WASHINGTON DC -- Senator Marco Rubio of Florida held a press conference Tuesday with law enforcement and members of Congress.

He spoke at 3:30 p.m. CT at the Senate Swamp to highlight the Homes for Every Local Provider, Educator, and Responder (HELPER) Act during National Police Week.

"The HELPER Act would establish a new, one-time use home loan program for law enforcement officers, firefighters, medical first responders, and teachers," Rubio's office says in a release. "Rubio and Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA) introduced the bill in October 2021. Representatives John Rutherford (R-FL), Al Lawson (D-FL), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), and John Katko (R-NY) introduced companion legislation in the House. The bill is supported by Heroes First Home Loans."

Here is the full speaker list:

• Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL)
• Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA)
• Representative John Rutherford (R-FL)
• Representative Al Lawson (D-FL)
• Representative John Katko (R-NY)
• Sam Royer, National Director, Heroes First Home Loans
• Dabney Scott Hudson, President, D.C. Fire Fighters Association
• Chief A.J. Panebianco, President, Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police
• Gus Papthanasiou, Chairman, FOP/United States Capitol Police Labor Committee

"There is a lot of reasons why housing costs are high and unaffordable," Senator Rubio said in the conference Tuesday. "And we are trying to address one of them through these changes in the law that will provide a new opportunity for financing. Specifically for men and woman who are the first responders, law enforcement, firefighters, police and teachers who we think are so essential."

The bill was introduced last year by Senator Rubio and Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff.