Darin LaHood

ICYMI: LaHood Joins First Lady Melania Trump and Ways and Means Colleagues for Roundtable Discussion on Improving Outcomes for Foster Youth

Washington, D.C. – Last week, Congressman Darin LaHood (IL-16), joined First Lady Melania Trump and fellow members of the Ways and Means Committee for a roundtable discussion focused on improving outcomes for youth aging out of foster care through reforms to the John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood (Chafee). The Chafee program provides support to foster youth and former foster youth as they transition to adulthood. Congressman LaHood is the Chairman of the Work and Welfare Subcommittee, which has held multiple hearings on ways to modernize the Chaffee program to better serve the most vulnerable among us. "The First Lady has been instrumental in creating meaningful, positive change for foster youth through her 'Be Best' and 'Fostering the Future' initiatives," said Rep. LaHood. "It was an honor to have her in attendance today to provide her insight and discuss the policies we are focused on to improve the foster care system. I look forward to continuing to partner with the First Lady, and my colleagues in a bipartisan manner, to ensure that our foster youth have the tools they need to achieve greater opportunity and long-term success." Watch Rep. LaHood's Opening Statement Below Permalink: https://lahood.house.gov/2026/4/icymi-lahood-joins-first-lady-melania-trump-and-ways-and-means-colleagues-for-roundtable-discussion-on-improving-outcomes-for-foster-youth

LaHood Votes for SAVE America Act to Bolster Election Integrity

Position: Rep. LaHood supports the SAVE America Act, which requires proof of citizenship for federal voter registration. He argues the measure strengthens election security and public confidence in elections by establishing consistent voter eligibility verification standards.

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Darin LaHood voted in favor of the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act to strengthen our current election laws by requiring proof of citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections. "I was proud to vote for the SAVE America Act on the House floor today, and believe it is an important step toward strengthening the American public's confidence in our elections," said Rep. LaHood. "My home state of Illinois, and others across our country, have failed to properly maintain their voter rolls and implement basic election security practices such as requiring voter ID. By establishing clear, consistent standards to verify voter eligibility, this legislation helps ensure that only the American people decide our elections. Protecting election integrity is fundamental to maintaining public trust and the SAVE America Act provides commonsense measures to help secure our electoral process." Permalink: https://lahood.house.gov/2026/2/lahood-votes-for-save-america-act-to-bolster-election-integrity

LaHood, Moore Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Increase Access to Housing for Foster Youth

Position: The representatives introduced legislation to improve housing access for youth aging out of foster care by coordinating housing vouchers between HUD and child welfare systems and increasing state flexibility in using Chafee funds for housing-related costs.

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Darin LaHood (IL-16) and Congresswoman Gwen Moore (WI-04) introduced the Foster Youth Housing Opportunity Act. This legislation aims to help youth transitioning out of foster care obtain housing by partnering with states and local services to better coordinate housing vouchers and opportunities. The bill builds on First Lady Melania Trump's commitment to providing America's youth with the necessary resources as they age out of the foster system. "As Chairman of the Work and Welfare Subcommittee, I take seriously our responsibility to ensure that future generations have the best chance to succeed," said Congressman LaHood. "I thank Congresswoman Moore for her leadership and joining me to introduce the Foster Youth Housing Opportunity Act to better help youth transitioning out of foster care find stable housing. We must continue our work to uplift the most vulnerable among us and provide them with resources to pursue the American Dream." "We must boost investments in our foster youth and foster families. That is one of my priorities as co-chair of the bipartisan Caucus on Foster Youth, and why I joined Rep. LaHood in introducing the Foster Youth Housing Opportunity Act. Our bill would help improve coordination between existing housing programs at HUD and child welfare systems while providing states more flexibility to use Chafee funds to help cover housing-related costs and services for foster youth as they age out. These efforts will better support foster youth and their long-term stability," said Congresswoman Moore. The full text to the legislation can be found HERE. Permalink: https://lahood.house.gov/2026/2/lahood-moore-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-increase-access-to-housing-for-foster-youth

LaHood, Issa Introduce Legislation to Ensure Diaspora Access to Lebanon Elections

Position: The release advocates for legislation authorizing sanctions against foreign individuals and entities that obstruct Lebanon's electoral process, particularly those preventing diaspora voting access.

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Darin LaHood (IL-16) joined Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-48) to introduce the SAFE Lebanon Act to ensure that members of the eligible Lebanese diaspora are not prevented from voting in Lebanon's elections by authorizing sanctions on foreign individuals and entities that obstruct Lebanon's electoral process. "Free and fair elections will be essential to paving the way to Lebanon's long-term stability, sovereignty, and prosperity. That is why the demonstrated obstruction of Lebanon's electoral process must be met with clear consequences. The United States has high expectations for the government of Lebanon, and this Administration stands at the ready to play a lasting role in the nation's progress. Authorizing the use of sanctions against those who seek to derail or defraud this process is a uniquely strong deterrent, will bolster needed election integrity, and strengthen confidence in the democratic system. We must put an end to the paradox that millions of Lebanese citizens around the world have a voice everywhere except Lebanon," said Congressmen LaHood and Issa. "Lebanon must continue in the positive trajectory it undertook in 2018 and 2022 by allowing full diaspora absentee voting. The American Task Force on Lebanon thanks Reps. Darrell Issa and Darin LaHood for standing with the people of Lebanon as they seek full participation in their democratic system," said Amb. (ret.) Ed Gabriel, President and CEO of the American Task Force on Lebanon. Lebanon's parliamentary elections have faced interference from Hezbollah, corrupt political elites, and foreign actors who have engaged in intimidation, manipulation of electoral administration, and obstruction of reforms. These actions have also affected the ability of Lebanese citizens living abroad to participate in elections, despite legal provisions allowing diaspora voting. Lebanon's large global diaspora plays an important civic, political, and economic role, and protecting their voting rights is considered a national security interest of the United States. The full text of the legislation can be found HERE. Permalink: https://lahood.house.gov/2026/2/lahood-issa-introduce-legislation-to-ensure-diaspora-access-to-lebanon-elections

LaHood, Miller, Bost Urge Illinois State Board of Elections to Comply with House Administration Committee Oversight Request

Position: The representatives urge Illinois to comply with House Administration Committee oversight regarding voter roll maintenance and election security practices, citing concerns about the state's implementation of the National Voter Registration Act and voter ID requirements.

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Darin LaHood (IL-16) joined Congresswoman Mary Miller (IL-15) and Congressman Mike Bost (IL-12) in sending a letter to the Illinois State Board of Elections requesting answers regarding the accuracy of the state's voter rolls and its compliance with the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA). "For years, Illinois has failed to perform proper voter roll maintenance and implement commonsense election security practices such as requiring voter ID," said Congressman LaHood. "The House Administration Committee's request falls within its oversight role to ensure Illinois is following federal election laws. The State of Illinois has an obligation to provide a transparent and complete response to this inquiry to ensure our elections are secure and strengthen Illinoisans faith in our state's electoral process." "Both parties can agree that the American people's faith in our elections is at a dangerous low point. If we're going to restore the public's trust, it needs to happen long before Election Day," said Congressman Bost. "That process begins with ensuring voter rolls are fully maintained and that every responsible effort is being made to remove ineligible voters. When certain jurisdictions report limited removal data – or even no data at all – to the Election Assistance Commission, it raises critical questions. We intend to get the answers our constituents rightly deserve." "For years, Illinois Democrats have refused to take even the most basic steps to secure our elections," said Congresswoman Miller. "The state will not require voter ID, continues counting mail-in ballots long after Election Day, and has failed to implement a serious statewide program to clean up voter rolls. These failures undermine public confidence and raise legitimate questions about whether Illinois is complying with federal law." Background: As Illinois prepares to begin early voting on February 5th, this letter follows an oversight inquiry sent by the House Administration Committee on January 22nd, 2026, which identified deficiencies in Illinois' voter list maintenance practices, including counties reporting few or no voter removals in 2024 and widespread failures to provide required data to the Election Assistance Commission. The full letter can be read here. Read more in the Washington Examiner. Permalink: https://lahood.house.gov/2026/2/lahood-miller-bost-urge-illinois-state-board-of-elections-to-comply-with-house-administration-committee-oversight-request

Illinois Congressional Republicans Urge Trump to Reject Madigan Pardon Request

Position: Three Illinois Republican representatives urge President Trump to reject a presidential pardon request from former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, citing his conviction for bribery and corruption involving misuse of state resources and public contracts.

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representatives Darin LaHood (IL-16), Mary Miller (IL-15), and Mike Bost (IL-12) sent a letter to President Trump urging him to reject former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan's request for a presidential pardon. The letter from Illinois' U.S. House Republican delegation reads in part: "We write with a unified message as Republican Members of the United States House of Representatives for the State of Illinois to express our concerns regarding a request for a presidential pardon from former Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan. Illinois families and taxpayers have suffered for decades under entrenched corruption, and a pardon in this case would send a dangerous message that public officials can betray the public trust with impunity. "The bribery and corruption scheme involved the misuse of state resources, including directing public utility contracts and payments to benefit private political allies. This was a deliberate, long-running pattern of abuse of public office. "Granting clemency in this case would not only reward a lifetime of unethical behavior but also embolden other public officials to exploit their offices for personal gain. For these reasons, we respectfully urge you to deny any request for a presidential pardon from Michael Madigan. Denying his request is the best way to ensure Illinois residents know their leaders are held to the highest standards of integrity." The full letter to President Trump can be read here. Permalink: https://lahood.house.gov/2025/12/illinois-congressional-republicans-urge-trump-to-reject-madigan-pardon-request

LaHood Supports FY26 National Defense Authorization Act

Position: Rep. LaHood voted in favor of the FY2026 National Defense Authorization Act, which authorizes $900 billion for defense spending, includes a 3.8% military pay raise, strengthens intelligence capabilities, and codifies military-focused executive orders.

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Darin LaHood (IL-16) voted in favor of the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), to fund and support our military, their families, and key national security priorities. "The FY2026 NDAA strengthens our national security, gives the men and women serving our nation the resources they need, and enhances our ability to counter the malign actions of bad actors around the globe," said Rep. LaHood. "With ever-evolving threats and foreign adversaries working every day to undermine the United States, this bill makes certain our military and intelligence community are equipped with the tools they need to handle any threat. I was proud to vote for this bill and I will continue to support the brave servicemembers who safeguard our freedoms." The bill codifies 15 of President Trump's Executive Orders focused on strengthening our military and authorizes $900 billion for national defense to provide our troops with the tools and resources they need to remain the world's premier fighting force. It includes provisions to counter the hostile actions of our adversaries, invest in cutting edge technology to ensure military preparedness, and improve the quality of life for our servicemembers with a 3.8% pay raise and improved benefits for military families. The NDAA also includes the Fiscal Year 2026 Intelligence Authorization Act, which authorizes funds to support our Intelligence Community, broaden Congressional oversight, protect the U.S. from counterintelligence threats, and expedites the Intelligence Community's adoption and implementation of emerging technologies. Rep. LaHood's Priorities included the FY2026 NDAA: Congressman LaHood also supported provisions to authorize local, state, and federal agencies, including the DHS and DOJ, with new authority to take counter-drone measures for large scale public gatherings or events, critical infrastructure, and correctional facilities. Permalink: https://lahood.house.gov/2025/12/lahood-supports-fy26-national-defense-authorization-act