McMorris Rodgers Introduces Bill to Expand Affordable Housing in Transit-Served Communities

Washington, D.C. – Eastern Washington Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05) and Congressman Scott Peters (CA-50) today introduced the bipartisan Build More Housing Near Transit Act to encourage the construction of low and middle-income housing in transit-served, walkable locations.

“It’s no secret that many cities across America, including Spokane, are facing unprecedented workforce and housing shortages,” said Rodgers. “Our bipartisan bill aims to address these challenges by expanding access to affordable housing near transit centers that will help people live more comfortably in and around the communities where they work.”

According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, the United States has a shortage of 7.3 million rental affordable homes, and 11.3 million Americans spend more than half of their income on housing.

“San Diego, like many communities across the country, faces a growing housing crisis. With rising rents people are forced to move far from where they work — increasing their dependency on cars and forcing some people into homelessness,” said Peters. “Our bill will maximize federal investment in transit and increase housing options for cost-burdened Americans to alleviate these pressures. On top of that, it boosts our efforts to protect the environment by growing transit ridership and getting more cars off the road.”

The Build More Housing Near Transit Act would provide incentives for transit applicants who meet requirements related to building more housing along the future transit corridor. It covers projects submitted under the Federal Transit Administration’s New Starts and Core Capacity programs, which fund projects like commuter rail, light rail, and bus rapid transit through the Capital Investment Grants (CIG) Program.

The legislation is supported by more than 90 national, state, and local organizations, including Up For Growth Action. You can find the full list of organizations and read their letter of support here.

“America is experiencing a severe shortage of homes, and nowhere is this crisis more acute than in transit-served neighborhoods,” said Mike Kingsella, CEO of Up for Growth Action. “The Build More Housing Near Transit Act addresses the critical link between transportation and housing, and will help spur the creation of more walkable, livable and equitable communities. If passed, this legislation will increase public transportation ridership and encourage the creation of housing that uses less land, taking cars off the road, and enabling more Americans to live closer to their jobs and other opportunities. We applaud the lead sponsors in the U.S. House and Senate for introducing the Build More Housing Near Transit Act of 2023 and their ongoing leadership on this critical issue.”

CLICK HERE to read the bill.

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