House Financial Services Committee advances bipartisan housing package, H.R. 66 44

The House Financial Services Committee on [date of markup] advanced a bipartisan housing package, H.R. 66 44, adopting an amendment in the nature of a substitute and ordering the measure favorably reported to the full House.

Chairman Hill opened the markup by calling the bill, which the clerk described as intended “to increase the supply of housing in America and for other purposes.” In his opening remarks the chair framed the package as a set of deregulatory and program-modernization steps intended to speed construction and broaden housing options for urban, suburban and rural communities.

Ranking Member Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) praised the bipartisan agreement but urged Congress not to treat the package as a finishing point. “This bill is a foundation, not a finish line,” Waters said, warning that program changes must be matched with adequate federal funding to achieve the goals members described.

Committee members highlighted a range of provisions folded into the ANS that produced bipartisan support. Subcommittee chair Rep. Mike Flood (R-Neb.) noted reforms to the HOME Investment Partnerships program and adjustments to environmental reviews for HUD and USDA projects intended to tailor reviews to project impacts. Rep. John Rose (R-Tenn.) and others emphasized a change to the federal manufactured-housing rules that would remove a permanent chassis requirement; Rose said removing the chassis requirement will lower construction costs by an estimated $10,000 per unit and expand design flexibility.

Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio) offered an amendment to incorporate language from the Home Investment Partnership Reauthorization and Improvement Act (H.R. 2031) to increase flexibility for community land trusts and small-property owners and ease compliance burdens; the committee adopted Beatty’s amendment by voice vote.

Other member amendments were debated, accepted, or withdrawn after colloquy. Representative Torres’s amendment raising the height limit for single-stair (point-access) buildings was accepted by the majority, and an amendment to move a veteran-disclosure on mortgage applications was adopted as well. Several members asked unanimous consent to insert letters and supporting materials from stakeholder groups into the record.

After completing the amendment process, the committee recessed for votes and then reconvened to take the postponed electronic roll call. The clerk reported the recorded tally on ordering H.R. 66 44 as amended: 50 ayes, 1 nay. The bill was ordered favorably reported to the House.

What’s next: The committee authorized staff to make conforming changes; members will have days to file supplemental or dissenting views. The measure will be placed on the House schedule for further action by the full chamber.

Sources: Committee transcript of markup and roll-call tallies reported by the clerk.