AFFM Leaders’ Statement on Advancement of Housing Legislation to Help Affordability

This week, the U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passed the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, a bill designed to boost housing supply and affordability. Now, the bill advances to the U.S. House.

The legislation is meant to address the country’s housing affordability crisis by reducing unnecessary red tape, increasing housing supply, streamlining permitting and environmental reviews and incentivizing local communities to improve approval processes.

Following the vote, Americans for Free Markets (AFFM) leadership issued the following statements:

AFFM Advisor and Former U.S. House and Ways Committee Chairman Kevin Brady (R-TX): “Congress is right to prioritize one of the most urgent challenges facing families today: housing affordability. This bill recognizes that lowering costs requires action at the federal, state and local levels to remove unnecessary barriers, modernize permitting, expand housing capacity and boost the energy infrastructure needed to maintain America’s innovation leadership. These actions will allow the free market to work to create affordable housing where it’s needed most by pairing federal leadership with state-driven reforms. I urge leaders across the country to continue advancing practical solutions that make housing more affordable.” 

AFFM Advisor and Former U.S. Senator Pat Toomey (R-PA): “It’s no secret that Americans need increased supplies of affordable housing, and the deregulatory and supply-encouraging provisions of this bill will help lower costs. Unfortunately, investor restrictions will likely limit supply and raise costs. As the legislation moves forward, Congress should resolve this contradiction and remove any counterproductive provisions that do not meet the bill’s stated goal of helping more Americans afford housing.”

AFFM Executive Director David Ibsen: “The American people are experiencing a far-reaching affordability crisis. The central problem driving the housing crisis is a lack of supply due to years of underbuilding, restrictive zoning laws and high construction costs. This legislation attempts to reduce these hurdles and simplify the building process. Congress and the administration should continue to prioritize policies that cut regulatory red tape and help lower costs for Americans.”

Read AFFM’s 21st Century Road to Housing Act analysis HERE.