U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM), the chair-designate of the Joint Economic Committee, is among a group of senators urging President Joe Biden to utilize a “whole-of-government” approach to address the nation’s housing needs.
“Our nation’s housing is an essential piece of our infrastructure, but it is a sector that remains in crisis,” Heinrich and the senators wrote in a letter to Biden. “With the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, CHIPS and Science Act and the Inflation Reduction Act, decisive steps have been taken to address many of our nation’s infrastructure deficiencies. However, more must be done to address the challenges facing the housing sector, where lagging production coupled with aging housing stock are making housing more expensive and unable to meet the needs of all Americans.”
The letter was also signed by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and 15 senate committee chairs, including Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), banking; Ron Wyden (D-OR), finance; Patty Murray (D-WA), appropriations; Jack Reed (D-RI), armed services; Brian Schatz (D-HI), Indian affairs; Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), agriculture; Bob Casey (D-PA), aging; Ben Cardin (D-MD), small business; Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), budget; Tom Carper (D-DE), environment and public works; Mark Warner (D-VA), intelligence; Dick Durbin (D-IL), judiciary; Robert Menendez (D-NJ), foreign relations; Gary Peters (D-MI), homeland security; Bernie Sanders (I-VT), health, education, labor, and pensions; and Tina Smith (D-MN), banking and housing.
“The depth of our country’s affordable housing crisis is undeniable. This crisis was exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic, and we continue to learn about how safe and affordable housing can support Americans’ health, well-being, and economic opportunity. We thank you for considering the measures suggested in this letter as your Administration continues its work to address housing needs in communities across the nation,” they added.