Affordable HOMES Act passes House

"Sponsored by Reps. Erin Houchin (R-Ind.) and Jake Auchincloss (D-Mass.), the legislation would restore sole authority over manufactured housing energy efficiency standards to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), eliminating overlapping oversight by the Department of Energy (DOE). As demand for affordable homes has surged, so have unnecessary costs, making the dream of homeownership slip further out of reach for Americans."

"The Affordable HOMES Act takes a practical approach by cutting red tape and regulations that contribute to pricing American families out of owning a home, which will increase supply and lower costs, Houchin said in a statement. Affordable homeownership should be Congresss top economic priority, Auchincloss said. This bill makes progress by unlocking production of manufactured housing and lowering prices by up to $10,000 per unit."

"The bill would also repeal the DOE's May 2022 manufactured housing energy efficiency rule that applied site-built housing standards to manufactured homes, which has not yet taken effect. It would also allow the DOE to offer recommendations to HUD during future updates to the HUD code. Housing advocates said energy efficiency standards should balance sustainability with affordability and be developed by agencies with housing expertise."

Reps. Erin Houchin and Jake Auchincloss sponsored legislation to return sole authority for manufactured housing energy-efficiency standards to HUD and remove overlapping DOE oversight. The bill would repeal DOE's May 2022 rule that applied site-built housing standards to manufactured homes and permit DOE to offer recommendations to HUD during future HUD Code updates. Supporters contend the change will cut regulatory red tape, increase manufactured housing production, and lower prices by up to $10,000 per unit, helping expand affordable homeownership. Housing advocates emphasize that energy-efficiency standards should balance sustainability with affordability and be set by an agency with housing expertise.

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