Clarke Introduces BILL to Create Interagency Council on Affordable Housing

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 16, 2026 MEDIA CONTACT: e: jessica.myers@mail.house.gov c: 202.913.0126 WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) introduced the Interagency Council on Affordable Housing Act, legislation that would create an interagency council to analyze and strengthen affordable housing in the United States. “In New York City and across the nation, the longstanding need to increase the supply of affordable and accessible housing has only grown more urgent as rising costs continue to overwhelm Americans. Congress has both the ability to address this dire crisis and the responsibility to deliver solutions to overcome it,” said Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke. “The Interagency Council on Affordable Housing and Preservation (ICAHP) established by my legislation would emerge as a key asset for aspiring homeowners and renters alike by protecting the programs that enabled them to become stably housed and providing pathways for millions more low-income Americans to receive the same safety and security housing provides. Addressing the housing crisis will demand bold, creative solutions that prioritize the needs and safety of the most vulnerable Americans. The ICAHP will be the key to finding them.” Today, 11 million extremely low-income households pay at least half of their income toward housing. The National Low Income Housing Coalition states that not one single state can meet the demand for safe, affordable housing. Only 33 affordable and available rental homes exist for every 100 extremely low-income renter households. The Interagency Council on Affordable Housing and Preservation would advise on expanding the stock of affordable housing, protecting public housing, rural housing, and housing voucher programs, developing eviction defense programs, combating rent gouging, and encouraging fairness in the rental market. The legislation is co-sponsored by Reps. Wesley Bell, Troy Carter, Jesús “Chuy” Garcia, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Jonathan Jackson, Seth Magaziner, Jim McGovern, Donald Norcross, Chellie Pingree, Delia C. Ramirez, Mark Takano, and Rashida Tlaib. The legislation is endorsed by the National Leased Housing Association. Read the full bill text here . ###