Shaheen, McCormick Urge HUD to Speed Up Waiver Process Delaying Affordable Housing Construction

The Senators wrote, in part: "We write regarding a persistent challenge regarding the Build America, Buy America (BABA) process at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). We strongly support the goals of BABA, which was included in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) in 2021 to ensure that federally funded projects, including construction, support domestic production of iron and steel, construction materials, and manufactured products. As you know, BABA requirements include the option for HUD and other agencies to grant waivers if certain products are not produced in sufficient quantities in the U.S. and in other specified circumstances. Unfortunately, for years dating back through the previous Administration, HUD has not fully developed its process for reviewing waiver requests, nor has it properly worked to assess housing components where there are persistent shortages or insufficient domestic production capacity. As a result, we have heard of requests for waivers that take months or even more than a year to process."