HOUSING IS A HUMAN RIGHT

On 2026-02-11, Representative Jimmy Panetta (D-CA-19) delivered a floor speech titled "HOUSING IS A HUMAN RIGHT" in the House. The speech addressed housing.

HOUSING IS A HUMAN RIGHT

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 29 (Wednesday, February 11, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 29 (Wednesday, February 11, 2026)] [House] [Page H2175] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HOUSING IS A HUMAN RIGHT (Ms. TLAIB asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute.) Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Speaker, we all know that right now the housing crisis is real for so many of our families across the country, and I know many of us in this Chamber, especially those on the left, have always said housing is a human right. To address this crisis, we know that we need action at every level of government, but many local communities need additional assistance and capacity. That is why I am so incredibly grateful that the House passed the Housing Our Communities Act, part of the Housing for the 21st Century Act legislative package. The Housing Our Communities Act directs the HUD Secretary to establish a competitive grant program to support a wide range of affordable housing planning and implementation activities. For example, grants can support officials in crafting their housing plans, updating their zoning codes, or increasing capacity to conduct housing inspections so that new developments are completed faster and much more efficiently. This bill provides civil servants and policymakers with the support they need to make affordable housing a reality for so many of our communities. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to pass this legislation immediately and begin to address the housing crisis that is devastating our country. {time} 1910 Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, I recognize the 40th anniversary of the Saka Nakodar massacre where four unarmed Sikh students, Ravinder Singh, Jhilman Singh, Harminder Singh, and Baldhir Singh Multani, were shot and killed while peacefully protesting the desecration of the sacred Scripture of Sikhs. The killing, which took place in the Punjab region of India on February 4, 1986, was absolutely abhorrent, but the investigation was definitely deplorable. The victims' bodies were disposed of in secret. No perpetrator was ever brought to justice, and reports, commissions, and other inquiries on the massacre received absolutely no action. The Saka Nakodar massacre continues to be a dark day for Sikhs in Punjab but also for Sikhs right here in America. That is why I recognize the Saka Nakodar massacre and the justice that awaits not just for the four students and their families but for the Sikh communities at home and abroad. ____________________