National Housing Emergency Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Representative Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6]
Introduced
Summary
This bill would declare a national housing emergency and direct the President to use the Defense Production Act to speed U.S. residential construction and rehabilitation while cutting regulatory barriers that raise costs and slow building.
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- Families and renters would see more housing options as the bill pushes zoning changes, allows accessory dwelling units on all single-family lots, permits duplexes through fourplexes in single-family zones, and encourages office-to-residential conversions. It cites a projection that eliminating the shortage could create about 2.0 million jobs and add about $2.0 trillion to GDP by 2035.
- Builders and materials manufacturers would gain new DPA authority for residential construction and rehabilitation to expand domestic materials production and get faster Buy America waiver decisions with a 30-day deadline.
- State and local governments and grant recipients would face a Pro-Growth Funding Condition on certain federal block grants within 30 days, requiring measurable housing growth and the removal of permitting or zoning barriers. An appeal process would let grantees seek relief if they can show supply increases.
- Housing standards would be set during the emergency, requiring homes to meet the 2009 International Residential Code or the manufactured housing standard at 24 C.F.R. part 3280.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 4 mixed.
Federal push to speed housing materials
If enacted, the Defense Production Act would be amended to cover residential construction and rehabilitation, letting the federal government prioritize materials and contracts for housing. HUD and OMB would have 30 days to decide Buy America waiver requests during the emergency, and a waiver would be automatically issued if not decided in 30 days. These rules would apply during a declared national housing emergency.
End emergency when 4M homes built
If enacted, the national housing emergency would end on the earlier of: (1) the date on which 4,000,000 additional residential housing units are constructed or rehabilitated since enactment, or (2) October 1, 2031. That numeric target and the October 1, 2031 cutoff would limit how long the emergency authorities could be used.
States must cut zoning to get funds
If enacted, HUD and DOT would set a "Pro-Growth Requirement" within 30 days. States and local governments would need to show year-over-year housing growth using Census building permit and address data and adopt listed pro-housing actions (for example, allow accessory units, permit duplexes and triplexes in single-family zones, reduce parking and lot-size rules, streamline permitting, donate public land, or use tax abatements) to receive certain federal block grants during the emergency. The bill would also bar local land-use rules that impose a substantial burden on housing construction or rehabilitation while the emergency is in effect. Grantees could appeal findings by showing measurable actions that increased housing supply.
Faster HUD approvals and reviews
If enacted, HUD-funded preservation and infill projects would not have to follow federal environmental review during the national housing emergency. HUD projects could use a choice-limiting action that shortens consideration of alternatives. Multi-agency housing projects would get a single NEPA review instead of multiple separate reviews. The bill would also suspend select HUD rules and statutes (including parts of the Cranston-Gonzalez Act and section 108(e)) and pause duplication-of-benefits rules for CDBG-DR funds while the emergency is in effect.
Minimum building code during emergency
If enacted, housing built or rehabilitated during the national housing emergency would have to meet the 2009 International Residential Code or an equivalent code for site-built homes. Manufactured housing would have to meet 24 C.F.R. part 3280. The rule would apply only while the emergency is in effect.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6]
PA • D
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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