Housing & Insurance Chairman Flood Celebrates Bicameral Agreement Reached on Landmark Housing Legislation

LINCOLN, NEBRASKA - Today, U.S. Congressman Mike Flood, who serves as Chairman of the Housing & Insurance Subcommittee, released a statement following the announcement of an agreement between the House and Senate finalizing the "21st Century ROAD to Housing Act." The agreement includes various provisions introduced and backed by Congressman Flood. It is set to be the first major housing legislation passed by Congress in decades.

"I am happy that the House and Senate were able to reach a compromise and clear the way for final passage of the '21st Century ROAD to Housing Act,'" said Congressman Flood."The work done by both chambers reflects how the Founders intended Congress to operate: the House and Senate came together, made compromises, and found common ground to move this much-needed legislation forward. Working families across the country need relief from the high cost of housing, and I am confident that once this agreement passes both chambers and is signed into law by President Trump, more families will be able to achieve the American dream of homeownership."

In addition to serving as Chairman of the Housing & Insurance Subcommittee, Congressman Flood is the Chairman of the Republican Main Street Caucus.

The text of the House-Senate agreement on the "21st Century ROAD to Housing Act" can be found here.

Legislation Congressman Flood previously introduced that are included in the amended version of the housing bill are detailed below:

The HOME Reform Act

"America is in the midst of a housing crisis as families struggle to live the American dream due to the shortage of millions of homes," said Congressman Flood. "The HOME program is a federal program that builds housing supply, but it has previously been weighed down by regulatory burdens that make it hard to build housing. The reforms in this legislation will result in more homebuilding across the country as we work to tackle our nation's housing shortage. From Columbus, Nebraska to Columbus, Ohio and beyond, local communities will have an unprecedented opportunity to build affordable homes and directly address the housing crisis gripping our nation."

The "HOME Reform Act" modernizes the HOME Investment Partnership Program by exempting projects from NEPA and provides relief from Build America, Buy America requirements as well as establishing a "small project" exemption under Section 3 of the HUD Act of 1968. The bill raises income eligibility to 100% of area median income, extends the time communities have to commit funds, updates definitions of affordable single and multifamily housing, as well as allows funds to be used for infrastructure tied directly to new housing, such as sidewalks, sewers, and utility connections.

Read the initial press release on the "HOME Reform Act" here. The bill was co-introduced by Housing & Insurance Subcommittee Ranking Member Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO).

Unlocking Housing Supply Through Streamlined and Modernized Reviews Act

"The Unlocking Supply Through Streamlined and Modernized Reviews Act is an important step towards increasing housing supply in America," said Congressman Flood. "Environmental reviews can slow housing projects by months- or even years. Currently, those reviews are not properly tailored to the size and scale of housing projects. This legislation is a meaningful step towards fixing that problem."

The "Unlocking Housing Supply Through Streamlined and Modernized Reviews Act" streamlines the environmental review process for a range of Department of Housing and Urban Development building activities.

Read the initial press release on the "Unlocking Housing Supply Through Streamlined and Modernized Reviews Act" here. The bill was co-introduced by Congressman Sam Liccardo (D-CA).

The Housing Supply Frameworks Act

"The rising cost of housing is putting the American Dream out of reach for working families across our country," said Congressman Flood. "We need an all-of-the-above approach to addressing America's housing crisis. To this end, the Housing Supply Frameworks Act helps establish suggested best practices for state and local governments across the country who want to break down barriers holding back development and innovation in housing and construction."

The "Housing Supply Frameworks Act" requires HUD to publish best practices and guidelines to assist communities in maintaining modern local and state zoning frameworks that support the production of adequate housing options at every income level.

Read the initial press release on the "Housing Supply Frameworks Act" here. The bill was co-introduced by Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen (D-CO).

The UNLOCK Act

The "UNLOCK Act" allows grantees to use CDBG funding for housing developments.

Read the more on the "UNLOCK Act" here. The bill was co-introduced by Congressman Sam Liccardo (D-CA).

The Rural Regulatory Relief Act

The "Rural Housing Regulatory Relief Act" streamlines environmental review requirements for housing developments built on previously developed infill sites. The legislation reduces duplicative NEPA review processes for projects on land that has already been developed, helping to eliminate unnecessary federal delays and costs. This legislation will help lower construction costs, accelerate housing development, and expand access to affordable housing in rural communities.

More information on the "Rural Regulatory Relief Act" can be found here. The bill was co-introduced by Congressmen Troy Downing (R-MT), Eugene Vindman (D-VA), and Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX).

The BUILD Housing Act

The "BUILD Housing Act" updates the NEPA process for housing developments by expanding collaboration between HUD, states, and localities. Specifically, the legislation gives HUD the ability to delegate and coordinate certain environmental reviews for HUD grant programs to state and localities. This bill additionally allows HUD to designate certain housing assistance as "special project funds." By streamlining reviews and reducing administrative burdens, this legislation would help accelerate housing development and improve the delivery of federal housing assistance.

More information on the "BUILD Housing Act" can be found here. The bill was co-introduced by Congressman Sam Liccardo (D-CA).