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Vice chair de la Cruz says rule change will stop counting veterans' disability income in housing applications; highlights 3D‑printed housing pilot
Summary
Congresswoman Monica de la Cruz said her office secured a change so veterans' disability income is no longer counted on housing applications, a move she said will let more veterans qualify for housing; she also cited a local 3D-printed building as a prototype for affordable housing.
Congresswoman Monica de la Cruz (R–Tex.), vice chair of the House Financial Services subcommittee on housing and insurance, told the panel her office worked to change policy so veterans' disability income "would no longer be included as part of the housing application," a step she said will help more veterans qualify for housing and reduce veteran homelessness.
"Veterans didn't ask to be disabled," de la Cruz said, adding that disability income had previously been counted when veterans applied for housing assistance. "My team and I worked very hard to make sure that that was changed so that our veterans' disability income would no longer be included as part of the housing application."
De la Cruz also described innovations in construction being tried in her Rio Grande Valley district, noting that builders are using 3D printing. "Recently, what they brought is 3d printing as one of the options," she said, and cited a 3D building constructed for Starbucks as an example she called a possible blueprint for affordable housing in similar communities.
She framed these steps within broader federal policy changes: she said the "1 big beautiful bill" helped her largely Hispanic, blue-collar district by providing tax benefits and strengthening a low-income housing credit that supports builders. De la Cruz noted her district's demographics — "over 80% Hispanic" and an average household income she put at about $60,000 — to explain why lower-cost housing options and construction innovation matter locally.
De la Cruz did not provide statutory citations or agency guidance documents during the panel; the policy change affecting veterans' income was described as an action by her office but no formal rule text or effective date was provided at the session.
