March 31, 2025
Mrs. Cherfilus-McCormick introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Financial Services
To direct the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to annually submit to the Congress a report that analyzes State and local strategies, activities, and plans that promote affordable housing, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Findings
Congress finds the following:
(1)
The United States is experiencing a housing crisis. The nation is short millions of housing units. Renters are spending more than one-third of their salary on housing costs and buyers are unable to find affordable housing. Our housing stock is short by millions. No State has been left untouched.
(2)
The role of regulating the various factors that contribute to the affordable housing crisis largely rests with States.
(3)
States have engaged in a variety of efforts to address this crisis including reforming zoning rules.
(4)
To best determine how the Federal Government can support effective solutions to the crisis, Congress must identify which State efforts are successfully addressing the crisis.
(5)
The regulatory barriers clearinghouse serves as a national repository for information regarding State and local laws, regulations and policies related to affordable housing and the effects of those laws, regulations, and policies on affordable housing. The clearinghouse also collects State and local efforts that promote affordable housing.
(6)
The clearinghouse currently is geared toward providing such information to and for use by State and local governments.
(7)
Congress could utilize the information provided in the clearinghouse to support a Federal response to the affordable housing crisis.
Sec. 2. Regulatory barriers clearinghouse report to Congress
Section 1205 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 12705d) is amended by adding at the end the following:
(e) Reports to Congress
The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall annually submit to the Congress a report that includes the following elements:
(1)
An analysis of information described in subsection (a).
(2)
Policy recommendations, based on the analysis described in paragraph (1), that the Congress may use to support the implementation of successful State and local strategies, activities, and plans that promote affordable housing.