Press Releases

The Committee on Financial Services is working to tackle the high cost of living. Last week, the Committee held a hearing with Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner. Members outlined how various provisions of the Committee’s Housing for the 21st Century Act align with HUD’s goal of expanding housing supply, improving affordability, and modernizing federal housing programs.

Here’s what our Members said:

Chairman French Hill (AR-02) said, “This Committee has been laser focused on addressing the high cost of living and housing is a key component. Last month, our Committee overwhelmingly passed the bipartisan Housing for the 21^st Century Act, which works to streamline housing development and affordability by updating outdated programs, removing regulatory roadblocks, and increasing local flexibility.”

Task Force on Monetary Policy, Treasury Market Resilience, and Economic Prosperity Chairman Rep. Frank Lucas (OK-03) said, “Secretary Turner, last year, this Committee overwhelmingly passed H.R. 6644, or the Housing for the 21^st Century Act, thanks to the leadership of Chairman Hill and [Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance] Chairman Flood. This vote demonstrates a strong, bipartisan commitment to making housing more affordable, a goal I know you share. One theme of the bill is the need for deregulation to lower housing costs.”

Subcommittee on Capital Markets Chairman Rep. Ann Wagner (MO-02) said, “I believe that through the Housing for the 21^st Century Act, that this Committee aims to make it easier to build more housing and give more Americans the opportunity to own a home.”

House Committee on Small Business Chairman Rep. Roger Wiliams (TX-25) said, “Many of HUD’s core housing projects were designed decades ago for very different housing market than we have today. And, well, construction costs, financing, and building methods have changed. Many federal requirements have stayed the same. This is why the Housing for the 21^st Century Act takes a necessary approach to modernizing outdated programs, cutting unnecessary red tape, and restoring flexibility for states, local governments, and housing providers.”

Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance Chairman Rep. Mike Flood (NE-01) said, “Housing costs have been rising for the last several years, and it is more important than ever before that we focus our committee's work on solutions that will bring housing costs down and increase housing supply. The bipartisan Housing for the 21^stCentury Act is the result of much of that work. The Housing for the 21^st Century Act slashes red tape, cuts costs and removes government barriers to building more housing in this country.”

Rep. John Rose (TN-06) questions Secretary Turner, “Secretary Turner, our bipartisan, bipartisan Housing for the 21^st Century Act, which this committee advanced in December, includes my Housing Supply Expansion Act of 2025. This legislation would finally remove the outdated federal requirement that has long driven up the price of manufactured homes and limited innovation in the sector…. Everyone recognizes it's slowing down innovation and driving up costs. But until congress changes the rule book, no one can adapt. Can you explain how removing this statutory chassis requirement would help modernize manufactured housing, lower cost, and expand homeownership opportunities for many Americans?" To which Secretary Turner responds, “Removing this permanent chassis rule will help in the flexibility and efficiency of building manufactured housing, which will be a great help in making up the gap in affordable housing in our country. It will streamline the process. It will make building more efficient, cheaper, and get to market quicker. And so, we are obviously in great support of removing the permanent chassis rule.”

Rep. Marlin Stutzman (IN-03) said, “An important part of this Committee is the Housing for the 21^st Century Act. I know that you and President Trump are working to make the dream of owning a home more attainable for Americans. In the 21^st Century Act, it will serve as the cornerstone of those efforts, and yet can be another win for the American people, as well as for President Trump and Republicans. It would be a win for all of us.”

Rep. Mike Lawler (NY-17) said, “Housing affordability is one of the most common concerns I hear from my constituents as numerous factors, including high mortgage rates, taxes, and, most critically, a limited supply of housing, are making this the most difficult time to purchase a home in a generation. One of the goals of the bipartisan Housing for the 21^st Century Act is to modernize and reform outdated housing programs to better fit the needs of today.”

Rep. Monica De La Cruz (TX-15) said, “My district is in deep South Texas, the Rio Grande Valley, and housing has become a dream that many of our young folks feel is just not attainable anymore. Thankfully, this Committee under the leadership of Chairman Hill, we have focused on addressing these concerns through our Housing for the 21^st Century Act.”

Rep. Troy Downing (MT-02) said, “I want to start first by applauding the work of this Committee to overwhelmingly pass the Housing for the 21^st Century Act, which smartly targets much of the overregulation that has driven up the cost of housing over many years. You know, there’s more we can do, and I hope we take it up on the House floor very quickly."