Bynum Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Lower the Cost of Housing for Oregonians

Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Janelle Bynum (OR-05), Congressman Bryan Steil (WI-01), Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01), and Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) introduced the bipartisan, bicameral Accelerating Home Building Act to make housing more affordable in Oregon and across the country.

In a recent study of housing affordability and homebuilding, Oregon earned an ‘F,’ ranking 45th out of the 50 states. It is estimated that Oregon will likely need to build over 140,000 single-family homes by 2030 to meet demand. Moreover, delays caused by complex and restrictive permitting processes and other regulatory burdens have resulted in a nationwide housing shortage of nearly 5 million homes.

Nationwide, communities are investing in a process called pattern zoning, in which architects and local governments develop pattern books full of pre-approved, standardized plans and designs. This bipartisan bill would establish a grant program to fund the creation of these pattern books, speeding up the permitting and home building process and lowering costs for home-buyers.

“The dream of homeownership is getting further out of reach for too many Oregonians,” said Rep. Bynum. “I’m an engineer by training, which means I know we can innovate our way out of the biggest problems – including the housing crisis. I’m proud to be introducing a bill that invests in creative solutions that cut through red tape and speed up processes so more families can afford a home.”

“Housing prices remain too high in Wisconsin and across the nation. It’s critical that we take steps to streamline housing construction, lower costs, and support working families,” said Rep. Steil. “The Accelerating Home Building Act supports innovative, cost-effective solutions to increase housing supply and help more Wisconsin families."

“It’s critical that all levels of government work together and listen to the needs of local communities to tackle the housing crisis that is hurting families, small businesses, and our economy. That’s why I’m joining Representatives Bynum, Steil, and Fitzpatrick in introducing this bipartisan legislation that would expand tools and resources for local governments, empowering them to cut red tape and ease the process of building more housing,” said Rep. Pappas. “I’ll continue supporting commonsense action to grow our affordable housing supply.”

“Housing is a real and growing concern in our community. Families are being stretched thin, young people are struggling to put down roots, and seniors are being priced out of the neighborhoods they’ve long called home. This bill clears a path for local governments to get homes built faster, more affordably, and in ways that reflect the needs of the communities they serve. It’s a bipartisan solution that puts more homes directly in our community, supports smart growth across the country, and keeps opportunity within reach for the next generation,” said Rep. Fitzpatrick.

Specifically, this legislation would: 

• Establish a pilot HUD-administered grant program to fund the creation of pattern books with a focus on missing middle and infill construction; and
• Provide set-asides for rural communities and prioritize high-opportunity areas and localities working to reduce barriers to housing development.

This legislation was also introduced in the Senate by U.S. Senators Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) and Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio).

“We are in the middle of a housing affordability crisis in Delaware and across this nation,” said Senator Blunt Rochester. “One of my top priorities in the Senate is ensuring all Americans have a roof over their head and a place to call home. The bipartisan Accelerating Home Building Act supports pattern zoning, a creative and cost-effective method to reduce the cost of housing in our communities. I am grateful to Senator Moreno and Representative Bynum for their collaboration on this bill and look forward to getting it passed into law.”

This legislation is endorsed by the American Planning Association, Congress for the New Urbanism, Up for Growth Action, National Apartment Association, Smart Growth America, Main Street America, and the National Association of REALTORS.

“NAR is grateful that Representatives Janelle Bynum (D-OR), Bryan Steil (R-WI), Chris Pappas (D-NH) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) introduced the bipartisan Accelerating Home Building Act to help address the nation’s housing affordability crisis through streamlined construction approval processes,” said Shannon McGahn, NAR Chief Advocacy Officer and Executive Vice President. “NAR recognizes that reducing regulatory barriers and streamlining approval processes are essential steps toward addressing the housing shortage affecting communities across the country. We support this legislation as part of comprehensive efforts to increase housing supply and improve affordability.” 

You can view a one-pager on the legislation here and the full text of the bill here.

In Congress, Rep. Bynum is a member of the House Financial Services Committee and sits on the Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance, where she works to address the housing shortage and make life more affordable for Oregon families.

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