Today, the House of Representatives passed the Affordable HOMES Act, legislation intended to make home ownership more accessible and provide consumers with greater choice. The bill was advanced by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, chaired by Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), and led by Congresswoman Erin Houchin (IN-09).
The Affordable HOMES Act aims to reduce regulatory barriers affecting the manufactured housing industry, with supporters stating that it will help lower costs for potential homeowners.
Chairman Guthrie stated, “This legislation is essential to our work to cut red tape and lower costs for hard-working American families. The Affordable HOMES Act cuts redundant regulations to help restore the American Dream of home ownership for millions of families. Thank you to Congresswoman Houchin for your work to lead the Affordable HOMES and support our communities.”
Congresswoman Houchin also commented on the bill’s significance: “As demand for affordable homes has surged, so have unnecessary costs, making the dream of homeownership slip further out of reach for Americans. The Affordable HOMES Act takes a practical approach by cutting red tape and regulations that contribute to pricing American families out of owning a home, which will increase supply and lower costs. I’m proud to see the House take an important step toward restoring the American Dream with the passage of this bill.”
Manufactured homes are a significant part of affordable housing in the United States, with approximately 16.6 million Americans living in such homes as of 2023. Currently, both the Department of Energy (DOE) and Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) have authority over energy efficiency standards for manufactured housing. This overlap is seen as duplicative. The new legislation seeks to streamline this process by clarifying HUD’s exclusive authority over these standards, aiming to simplify regulation and reduce costs for buyers.
