WATCH HERE: Rep. George Whitesides Testifies in Support of Veteran Housing Bill

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WASHINGTON D.C. - Today, Rep. George Whitesides testified at the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs in support of his new bill to provide greater transparency for veterans seeking stable housing through the VA Home Loan Program. The bill would ensure that the Department of Veteran Affairs would regularly publish data concerning the VA Home Loan Program, helping policy-makers track important measures such as the amount of loans issued and how many veterans were struggling to make their payments.

For more information about the legislation click here.

View the full clip of Rep. Whitesides' testimony here, and read the full remarks as prepared for delivery below:

Thank you, Mr. Chairman,

I appreciate the opportunity to speak today in support of my legislation to strengthen transparency and oversight of the VA Home Loan Program.

For generations, this program has been one of the most effective tools we have to help veterans achieve homeownership and stay housed during times of financial hardship. It is a promise we make to those who served that their sacrifice will be met with opportunity and stability when they return home.

But a promise only works if the system behind it is healthy.

In recent years, changing market conditions and policy shifts have raised real concerns among veterans service organizations, housing experts, and lawmakers about the long-term stability of the VA Home Loan Program. We have heard warnings about increased financial stress among veteran borrowers and questions about whether the program is equipped to withstand future economic shocks.

Right now, Congress and the public do not have consistent, detailed data to fully understand how the program is performing. That makes it harder to spot problems early and harder to act before veterans are put at risk.

My bill is a straightforward, good-governance solution.

It requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to publish regular, public reports on the health and performance of the VA Home Loan Program. These reports would track how many loans are being issued, denied, and refinanced, and provide insight into staffing levels at the VA home loan office so we can ensure the program has the capacity it needs to serve veterans effectively.

This is about making sure government systems designed to support veterans actually work.

I firmly believe that good data leads to good policy. With better information, Congress can conduct stronger oversight, stakeholders can identify issues earlier, and the VA can respond more quickly when veterans begin to experience financial stress.

Most importantly, this bill helps protect the long-term solvency of the program so it remains available for future generations of veterans, not just those served today.

Preventing veteran housing insecurity should be a shared priority across this Committee. Transparency is one of the most effective tools we have to do that.

I am grateful to Ranking Member Takano for his partnership and leadership on this issue, and I look forward to working with members on both sides of the aisle to ensure this program remains strong, accountable, and worthy of the veterans it serves.

Thank you, and I yield back.

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