of manufacturing."

“American manufacturing and its workforce are essential to our economy and the growth of industries around our nation," said Congressman Thompson. "This legislation expands opportunities for Pennsylvanians, allowing them to upskill and share their expertise with others. This will ensure future generations are prepared for the workforce and equipped with the right skills, maintaining America’s competitive edge as we move into the future."

“America’s manufacturing industry is facing a critical workforce shortage at a time when strengthening domestic production has never been more important,” said Congressman Bilirakis. “Our bill will give Americans the opportunity to gain valuable hands-on training from our allies, bring those skills back home, and help support our nation’s reshoring efforts. This program will also highlight the exciting opportunities available in modern manufacturing and help inspire more Americans to pursue these rewarding careers."

Support for the American Manufacturing Revitalization Exchange Program Act is strong and growing. Organizations that support this Huizenga-led effort include the United Steelworkers, National Association of Manufacturers, Alliance for International Exchange, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE-USA), Dirac, Inc, MISUMI Americas, BMW Group, Wallenius Wilhelmsen, LIFT, Foundation for American Innovation, Automation Alley, Additive Manufacturing Coalition.

“Manufacturers across the country are leading efforts to upskill and train the manufacturing workforce of the future. Rep. Huizenga’s American Manufacturing Revitalization Exchange Program Act would bolster the industry’s existing efforts to develop America’s manufacturing workforce by expanding workers’ training opportunities via international partnerships—bolstering investment and production capacity here at home.” Charles Crain, Managing Vice President of Policy at the National Association of Manufacturers, and Gardner Carrick, Chief Program Officer of the Manufacturing Institute

"We at Automation Alley appreciate Rep. Huizenga highlighting the need to focus on providing essential training for our critically important manufacturing workforce. Our manufacturers, and their workers, are the backbone of the State of Michigan's economy and it is imperative that our manufacturing workforce has the skills necessary to compete globally." Tom Kelly, CEO Automation Alley

“The USW supports increasing workers’ access to information about manufacturing processes, including hands-on experience, through the American Manufacturing Revitalization Exchange Program Act of 2026. This program will allow workers to learn from their counterparts overseas and bring that knowledge back to the United States, helping build bridges between workers and making our domestic industries stronger.” Roy Houseman, Legislative Director and Assistant to the President, United Steelworkers

“The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers-USA (IEEE-USA) “endorses this legislation to continue revitalizing the science and technology workforce that has long driven American innovation. As manufacturing in critical sectors like robotics and semiconductors shifted overseas, our domestic workforce pipeline declined in tandem. Reclaiming our leadership in advanced manufacturing requires an economy that creates high-paying jobs for all workers, not just those with PhDs. By helping rebuild a highly skilled manufacturing workforce, this bill ensures the United States remains the global leader of science and technology innovation.” Nils Smith, Vice President, IEEE-USA

"The Alliance for International Exchange is pleased to endorse the American Revitalization Manufacturing Exchange Program Act, which creates an outbound exchange for American leaders in manufacturing to gain critical skills from U.S. allies and trade partners. This bill not only creates a public diplomacy program to fill a gap in American manufacturing, but also the program will also reinforce U.S. ties with partners globally while gaining innovative and necessary know-how in this space." Mark Overmann, Executive Director, Alliance for International Exchange

A resilient U.S. manufacturing sector requires a workforce that understands the complexities of a global supply chain. This Act is a forward-thinking investment in our most valuable resource: people. By upskilling U.S. citizens in allied countries, we’re building a sophisticated labor pool capable of integrating advanced technologies and securing our industrial base for decades to come. By establishing an exchange program with global allies, we’re enabling American talent to exchange ideas and technical expertise with the best manufacturing minds in the world. This Act ensures that our workforce returns home with a global perspective and specialized skills. To lead the next industrial revolution, we must be proactive in how we train the next generation. Supporting the 'American Manufacturing Revitalization Exchange Program' Bill allows us to bridge the skills gap by leveraging American strengths abroad. It’s a win-win that brings world-class knowledge back to U.S. soil, fueling the specialized talent we need to drive innovation.” Dave Evans, President & CEO of MISUMI Americas and CEO of Fictiv

"You can ship machines across an ocean, but you can't ship know-how. That has to be learned, captured, and passed down. The expertise that built the arsenal of democracy walked out the door with the jobs, and no amount of capital investment will rebuild our industrial base until we rebuild that knowledge. Representative Huizenga's bill creates a serious mechanism to bring back the production knowledge America gave away over the last forty years. Dirac is proud to support legislation that recognizes our shop floors as the foundation of American prosperity." Filip Aronshtein, Co-founder and CEO, Dirac, Inc.

“Advancing the skills of our workforce is a priority for BMW Group. For 15 years, we have been preparing students for a future in advanced manufacturing through several recruiting programs, including our most renown, the BMW Scholars Program at BMW Plant Spartanburg. We welcome Congressman Huizenga’s “American Manufacturing Revitalization Exchange Program Act” which will help support the training needed to develop a skilled and talented workforce for U.S. Manufacturing.” Astrid Ruggeri, Director, U.S. Trade Policy, BMW Group

“A skilled workforce and resilient supply chains are foundational to competitive manufacturing. As an integrated maritime, logistics, and industrial company, Wallenius Wilhelmsen is not only a transporter of goods, but an active industrial player with deep operational expertise. We see strong value in initiatives that strengthen U.S. manufacturing through practical skills development, hands-on training, and collaboration with global allies.” Wallenius Wilhelmsen

Huizenga Introduces Deport the Terrorists Act

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Today, Congressman Bill Huizenga (R-MI) announced the introduction of the Deport the Terrorists Act. This landmark legislation would overhaul deportation proceedings for naturalized American citizens who are convicted of financing, materially supporting, or outright committing acts of terror.

“American citizenship is one of our nation's greatest privileges,” said Congressman Bill Huizenga. “If a naturalized citizen is convicted of committing, supporting, or financing acts of terror, they should lose their citizenship and swiftly be deported from the United States."

Under current law, a naturalized citizen cannot be removed even for the most violent acts of terror without first going through the slow and complex denaturalization process. This loophole has allowed individuals who embraced terrorist ideologies after gaining citizenship to remain shielded from swift removal.

Examples of naturalized citizens who committed acts of terrorism include one that took place in Michigan and one that took place in Virginia 2026.

Ayman Muhammad Ghazali, a naturalized citizen from Lebanon, carried out an attempted mass-casualty attack on Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, MI, in March 2026, ramming his truck full of explosives into the synagogue and opening fire on congregants. He purposely targeted the Jewish community and the largest Jewish temple in MI due to his Hezbollah militant ideology. This individual was killed by security at Temple Israel.

Mohamed Bilor Jalloh, a naturalized citizen from Sierra Leone, became radicalized with ISIS views while serving in the US Army National Guard. In 2016, Jalloh pleaded guilty to attempting to aid ISIS fighters with money and weapons and was sentenced to 11 years in prison but was released early in 2024. On March 12, 2026, he shot and killed ROTC Professor Lt. Col. Brandon Shah and wounded two others at Old Dominion University in Virginia. This individual would have been deported under the Deport the Terrorists Act and unable to commit acts of terror in Virginia.

Khalid Ouazzani, a naturalized citizen from Morocco, swore allegiance to Al-Qaida and sent tens of thousands of dollars to the terror organization in 2008. In May 2010, Ouazzani pleaded guilty to providing material support to Al-Qaida. In 2026, the DOJ started the denaturalization process. This individual would be deported under the Deport the Terrorists Act.

Salah Osman Ahmed, a naturalized citizen from Somalia, traveled abroad to take up arms with al-Shabaab. In 2009, he pleaded guilty to providing material support to terrorists. In 2026, the DOJ started the denaturalization process. This individual would be deported under the Deport the Terrorists Act.

The Deport the Terrorists Act automatically revokes the citizenship of any naturalized US citizen convicted of a terrorism-related offense and makes such individuals immediately removable by creating new grounds for deportation for convictions involving terrorism, including conspiracy and solicitation.

Lastly, the Deport the Terrorists Act directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to prioritize the removal of any individual whose citizenship is revoked due to a terrorism-related conviction.

Huizenga, Correa, Walberg Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Improve Mental Health Outcomes, Prevent Veteran Suicide

Wed, 13 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Today, Congressman Bill Huizenga (R-MI) and Congressman Lou Correa (D-CA) introduced the Veterans Suicide Prevention and Care Enhancement Act, bipartisan legislation aimed at improving mental health outcomes for veterans and helping reduce veteran suicide rates by expanding access to evidence-based suicide prevention care. The legislation seeks to increase the number of Community Care Network providers who complete evidence-based suicide prevention training administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs while also creating a publicly available preferred provider list to help veterans identify providers who best meet their needs.

Under current law, providers in local communities outside the VA healthcare system may participate in the Veterans Health Administration Community Care Network without completing VA-administered suicide prevention training. The Veterans Suicide Prevention and Care Enhancement Act encourages greater participation in that training and improves transparency for veterans seeking care options in their communities. Joining Representatives Huizenga and Correa as original cosponsors are Congressman Tim Walberg (R-MI), Congressman Mike Lawler (R-NY), and Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ).

“When our servicemembers come home at the end of their service, our responsibility to them does not end,” said Congressman Huizenga. “Too many veterans continue to struggle with invisible wounds after returning home, and they deserve access to the highest quality mental health care available, wherever they receive it. This bipartisan legislation will help connect veterans with providers who have completed evidence-based suicide prevention training and improve transparency for veterans and families seeking care.”

“All gave some, and some made the ultimate sacrifice. Our veterans were willing to give their lives to defend American freedom and democracy. It is now our moral duty to provide them with the highest-quality mental health care,” said Congressman Correa. “I joined Representative Bill Huizenga in introducing the Veteran Suicide Prevention and Care Enhancement Act because veterans face a high risk of suicide. Not all wounds are visible, and we need to make sure that medical care is available to meet their needs. It is the least we can do to thank veterans for their sacrifice.”

“Our nation’s veterans have sacrificed so much for our freedoms, yet too many of these brave men and women struggle in silence,” said Congressman Walberg. “I am proud to join Representatives Huizenga and Correa on this bipartisan legislation, which will equip providers with the proper training to deliver high-quality mental health care to America's veterans so that we can honor these heroes’ service with the care, dignity, and compassion they so rightfully deserve.”

"Expanding suicide prevention training for Community Care Network providers connects veterans with better-informed care, said Congressman Mike Lawler. “This also inspires greater confidence in our veterans that their providers are prepared to recognize warning signs and respond with the support they need. Our veterans are more than deserving of access to providers who understand the unique challenges they face after serving our country,”

According to the VA’s 2025 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report, 6,398 veterans died by suicide in 2023, an average of 17.5 veterans per day. The report also found that 61% of veterans who died by suicide in 2023 had not received VA healthcare services in the year prior to their death.

The Veterans Suicide Prevention and Care Enhancement Act is supported by organizations including the American Legion Department of Michigan and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

“The Department of Michigan American Legion supports efforts to reduce veteran suicides. The Veterans Suicide Prevention and Care Enhancement Act is one step in the direction of lowering veteran suicides by providing the proper training to those that provide care for veterans in the community.” Tim Poxson, American Legion Department of Michigan

Huizenga Votes to Lower Costs for Southwest Michigan Families and Farmers

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Today, Congressman Bill Huizenga (R-MI) released the following statement after voting in support of a five-year farm bill. Specifically, this legislation reduces input costs, strengthens risk management tools, and expands food processing capacity, all while investing in the rural infrastructure that supports Southwest Michigan’s economy and agricultural community.

Importantly, this legislation includes provisions from Huizenga’s bipartisan Protecting America’s Orchardists and Nursery Tree Growers Act, which will strengthen and expand the Tree Assistance Program to better protect growers when severe weather, disease, or other losses threaten long-term production.

“This farm bill will help lower costs for the farmers who grow our food and the American families they help feed,” said Congressman Huizenga. “For years, family farms and specialty crop growers across Michigan have faced challenges that threatened their livelihood. This legislation delivers relief by giving farmers the certainty they deserve as well as the tools to cut costs, expand local processing, and strengthen domestic supply chains from the ground up. At the end of the day, this legislation will lower prices at the grocery store, help farmers thrive, and make life more affordable and healthy for families across Southwest Michigan.”

Key provisions in the House-passed farm bill include:

Lowers grocery costs & improves health outcomes by focusing on nutrition science and access to healthier foods
Invests in rural America—broadband, water, and infrastructure to lower the costs of local farm, small business, and household utility bills
Modernizes risk management for specialty crop producers
Backs specialty crops with $1B+ for research, competitiveness, and pest/disease research
Cuts input costs by advancing precision agriculture
Expands food processing capacity to strengthen supply chains
Strengthens domestic sourcing to support American agriculture
Protects U.S. farmland with CFIUS review for buyers tied to China, Russia, Iran, North Korea

Huizenga Introduces Legislation to Stop China and Russia from Stealing American AI Models

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Today, Congressman Bill Huizenga (R-MI) announced the introduction of H.R. 8283, the Deterring American AI Model Theft Act. Companies such as OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic have all indicated publicly that they have faced “distillation” attacks from State-backed Chinese AI companies. These attacks systematically extract and steal critical data, such as model weights, architectures, and other technical characteristics, that foreign adversaries use to build their own AI models for cheap while bypassing compute restrictions. Distillation attacks are the latest avenue of Chinese economic coercion and theft of U.S. intellectual property and poses a direct threat to the national security of the United States and the economic competitiveness of U.S. companies.

The Deterring American AI Model Theft Act addresses this problem by authorizing discretionary sanctions, creating a name and shame list of AI thieves, and approving a pathway for the U.S. State Department to interphase with private industry to share best practices and study attacks to strengthen defense.

“Model extraction attacks are the latest frontier of Chinese economic coercion and theft of US intellectual property,” said Congressman Bill Huizenga. “American AI models are demonstrating transformative cyber capabilities, and it is critical we prevent China from stealing these technological advancements. I am proud to champion the Deterring American AI Model Theft Act to advance the third pillar of the Trump Administration’s AI Action Plan. We must be more proactive in stopping the circumvention of US export controls by foreign adversaries.”

“American AI leadership rests on two pillars: the ingenuity of our innovators and the resolve, including of our government, to safeguard what our innovators build from those who seek to steal it. The Deterring American AI Model Theft Act of 2026 establishes a clear—and sorely needed—framework to identify foreign actors extracting American models, hold them accountable through existing authorities, and strengthen coordination between innovators and government. We commend Representative Huizenga for introducing it and urge the House Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC) to advance it.” - Meredith Potter, Executive Director, American Security Fund

Distillation, when carried out with the approval of the AI model owner, is a legitimate and valuable tool for research and innovation. This bill protects such activity by disentangling it from illicit “model extraction attacks.”

Huizenga Announces Federal Affordable Housing Funding for Battle Creek, Benton Harbor, Holland, Jenison, Kalamazoo, and Portage

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Today, Congressman Bill Huizenga (R-MI) announced that communities across Southwest Michigan will receive federal funding from the Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations legislation. Specifically, the communities of Battle Creek, Benton Harbor, Holland, Jenison, Kalamazoo, and Portage will receive federal funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) through Community Development Block Grants (CDBG). CDBG provides annual grants on a formula basis to states, cities, and counties to develop viable urban communities by improving housing and providing a better living environment. Additionally, CDBG expands economic opportunity, principally for low- and moderate-income residents.

“These investments will help improve housing affordability and housing availability for lower- and middle-income families across Southwest Michigan,” said Congressman Bill Huizenga. “I am glad to see the Department of Housing and Urban Development, under the leadership of Secretary Turner, continue to prioritize both quality of life as well as improved housing options for Michiganders.”

The communities of Battle Creek and Kalamazoo will also receive federal funding through the HOME Investment Partnerships Program. The HOME Investment Partnerships Program provides formula grants to states and localities - often in partnership with local nonprofit groups - to fund a wide range of activities including building, buying, and/or rehabilitating affordable housing for rent or homeownership or providing direct rental assistance to low-income people. HOME is the largest federal block grant to state and local governments designed exclusively to create affordable housing for low-income households.

CDBG Funding Recipients

Battle Creek – $1,172,453

Benton Harbor – $388,678

Georgetown Charter Township – $245,163

Holland – $347,365

Kalamazoo – $1,611,363

Portage – $208,331

HOME Funding Recipients

Battle Creek – $238,167.87

Kalamazoo – $491,270.56

The State of Michigan also received a direct allocation totaling $33,947,877 for CBDG and $15,561,558.40 for HOME. This funding is on top of the funding distributed to municipalities across Michigan. Municipalities and counties that received direct federal funding include:

Battle Creek, Bay City, Benton Harbor, Canton Township, Clinton Township, Dearborn, Dearborn Heights, Detroit, East Lansing, Farmington Hills, Flint, Genesee County, Georgetown Charter Township, Grand Rapids, Holland, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Kent County, Lansing, Lincoln Park, Livonia, Macomb County, Midland, Monroe, Muskegon, Muskegon Heights, Niles, Norton Shores, Oakland County, Pontiac, Portage, Port Huron, Redford, Roseville, Royal Oak, Saginaw, St Clair Shores, Southfield, Sterling Heights, Taylor, Traverse City, Warren, Washtenaw County, Waterford Township, Wayne County, Westland, and Wyoming.

Huizenga Announces Nearly $14.5 Million Investment in Battle Creek VA

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Today, Congressman Bill Huizenga (R-MI) announced the Battle Creek VA Medical Center will be receiving $14,497,160 to modernize, repair, and improve buildings on its campus as part of the Veterans Health Administration’s Non-Recurring Maintenance (NRM) Program. In January, the Trump Administration announced the largest NRM allocation ever at $4.8 billion. The NRM program funds one-time maintenance projects for facilities, equipment or infrastructure that are not part of routine, recurring maintenance. These projects include significant maintenance, replacements or upgrades needed to maintain operational capability and advance health care delivery.

Specifically, the Battle Creek VA Medical Center will be receiving funding that enhances HVAC systems, improves overall building safety, replaces elevators in multiple buildings across the campus, and installs two additional sump pumps.

“I am glad to see these important investments being made to improve infrastructure, safety, and care at the Battle Creek VA,” said Congressman Bill Huizenga. “Our veterans deserve the best care available and that can’t happen unless we invest and make improvements to the facilities where our veterans receive care.”

“Under President Trump, VA is putting Veterans first, and this historic investment underscores that fact,” said VA Secretary Doug Collins. “Improved facilities, equipment and infrastructure mean better care for Veterans, and these funds will enable VA to achieve that goal.”

UNANIMOUS: Bipartisan Huizenga Legislation to Curb AI Chip Smuggling Passes Committee

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Today, the House Foreign Affairs Committee passed bipartisan legislation, H.R. 3447, the Chip Security Act, introduced by Congressman Bill Huizenga (R-MI). This legislation passed by a unanimous vote of 42-0.

The Chip Security Act requires advanced chip manufacturers to implement technical security measures to detect and prevent smuggling to unauthorized countries and end-users. This legislation responds to ongoing reports of AI chips being smuggled into China, where they are used to power state-controlled AI projects. Despite current export controls, smuggling networks and front companies continue to move U.S.-made chips into restricted countries.

Last week, the Department of Justice filed charges against three individuals for conspiring to violate US national security lase by smuggling billions of dollars of advanced AI chips to China. Additionally, last fall, the Department of Justice announced it has indicted three Chinese nationals for smuggling high-tech chips to China via third party countries like Thailand and Malaysia.

“The Chip Security Act enhances protections on AI chip exports by scaling up best security practices and encouraging innovative technologies,” said Congressman Bill Huizenga, Chairman of House Foreign Affairs South and Central Asia Subcommittee. “This bill directly supports the Trump Administration’s AI action plan recommendations and benefits from both administration technical assistance and industry feedback.”

“If we're going to export advanced AI chips, we need confidence that they don’t end up in the hands of the Chinese military,” said House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast. “We’re continuously talking about Chinese espionage, Chinese theft, and Chinese diversion over and over again. We can’t allow this to happen.”

“America has the best semiconductors in the world and we must defend our advantage over China, which is actively working to break the law and smuggle American chips. The Chip Security Act will make it harder to steal from us, and it will protect American jobs and industry. This legislation also advances President Trump’s AI Action Plan by implementing location verification and denying our adversaries access to compute power. Thank you to Chairman Mast, Congressman Huizenga, and the House Foreign Affairs Committee for advancing this legislation,” said China Select Committee Chairman John Moolenaar.

The Chip Security Act is led in the Senate by Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR).

Find out more information about the Chip Security Act, here.

VIDEO: Huizenga Confirms Funding for Harbor Towers in Benton Harbor, Discusses Homelessness in Kalamazoo with HUD Secretary Turner

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 05:00:00 GMT

Yesterday, Congressman Bill Huizenga (R-MI), Vice Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, secured a commitment from Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner that Harbor Towers in Benton Harbor is on track to receive much needed federal funding for renovations in March.

In 2024, Huizenga called on the Biden Administration to meet its commitment to residents of Harbor Towers regarding both standard of living as well as overall safety. Huizenga has consistently fought for the residents of Harbor Towers after touring the property with Benton Harbor Mayor Marcus Mohammad.

Additionally, Congressman Huizenga thanked Secretary Turner for talking to Kalamazoo Mayor David Anderson on challenges facing the community pertaining to homelessness and invited the Secretary to visit Southwest Michigan. Video of Congressman Huizenga and Secretary Turner’s conversation as well as a transcript of the dialogue in available below.

On Securing Funding for Harbor Towers

Congressman Bill Huizenga: Secretary Turner, good to see you again, and I appreciate your attendance here today. And first I want to say thank you for speaking with me last week on the phone and, and about our shared priorities and especially state of low-income housing in my district. And I also appreciate your staff who took the time for a call with the Mayor of Kalamazoo, David Anderson and an organization called Integrated Services of Kalamazoo to discuss homelessness and homeless projects and programs that we have.

Back specifically though, I do also want to highlight a project in Benton Harbor, Michigan in my district, it's called Harbor Towers dating back to 2011. Residents have been complaining about the conditions that they have experienced there, including no heat, hot water, security concerns. In 2024, I visited the property myself with Mayor Marcus Muhammad to bring attention to a housing development that has long been neglected.

We got the ball rolling then and it's my understanding that the funding for this project is set to close in March of this year. And I just want to get your commitment that you are going to work with me and the fine folks there to see that project through.

Secretary Scott Turner: Yes sir, Congressman, thank you. You know, we are more than willing to work with you in your office to make sure that the people that are living there are living in the best conditions possible and that we are stewarding well over taxpayer dollars and carrying out HUD's missions.

Huizenga: And both of those things can happen.

Secretary Turner: Yes.

Huizenga: We can be both a steward and provide proper housing for those folks. And that is, it's an important component of this. So, I appreciate your support and I know the residents of Harbor Towers will be very, very glad to hear that that much needed funding has been secured.

And lastly, I'd love to invite you to the fourth district. It's one of the most beautiful districts that you'll ever see. I don't care what my other colleagues say. But I do highly recommend sometime in the spring, maybe the summer Benton Harbor is right on the shores of Lake Michigan. Love to get you there. Love to get you to Kalamazoo and Battle Creek, Cereal City USA, where we can take a look at a few of those projects that are in the district.

Turner: Sure.

Huizenga: I look forward to working hopefully with your schedule on that. And there's lot of folks that get support in Michigan, but I think it's important that you come to Southwest Michigan to see some of those challenges that we have.

On HUD Oversight of Local Housing Authorities

Huizenga: Something you and I have discussed in the past, and I know you touched on in your testimony, and I believe the Chair brought up in his opening statement. But I wanted to give you an opportunity to expand on your, on the work HUD is doing to hold local housing authorities accountable. So, could you please expand on that work?

Secretary Turner: Sure. Thank you. You know, we came in a lot during the Biden Administration. A blind eye had been turned to transparency and accountability in our public housing authorities. We have 3,800 public housing authorities around our country, urban and rural, and we came in with the idea and the intention to hold public housing authorities accountable for those that live inside of public housing authorities, the living conditions inside of public housing authorities.

And so, we've been working with Department of Homeland Security and other federal agency partners to make sure that those that are living inside of HUD funded properties are indeed American citizens, that they are upholding the living conditions that they're supposed to be upholding for our people that live inside of those public housing should be safe housing.

And so, we have a task force. We announced a new hotline that people can call if there's nefarious activity going on in our public housing authorities. 1-800-347-3735 is a number that people can call to our hotline with the Office of Inspector General. There's drug trafficking, there's sex trafficking, there's domestic violence. There's all kind of things that are going on criminally inside of housing authorities, and I'm not willing to turn the blind eye to that anymore. But we need to protect our women, our children, and our families to be safe in housing authority.

So, I unapologetically want to say we're going to root out crime and come for those who are doing criminal and nefarious activity. Because we will not stand for that any longer, sir.

Huizenga: Amen. Thank you for that. The folks that they're supposed to be serving deserve that.

Huizenga Leads Bipartisan Bill to Redesignate Temporary Protected Status for Burma

Mon, 12 Jan 2026 05:00:00 GMT

Today, Congressman Bill Huizenga (R-MI), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on South and Central Asia and Co-Chair of the Congressional Burma Caucus, introduced bipartisan legislation to redesignate Burma for Temporary Protected Status (TPS). On November 25^th, 2025, the Trump Administration terminated the designation of Burma for TPS, concluding that Burma no longer meets the designation criteria. This termination is effective on January 26, 2026.

“The Department of Homeland Security’s decision to terminate Temporary Protected Status for Burma deeply misconstrues the reality of the situation on the ground,” said Congressman Bill Huizenga. “The most recent junta-run sham election should be viewed as a rigged farce and nothing more. The United States must recognize that the junta cannot possibly meet the standard of holding a free and fair election while they murder innocent Burmese civilians who disagree with them. Forcing Burmese who have legally taken refuge in the United States to return to an ongoing civil war is antithetical to the purpose of TPS. As Co-chair of the Congressional Burma Caucus, I am proud to champion this legislative effort and call on the Trump Administration to reverse their misguided decision.”

This bill was co-led by Reps. Ami Bera (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on East Asia and the Pacific, Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on South and Central Asia, Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN), Co-Chair of the Congressional Burma Caucus, and Rep. Tim Kennedy (D-NY).

“Extending TPS for Burmese nationals is a matter of basic humanity and common sense,” said Rep. Ami Bera. “Thousands of individuals who fled violence and repression in Burma are taking refuge in the United States. They are raising families, contributing to our economy, and strengthening our communities. Forcing them to return to a country still gripped by war and instability would put their lives at risk. The United States must continue to stand with the Burmese people and ensure that those taking refuge in our nation can remain until peace and stability returns to Burma.”

“It is inhumane to send people back to Burma as the junta continues to kill people,” said House Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Member Gregory Meeks. “Once again, the Administration’s rationale for ending TPS is inconsistent with reality – Burma is not safe. Congress must step in to ensure that we’re not sending men, women, and children back to be faced with imprisonment, torture, and death.”

“The Administration’s decision to terminate Temporary Protected Status for Burmese citizens is a death sentence for those being forced to return to an ongoing armed conflict and genocide,” said Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove. “The United States has a moral obligation to protect people fleeing violence, deprivation, and persecution. That responsibility is precisely why the TPS program was created. I am proud to join Rep. Huizenga in introducing this crucial legislation to reinstate TPS for Burma.”

“Since the end of World War II, the people of Burma have endured escalating humanitarian crises resulting from its ongoing civil war. Hundreds of thousands of Burmese fled their country to find safe haven here in the United States and have since put down roots; starting businesses, raising families, and becoming integral parts of our communities, including in Minnesota’s Fourth District. Ending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for these individuals puts them in serious danger – this bipartisan legislation corrects this mistake and redesignates Burma for TPS so that these individuals can remain safely in the United States.” – Congressional Burma Caucus Co-Chair Betty McCollum

“Western New Yorkers know firsthand that our communities are stronger when we support families, especially those who are fleeing violence and working hard to build their lives in America,” said Rep. Tim Kennedy. “Stripping temporary protected status from our Burmese neighbors and sending them back to a wartorn country leaves a void in the communities they’ve strengthened, the workplaces they sustain, and the local economies they help grow, and it betrays our values. I am proud to co-lead this critical legislation to reverse the administration’s decision and do the right thing by redesignating TPS for Burma.”

Background

Temporary Protected Status was originally created by Congress in 1990. Under current law, the Secretary of Homeland Security can designate a country for TPS for certain periods if the country meets one or more of the following conditions, subject to periodic review:

(1) ongoing armed conflict (2) environmental disaster; or (3) extraordinary and temporary conditions in a foreign state that prevent its nationals from safely returning, unless the Secretary finds that allowing its nationals to temporarily stay in the United States is against the U.S. national interest.

On November 19, 2025, Congressman Huizenga hosted a joint subcommittee hearing titled “No Exit Strategy: Burma’s Endless Crisis and America’s Limited Options,” where Huizenga discussed the horrors on the ground and the junta’s attempts to host a sham election. You can view his remarks here.