New Democrat Coalition Releases Housing Task Force Goals for the 116th Congress
Today, the New Democrat Coalition Housing Task Force Co-Chairs Denny Heck, Katie Hill, and Ben McAdams released their goals for the 116th Congress. The Housing Task Force will meet with stakeholders and develop policy positions for the Coalition to advance in both the near term and long term.
Housing Task Force Mission Statement for the 116th Congress:
America faces a housing shortage that totals millions of housing units across the country. Home prices and rents are rising faster than wages, and construction is not keeping up with demand. The New Democrat Coalition knows affordable housing is paramount to the economic security of American families. The high cost of housing is the single biggest squeeze on household budgets, and a significant drag on the economy. It is forcing Americans to live on the street, reducing GDP by trillions of dollars and substantially reducing Americans’ retirement savings. The Task Force will act to address the housing shortage and pursue solutions that address housing insecurity. These include investing in housing stock as well as addressing land use, inadequate construction financing, and the mismatch of labor supply for the demand.
“Last year, the Housing Task Force’s report showed that America is missing millions of homes. In the past year, the gap between the demand for housing and the available supply has only grown. This year, the Housing Task Force will focus on the next step: finding and implementing policies to incentivize construction. I look forward to working with my co-chairs to lead the Task Force on this critical mission to alleviate our national housing crisis,” said Congressman Denny Heck.
“As the executive director of California’s largest homelessness services non-profit, I’ve spent my entire career working to address the issue of affordable housing. Homelessness is not just one issue – it’s the compound of a broken system. Taking on that broken system and addressing the housing shortage is critical not only for my community, but for my generation. I am so proud to be able to bring my expertise to the New Democrats’ Housing Task Force as we work to make housing more affordable and to end homelessness, together,” said Congresswoman Katie Hill.
“Individuals, families, communities and regional economies all benefit from the opportunity to have access to safe and affordable places to live. We need to collaborate on innovative solutions to this issue that has grown more prominent and complex,” said Congressman Ben McAdams.
Housing Task Force for the 116th Congress:
- Co-Chairs: Reps. Denny Heck, Katie Hill, and Ben McAdams
- Members: Reps. Charlie Crist, Al Lawson, Stephanie Murphy, Ed Perlmutter, Scott Peters, Kathleen Rice, Harley Rouda, David Scott, and Norma Torres
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