CAT Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 6344
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Housing and Community Development
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-12-01: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-11T23:26:31Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Contracting Accountability and Transparency Act (CAT Act), H.R. 6344, aims to increase transparency in public housing contracting by requiring public housing agencies (PHAs)—local organizations that manage federally funded public housing—to publicly disclose details of their contracts. This promotes accountability in how taxpayer-funded housing programs spend money on goods and services.
Key Provisions
- Timeline for Implementation: The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) must issue requirements to PHAs within one year of the bill's enactment.
- Disclosure Requirements: Each PHA must post information about every contract on its public website, including:
- All essential details about the contract, such as the goods or services provided.
- The name of the vendor (the company or entity receiving the contract).
- The date when the contract solicitation (request for bids) was issued.
- The bids and quotes received from potential vendors.
- The name of the official who handled the solicitation process.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill introduces a new federal mandate for contract transparency specifically for PHAs, which previously had no uniform national requirement to publicly disclose such details online. It builds on existing HUD oversight of public housing but adds a public-facing disclosure layer to prevent opaque or non-competitive contracting practices.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: PHAs will face increased administrative responsibilities to maintain and update website disclosures, potentially requiring new systems or staff training. HUD will need to enforce compliance, which could involve monitoring and penalties for non-adherence.
- On Citizens: Residents of public housing and the general public gain easier access to information about how housing funds are spent, enabling better oversight and potentially reducing waste or favoritism in contracting.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic public housing operations.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Public Housing Agencies (PHAs): Directly required to implement and maintain disclosures, affecting over 3,000 local agencies nationwide.
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD): Responsible for issuing and enforcing the new rules.
- Vendors and Contractors: Their involvement in PHA contracts becomes more publicly visible, which could influence bidding processes.
- Citizens and Taxpayers: Benefit from greater transparency in federal housing programs, particularly low-income housing residents who rely on these services.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal Implications: The bill strengthens accountability under the U.S. Housing Act of 1937 (which governs public housing) by mandating public access to contract data, potentially reducing risks of fraud or corruption claims. Non-compliance could lead to HUD withholding funds from PHAs.
- Constitutional Implications: Aligns with First Amendment principles by promoting public access to government information, without raising privacy or due process concerns for vendors, as disclosures focus on public contracts rather than personal data.
- Political Implications: Supports broader efforts for government transparency and anti-corruption measures, which could appeal to advocates for fiscal responsibility; however, it may face opposition from PHAs concerned about added bureaucracy or from those viewing it as unnecessary federal overreach on local operations.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Torres, Ritchie [D-NY-15]
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2025-12-01: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
- 2025-12-01: Introduced in House
- 2025-12-01: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Contracting Accountability and Transparency Act — issued 2025-12-01 — PDF (2 pages)