The Senate Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation, and Community Development held a hearing titled “Innovation in US Housing: Solutions and Policies for America’s Future” to discuss practical strategies to reduce costs, deregulate the industry, and improve building efficiency in affordable housing.
Witness testimonies included:
- Dr. Lawrence Powell (Executive Director, University of Alabama Center for Insurance and Research) discussed Alabama’s success in reducing insurance premiums by offering benchmark discounts when fortified roofs were used.
- Ms. Mary Tingerthal (Founder, Construction Revolution) conveyed the benefits of modular housing as a solution to reducing construction and labor costs while improving project efficiency.
- She encouraged senators to work with the National Association of Home Builders and other developers to change the perception of modular construction.
- She advocated for senators and developers to partner with HUD to complete a study on the quality and durability of modular construction with the ultimate goal of creating a streamlined, national building code for modular construction.
- Mr. Dennis Shea (Executive Vice President and Chair, Bipartisan Policy Center) called for modernization and legislative reforms featured in the ROAD to Housing Act to improve federal funding and support for affordable housing developments.
Senator Dave McCormick (R-PA) mentioned the importance of LIHTC in the reconciliation bill and how it impacts his home state of Pennsylvania.
Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) focused on the need to reduce the number of funding sources to build affordable housing as a cost containment strategy.
Other topics briefly mentioned included local permitting and zoning reforms, opportunity zones, accessory dwelling units, Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program, and family self-sufficiency program.
Overall, senators displayed bipartisan interest in these innovative developments and reiterated the need to reform legislation surrounding affordable housing regulations and funding.
