Lawler, Peters Introduce Bill Examining How Affordable Housing Can Strengthen Federal Programs, Improve Outcomes

Washington, D.C. – 8/13/26… Today, Reps. Mike Lawler (NY-17) and Congressman Scott Peters (CA-50) introduced the Task Force on the Impact of the Affordable Housing Crisis Act to establish a federal task force examining how the lack of affordable housing affects other government programs, the economy, and Americans’ quality of life. The bipartisan task force would evaluate and quantify the broader cost associated with the nation’s affordable housing shortage and develop recommendations for Congress on how investments in affordable housing can improve the effectiveness of other federal programs and produce better outcomes for Americans. “Affordable housing is about far more than putting a roof over someone’s head. It has a direct impact on whether families can succeed. When people are struggling to afford housing, it can affect their ability to work, their health, their children’s education, and their financial stability. At the same time, government programs often bear the costs of these downstream challenges. This bipartisan task force will help us understand those connections, identify where we can improve outcomes, and make smarter use of taxpayer dollars. ,” said Congressman Lawler. “In 2019, I introduced this bill because Congress needed a real roadmap to bring down the cost of housing, which is a serious crisis for American families. That crisis still persists today, especially in San Diego, where housing expenses are 136% higher than the national average. I'm glad to relaunch this bipartisan effort with Congressman Lawler to give Congress an evidence-based response to an urgent problem,” said Congressman Peters. Specifically, the Task Force will: Evaluate and quantify the impact of a lack of affordable housing on education, employment, income, health, nutrition, transportation access, poverty, regional economic growth, and the stability and revitalization of neighborhoods and rural communities; Evaluate and quantify costs incurred by federal, state, and local programs as a result of a lack of affordable housing; and Recommend policies to Congress on how affordable housing can improve the effectiveness of federal programs and improve life outcomes for Americans. Endorsing organizations include the Mortgage Bankers Association, Consumer Bankers Association, Up for Growth, National Association of REALTORS®, and the National NeighborWorks Association. “Housing is one of the four biggest and fastest-growing drivers of affordability challenges facing families across the country, and America’s leading Main Street banks know firsthand how critical access to affordable housing is to families’ financial well-being. The Consumer Bankers Association strongly supports the introduction of Representative Lawler’s Task Force on the Impact of the Affordable Housing Crisis Act. By comprehensively evaluating how housing access impacts everything from regional economic growth to the effectiveness of other government programs, this legislation will provide policymakers with the vital data needed to address the root causes of the affordability crisis,” said CBA President and CEO Lindsey Johnson. “MBA supports the introduction of this bill to better understand the nation’s affordable housing challenges and identify effective solutions. A comprehensive assessment should examine both access to credit and the specific drivers of rising mortgage origination costs, which can create barriers to homeownership. We appreciate the bipartisan effort to develop a clearer picture of these challenges and look forward to working with Congress to advance policies that expand access to affordable housing,” said Bill Killmer, SVP of Legislative and Political Affairs. “The National NeighborWorks Association commends Representatives Lawler and Peters for their bipartisan leadership in introducing the Task Force on the Impact of the Affordable Housing Crisis Act. NeighborWorks organizations see every day how the lack of affordable housing ripples outward, driving up costs and undermining outcomes in education, health, employment, and economic stability. This legislation takes an important step toward quantifying that impact and equipping Congress with the data needed to make affordable housing a more effective tool across federal programs,” said Lou Tisler, Executive Director of the National NeighborWorks Association. The full bill text can be found HERE. Congressman Lawler is one of the most bipartisan members of Congress and represents New York's 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties. He was rated the most effective freshman lawmaker in the 118th Congress, 8th overall, surpassing dozens of committee chairs. ###