Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA)
National Housing Emergency Act of 2026
A Democratic bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The National Housing Emergency Act of 2026 asks the President to declare a national housing emergency and use the Defense Production Act to increase the supply of housing materials. The bill aims to remove various federal regulatory barriers and environmental review requirements for housing projects. It establishes a "Pro-Growth Requirement" that states and local governments must meet to receive certain Federal block grant funding. Additionally, it prohibits local governments from implementing land-use regulations that substantially burden housing construction. The emergency status ends once 4,000,000 housing units are added or by October 1, 2031.
Yes· 3 of 21
- Scored +9
Does this make housing cost less?
Aims to add 4 million housing units and removes barriers to duplexes, triplexes, and accessory units.
- Scored +8
Is this likely to create jobs?
The bill estimates it could unlock nearly 2,000,000 jobs, including 700,000 construction jobs.
- Scored +7
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
Focuses on affordable housing and expanding the supply of low-cost options like manufactured homes.
The opposite
- Scored -7
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?
Removes federal environmental review requirements for many housing preservation and infill projects.
- Scored -7
Does this leave more decisions to the states?
Prohibits states and local governments from implementing land-use regulations that burden housing construction.
- Scored -3
Does this repair or build roads and bridges?
States may lose surface transportation block grant funding if they fail the Pro-Growth Requirement.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Increased Housing Supply: By using the Defense Production Act to increase materials for construction and rehabilitation, the bill seeks to address a shortage of at least 4,000,000 units (Section 2).
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Job Creation and Economic Growth: The bill finds that closing the housing shortfall can unlock nearly 2,000,000 jobs, including 700,000 construction jobs, and add nearly $2,000,000,000,000 to the GDP through 2035 (Section 3).
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Faster Construction: The bill removes several regulatory barriers, limits environmental reviews to a single review for projects using multiple Federal programs, and expedites the Build America, Buy America Act waiver process (Section 5).
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Increased Housing Options: The "Pro-Growth Requirement" encourages local governments to allow manufactured homes, duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, and accessory dwelling units in areas zoned for single-family homes (Section 7).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Reduced Environmental Oversight: The bill states that no housing preservation or infill project funded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development shall be subject to any Federal environmental review requirements (Section 5).
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Loss of Local Funding: State or local governments may lose Federal block grant funding, such as surface transportation funding, if they fail to meet the "Pro-Growth Requirement" (Section 7).
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Restriction of Local Authority: The bill prohibits any State or local government from implementing land-use regulations that impose a substantial burden on housing construction or rehabilitation (Section 8).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Focuses on affordable housing and expanding the supply of low-cost options like manufactured homes. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — Aims to reduce the housing shortfall that currently affects 75% of households. Would people in cities be better off under this? — Promotes high-density zoning, infill projects, and transit-oriented development. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — Increases housing supply for a demographic that is currently seeing record highs in the age of first-time homebuyers. Would business owners be better off under this? — Reduces regulatory costs and burdens for developers and construction firms. Would union members be better off under this? — Potentially increases demand for unionized construction labor through massive housing production goals. Would people in middle age be better off under this? — Increases overall housing availability and affordability. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — Supports the production and zoning of manufactured homes. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — Encourages accessory dwelling units and diverse housing types like duplexes.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to create jobs? — The bill estimates it could unlock nearly 2,000,000 jobs, including 700,000 construction jobs. Is this likely to grow the economy? — The bill projects an addition of nearly $2 trillion to the GDP through 2035. Does this make it easier to run a small business? — Reduces regulatory burdens for residential construction and rehabilitation businesses. Is this likely to slow the rise in prices? — Increasing housing supply may help mitigate the rise in housing costs, which are a major component of the CPI.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this make housing cost less? — Aims to add 4 million housing units and removes barriers to duplexes, triplexes, and accessory units. Is this likely to reduce homelessness? — Increasing the overall supply of residential units can reduce homelessness. Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — Increasing housing affordability generally reduces the financial burden on low-income households.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this invest in rural communities? — Promotes the use of manufactured homes and simplifies construction codes. Does this improve buses, trains and other public transport? — Encourages the establishment of transit-oriented development zones. Does this improve help for people hit by a disaster? — Removes prohibitions on duplication of benefits for disaster recovery grants for housing. Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests? — Encourages donation of vacant public land for affordable housing. Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — Removes federal environmental review requirements for many housing preservation and infill projects. Does this repair or build roads and bridges? — States may lose surface transportation block grant funding if they fail the Pro-Growth Requirement.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this give the federal government more power? — Imposes federal requirements on local land-use regulations and ties block grants to specific housing policies. Does this leave more decisions to the states? — Prohibits states and local governments from implementing land-use regulations that burden housing construction.
- 9/8/2026
- Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Introduced in House