A Democratic bill with 79 Democratic cosponsors · See all 79 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement.
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 Make Housing Affordable and Defend Democracy Act aims to reduce specific immigration enforcement funds while creating new tax credits to increase housing access. It permanently rescinds $175,660,630,000.00 from various Department of Defense, Customs and Border Protection, and Department of Homeland Security programs. The bill introduces a First-Time Homebuyer Credit, a Starter Home Construction Credit, and an Affordable Housing Conversion Credit. Additionally, it establishes a Renter Tax Credit and a boost for Low-Income Housing Tax Credit projects serving extremely low-income households. These changes are intended to shift financial focus toward housing affordability and individual residential access.
Yes· 3 of 11
- Scored +9
Does this make housing cost less?
The bill creates multiple tax credits for homebuyers, renters, starter homes, and building conversions to expand housing access.
- Scored +7
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
The bill increases LIHTC credits for extremely low-income households and provides a significant renter tax credit.
- Scored +7
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?
The bill cuts massive amounts of funding from the Department of Defense, DHS, and DOJ.
The opposite
- Scored -8
Does this tighten control of the border?
The bill rescinds tens of billions of dollars meant for border infrastructure, technology, and personnel.
- Scored -4
Does this reduce what is spent on the military?
The bill rescinds $1 billion from Department of Defense border support missions.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
- First-Time Homebuyer Assistance: Individuals purchasing a principal residence can receive a tax credit of up to $25,000, which increases to $50,000 for first-generation homebuyers (Section 3).
- High Cost Area Relief: People living in high-cost areas may benefit from an increased credit amount based on specific loan limit values (Section 3). s* Advanced Housing Funds: Homebuyers have the option to receive their credit via an advanced payment transferred to a qualifying escrow account for down payments or closing costs (Section 3).
- Starter Home Incentives: Taxpayers can receive a credit of 15 percent for constructing "starter homes" under 1,200 square feet, with the credit increasing to 30 percent for first-time homebuyers (Section 4).
- Commercial Building Conversion: This provides a 20 percent credit for those converting eligible commercial buildings into affordable housing (Section 5).
- Rent Relief: Individuals who pay rent exceeding 30 percent of their adjusted gross income can receive a tax credit based on their income level (Section 7).
- Monthly Rent Assistance: Renters can elect to receive their tax credit through monthly advance payments (Section 7).
- Support for Extremely Low-Income Households: The bill increases credits for housing projects that serve households with incomes at or below 30 percent of the area median gross income or the Federal poverty line (Section 6).
- Tribal Housing Support: Indian Tribal Governments are provided an aggregate starter home construction credit ceiling (Section 4).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Reduced Border and Security Funding: The bill permanently rescinds billions of dollars intended for Department of Defense border support, U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel, vehicles, and facilities (Section 2).
- Reduction in Immigration Enforcement: Significant funds are removed from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement hiring, training, and law enforcement activities (Section 2).
- Loss of Detention and Infrastructure Capacity: The bill removes $45,000,000,000.00 from detention capacity and $46,550,000,000.00 from border infrastructure and wall systems (Section 2).
- Impact on Law Enforcement Training: Funds are rescinded for Federal law enforcement training centers (Section 2).
- Credit Recapture Requirements: Homebuyers may have to pay back their tax credit if they sell the home, lease it to a third party, or if it ceases to be their principal residence within a 5-year period (Section 3).
- Income Limitations on Housing Credits: The homebuyer credits are subject to reduction based on the taxpayer's modified adjusted gross income (Section 3).
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? — The bill increases LIHTC credits for extremely low-income households and provides a significant renter tax credit. Would Native Americans be better off under this? — The bill establishes a specific starter home construction credit ceiling for Indian Tribal Governments. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — First-time homebuyer and renter credits specifically benefit younger individuals entering the housing market. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — The homebuyer credits provide substantial assistance for principal residence purchases. Would people in cities be better off under this? — The bill's housing conversion and renter credits are designed to address high-cost and high-density areas.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — The bill cuts massive amounts of funding from the Department of Defense, DHS, and DOJ. Does this reduce what the federal government owes? — The bill permanently rescinds over $175 billion from various government programs. Does this cut taxes for middle-income families? — The bill provides significant tax credits for first-time homebuyers and renters. Is this likely to create jobs? — The construction credits for starter homes and building conversions are likely to stimulate housing construction jobs.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this make housing cost less? — The bill creates multiple tax credits for homebuyers, renters, starter homes, and building conversions to expand housing access. Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — The renter and homebuyer credits provide direct financial relief to lower-income households. Does this tighten control of the border? — The bill rescinds tens of billions of dollars meant for border infrastructure, technology, and personnel.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this reduce what is spent on the military? — The bill rescinds $1 billion from Department of Defense border support missions.
- 3/24/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/20/2026
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 2/3/2026
- 4 Cosponsors added.
- 1/22/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 1/21/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 1/16/2026
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- 1/14/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 1/13/2026
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- 1/12/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 12/5/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 12/4/2025
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement.
- 12/3/2025
- Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Armed Services, Homeland Security, and the Judiciary, 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.
- 61 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
2 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Yassamin AnsariDemocrat · Arizona
Joyce BeattyDemocrat · Ohio
Julia BrownleyDemocrat · California
Brendan BoyleDemocrat · Pennsylvania
Nanette BarragánDemocrat · California
Becca BalintDemocrat · Vermont
Yvette ClarkeDemocrat · New York
Steve CohenDemocrat · Tennessee
André CarsonDemocrat · Indiana
Judy ChuDemocrat · California
Salud CarbajalDemocrat · California
Gilbert CisnerosDemocrat · California
Troy CarterDemocrat · Louisiana
Herbert ConawayDemocrat · New Jersey
Danny DavisDemocrat · Illinois
Diana DeGetteDemocrat · Colorado
Christopher DeluzioDemocrat · Pennsylvania
Madeleine DeanDemocrat · Pennsylvania
Maxine DexterDemocrat · Oregon
Dwight EvansDemocrat · Pennsylvania
Maxwell FrostDemocrat · Florida
Valerie FousheeDemocrat · North Carolina
John GaramendiDemocrat · California
Jesús GarcíaDemocrat · Illinois
Sylvia GarciaDemocrat · Texas
Robert GarciaDemocrat · California
Daniel GoldmanDemocrat · New York
Jared HuffmanDemocrat · California
Henry JohnsonDemocrat · Georgia
Pramila JayapalDemocrat · Washington
Sara JacobsDemocrat · California
Jonathan JacksonDemocrat · Illinois
Robin KellyDemocrat · Illinois
Raja KrishnamoorthiDemocrat · Illinois
Sydney Kamlager-DoveDemocrat · California
Teresa Leger FernandezDemocrat · New Mexico
Zoe LofgrenDemocrat · California
John LarsonDemocrat · Connecticut
Ted LieuDemocrat · California
Summer LeeDemocrat · Pennsylvania
George LatimerDemocrat · New York
Sam LiccardoDemocrat · California
James McGovernDemocrat · Massachusetts
Doris MatsuiDemocrat · California
Kevin MullinDemocrat · California
Robert MenendezDemocrat · New Jersey
Jennifer McClellanDemocrat · Virginia
LaMonica McIverDemocrat · New Jersey
April McClain DelaneyDemocrat · Maryland
Jerrold NadlerDemocrat · New York
Eleanor NortonDemocrat · District of Columbia
Ilhan OmarDemocrat · Minnesota
Frank PalloneDemocrat · New Jersey
Mark PocanDemocrat · Wisconsin
Scott PetersDemocrat · California
Stacey PlaskettDemocrat · Virgin Islands
Raul RuizDemocrat · California
Delia RamirezDemocrat · Illinois
Luz RivasDemocrat · California
Emily RandallDemocrat · Washington
Brad ShermanDemocrat · California
Janice SchakowskyDemocrat · Illinois
Linda SánchezDemocrat · California
Eric SwalwellDemocrat · California
Darren SotoDemocrat · Florida
Melanie StansburyDemocrat · New Mexico
Andrea SalinasDemocrat · Oregon
Suhas SubramanyamDemocrat · Virginia
Lateefah SimonDemocrat · California
Mike ThompsonDemocrat · California
Dina TitusDemocrat · Nevada
Jill TokudaDemocrat · Hawaii
Shri ThanedarDemocrat · Michigan
Juan VargasDemocrat · California
Marc VeaseyDemocrat · Texas
Eugene VindmanDemocrat · Virginia
Debbie Wasserman SchultzDemocrat · Florida
Frederica WilsonDemocrat · Florida
Bonnie Watson ColemanDemocrat · New Jersey