July 14, 2026
The
Honorable Mike Johnson The Honorable John Thune
Speaker of the House Majority Leader
United States House of Representatives United States Senate Washington, D.C. 20515 Washington, D.C. 20510
Th
e Honorable Hakeem Jeffries The Honorable Charles Schumer Democratic Leader Democratic Leader
United States House of Representatives United States Senate Washington, D.C. 20515 Washington, D.C. 20510
RE: H.
R. 2094 (Rutherford): Homes for Every Local Protector, Educator, and Responder Act of 2025 – SUPPORT
Dear
Speaker Johnson, Majority Leader Thune, Leader Jeffries, and Leader Schumer:
I a
m honored to write in strong support of the Homes for Every Local Protector, Educator, and Responder (HELPER) Act. H.R.2094 and S.978 were introduced in March of 2025 as a bipartisan, bicameral bill, with endorsements from dozens of national, state, and local organizations and elected officials.
The
HELPER Act would establish a home loan program within the Federal Housing Administration to make homeownership more affordable for law enforcement officers, firefighters, EMTs, paramedics, and preK-12 teachers—our nation’s first responders. Too often, these individuals struggle to afford their first home despite their dedication and honorable service to our communities.
Fi
rst responders dedicate their lives to protecting and serving others. They frequently put their lives on the line to ensure their fellow Americans' safety and well-being. It is time to recognize their sacrifice by giving them the support they deserve. Under the Federal Housing Administration, this program would allow first responders to obtain low-interest, fully insured home loans with no down payment and no monthly mortgage insurance costs for a first-time home purchase.
Our
nation’s first responders have shown unwavering commitment to their communities.
They serve selflessly, often under dangerous and challenging conditions. We honor their Attachment 9
dedication by providing access to affordable housing, enabling them to care for their families while continuing to serve their communities.
We hope you will join me in supporting the HELPER Act, and we look forward to working with you on this vital issue.
Sincerely,
Larry Klein
Mayor
cc: Senator Alex Padilla
Senator Adam Schiff
Representative Ro Khanna
City Council
Tim Kirby, City Manager
Sarah Johnson-Rios, Assistant City Manager
Connie Verceles, Assistant City Manager
Trudi Ryan, Director of Community Development
Attachment 9