Reps. Juan Ciscomani, Mike Quigley Introduce the Bipartisan FAST Housing Act to Put Homeownership Back in Reach

Washington, D.C. - Today, Reps. Juan Ciscomani and Mike Quigley introduced the Facilitating Accelerated Supply of Targeted (FAST) Housing Act (H.R. 8171), a commonsense bill aimed at one of the most pressing challenges facing American families, the need for affordable housing.

For decades, housing supply has struggled to keep pace with today's demand, pushing the American dream further out of reach for working families. This bill directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to launch a new pilot demonstration program and within one year, encourages public and private partners to build more workforce and lower-income housing in communities that are growing due to recent federal investments through bipartisan infrastructure legislation, such as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) which was passed with bipartisan supported and signed into law under the previous Administration in 2021.

Through this program, fifteen geographically diverse communities facing significant housing shortages will be selected to receive competitive grants. In return, these communities will work towards solutions that cut regulatory red tape, which has been proven to slow housing development and thereby drive-up housing costs in recent years. As a pilot program, the effort will identify what works and builds on those proven successes for our communities in need. Participating communities will help inform HUD on proven, evidence-based reforms that can accelerate housing production nationwide, bringing the American Dream within reach for more working families.

"For years, the U.S. has failed to build enough housing to keep up with today's demand," said Ciscomani. "This shortage has created a significant need for additional affordable housing in southern Arizona and communities across the country. We see a common theme: costs are higher, making it more difficult for families to enter the marketplace. I'm proud to partner with Congressman Mike Quigley on the bipartisan FAST Housing Act, which cuts red tape, removes barriers to construction, and increases supply for all."

"Experts believe the United States needs more than 5 million homes to address our housing crisis. And Chicago is facing a shortage of more than 100,000 affordable homes. The FAST Housing Act will make Chicago, Illinois, and other regions across the country that are facing housing shortages and increases in their workforce competitive for millions in federal funds to produce new homes," said Quigley. "In order to receive federal funding, communities must ease regulatory requirements and build more housing faster. I'm proud to be partnering with Congressman Ciscomani on this transformative legislation, and I look forward to working together to see it signed into law."

The introduction of this bill is supported by local leadership.

David Godlewski, President of the Southern Arizona Home Builders Association, commented:

"I applaud Congressman Ciscomani's leadership in co-leading the FAST Housing Act. From Casa Grande to Cochise County, Southern Arizonans understand the challenges that come with excessive bureaucratic regulations and the rising costs that follow. The FAST Housing Act focuses on evidence-based solutions that will help increase housing supply and improve access to affordable housing in communities that have recently experienced major growth and have struggled to keep up with the needs of their residents today."

David Dworkin, President and CEO of the National Housing Conference, said:

"Access to affordable housing is essential to economic opportunity and strong communities. As housing costs rise, we must build millions of new homes-especially in communities where federal investments are creating jobs. The FAST Act helps meet that need by encouraging local reforms and targeting resources to expand workforce and affordable housing, ensuring Americans can live near where they work and that growing communities have the housing they need to succeed."

Michele Stockwell, president, Bipartisan Policy Center Action, responded:

"The housing supply shortage and resulting high housing costs make it difficult for many Americans to find affordable homes in the communities where they work. BPC Action applauds Reps. Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ) and Mike Quigley (D-IL) for introducing the FAST Housing Act, which will make it easier to build affordable and workforce housing in communities facing population growth due to new jobs created by bipartisan investments through the IIJA or the CHIPS and Science Act. This bill will fast-track construction by rewarding the elimination of unnecessary regulatory requirements and leveraging public resources to encourage private investment."

La Shelle Dozier, Chief Executive Officer of the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities, stated:

"The Council of Large Public Housing Authorities (CLPHA) is pleased to support the Facilitating Accelerated Supply of Targeted (FAST) Housing Act. The legislation would establish a demonstration program to increase housing supply in lower-income areas with an increase in new workers due to recent federal investments from the Jobs Act and CHIPS and Science Act. If enacted, the FAST Housing Act would provide public housing authorities with another tool to increase affordable housing access for the communities CLPHA members serve."

Derek Kaufman, Inclusive Abundance Action President, said:

"Federal investments through the CHIPS and Science Act and IIJA are creating jobs across the country, but that growth means little if workers can't find homes they can afford nearby. The FAST Housing Act addresses this directly, rewarding communities that cut red tape and making it easier to build. We applaud Representatives Ciscomani and Quigley for their smart, bipartisan approach to incentivizing the local reforms needed to turn job growth into broad prosperity."

You can read the full text of the FAST Housing Act HERE.

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