Press Releases

 Today, the House Financial Services Committee is holding an Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee field hearing, led by Subcommittee Chairman Dan Meuser (PA-09), titled: "Broken Promises: Failures of the Little Rock Housing Authority and the Impact on Residents."

Read Subcommittee Chairman Meuser's opening remarks as prepared for delivery:

"Thank you, Chairman Hill, for holding this field hearing here in Little Rock and for your leadership in conducting serious oversight on issues that directly affect your constituents who rely on public housing.

"We are here today because the Metropolitan Housing Authority of Little Rock (MHA) experienced many years of disastrous financial and governance failures that put federal housing funds and local residents at serious risk.

"In 2018, HUD identified that MHA failed to submit required financial statements for funds up to $30 million that were transferred between the housing authority and its nonprofit affiliate, the Central Arkansas Housing Corporation (CAHC), in ways that were intentionally poorly documented and lacked justification.

"In 2023, HUD also found improper payments, unauthorized use of credit cards, and failures in basic financial controls that should have been caught long before they reached this point.

"The problems became severe enough that FBI executed a search related to the housing authority and CAHC.

"As early as 2018, problems were identified, by 2021 Ms. Jarmon blew the whistle on the corruption, those claims led to investigations, HUD became involved, the Arkansas Attorney General became involved, Chairman Hill became involved, nearly the entire MHA Commission was fired, and ultimately the FBI executed a search related to the housing authority and its nonprofit affiliate.

"When a situation reaches that level it should be treated as a top priority. But HUD under Marcia Fudge decided it was not.

"Thankfully for you all here, Chairman Hill became Chairman of the Financial Services Committee, and Secretary Scott Turner took office at HUD, now this matter is receiving the serious oversight and attention it requires.

"Our goal here today is to fully understand how these failures were allowed to continue for so long, and to make sure the necessary fixes are put in place so the residents of Little Rock and all residents in public housing can have confidence in their housing authorities.

"That’s why our first hearing on this topic held on February 10th included letters to 32 Public Housing Agencies that were troubled, demanding solutions and coordination with HUD.

"MHA was not included among those thirty-two agencies, reflecting that steps have been taken over the past year to stabilize the authority. New leadership has been put in place, the city has taken action, and HUD has been actively engaged since early 2025 to restore proper oversight.

"I also want to note that HUD Secretary Scott Turner committed to this Committee that the Trump Administration is working with us to stop waste, fraud, and abuse in federally funded housing programs and to make sure housing authorities follow the law.

"That commitment is important, and we will continue to work closely with the Department. But today’s hearing is about accountability as well.

"I understand that many people would like to move on after years of problems, but Chairman Hill and I believe that before that happens, the facts need to be clear, the failures need to be understood, and those responsible need to be held accountable with the transparency and discipline the law requires.

I yield back."

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