Task Force on the Impact of the Affordable Housing Crisis Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Representative Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]
Introduced
Summary
Creates a bipartisan federal Task Force to study the affordable housing crisis and to align how federal programs define and measure "affordable housing." The bill would tie affordability rules to area median income and HUD program labels so agencies use consistent criteria when counting and evaluating housing affordability.
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- Families and low-income renters: The bill would set shared measures for when housing counts as affordable, including a pathway for households paying up to 30% of income and HUD-assisted homes. This shapes who is classified as living in affordable or low-income housing.
- Federal, state, and local housing programs: Agencies would apply the same HUD-based definitions across public housing, Section 8 programs, the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, and other programs. That creates a common framework for eligibility and affordability metrics.
- Congress and program evaluators: The Task Force would study how the affordable housing crisis affects outcomes and the effectiveness of other federal programs and inform congressional decisions about housing interventions.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
New federal definition of affordable housing
If enacted, the bill would define "affordable housing" in two ways. First, housing would be affordable if a household with income at or below the local area median income pays no more than 30% of gross income on housing costs, including utilities. Second, housing would also count if that household pays more than 30% but the unit is HUD-assisted or part of programs serving households at or below 80% of AMI; this explicitly includes public housing, section 8(o) units, and low-income housing tax credit units. These definitions would apply to Federal, State, and local affordable housing programs and would take effect upon enactment.
Task force to study housing crisis
If enacted, the bill would create a bipartisan Task Force on the Impact of the Affordable Housing Crisis. The Task Force would study how lack of affordable housing affects life outcomes and how it increases costs for Federal, State, and local programs. It would make recommendations to Congress on using affordable housing to improve Federal program effectiveness. The Task Force would take effect upon enactment.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]
NY • R
Cosponsors
Rep. Peters, Scott H. [D-CA-50]
CA • D
Sponsored 8/13/2026
Rep. Salazar, Maria Elvira [R-FL-27]
FL • R
Sponsored 8/13/2026
Rep. Friedman, Laura [D-CA-30]
CA • D
Sponsored 8/13/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov