PASSED: Sen. Moran’s Legislation to Support Affordable Rural Housing

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) applauded the passage of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, which was approved by the Senate today with a vote of 89 to 10. The package included Sen. Moran's Streamlining Rural Housing Act, bipartisan legislation that would support housing in rural communities by simplifying the regulatory process for developers. The housing package also included two bills Sen. Moran cosponsored to expand housing access in rural America and reduce unnecessary bureaucracy within federal housing programs. The legislation now heads to the U.S. House of Representatives for consideration.

"There is growing demand for affordable housing in rural communities in Kansas and across the country, underscoring the importance of practical and innovative solutions to help meet that need," said Sen. Moran. "This legislation will streamline rural housing programs, reduce unnecessary bureaucratic barriers and help expand access to affordable housing for rural families. I urge the House of Representatives to pass this legislation and send it to the President to be signed into law so we can continue to strengthen rural America and improve access to affordable housing."

Sen. Moran priorities included in the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act:

• Streamlining rural housing regulations - Sen. Moran introduced the bipartisan Streamlining Rural Housing Act to simplify the regulatory process for developers by requiring the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to enter into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to align housing standards. Sen. Moran's legislation would help lower costs and shorten project timelines for developers, allowing them to address growing housing needs more efficiently in Kansas and across the country.
  
  
• Supporting affordable housing in rural communities - Sen. Moran cosponsored the bipartisan Rural Housing Service Reform Act, which would strengthen federal rural housing programs and bolster the supply of affordable housing in rural America by improving and building upon USDA rural housing programs.
  
  
• Reducing bureaucratic barriers within federal housing programs - Sen. Moran cosponsored the Choice in Affordable Housing Act, bipartisan legislation that would expand access to affordable housing by reducing HUD inspection delays and allowing units financed through other federal housing programs to automatically satisfy voucher inspection requirements if they are inspected within the past year. The bill also allows new landlords to request pre-inspections to increase access to housing and encourage landlord participation.

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