Press Releases

Today, Congressman Mark Alford (MO-04), along with the Co-Chairs of the Congressional Real Estate Caucus and the Congressional Build America Caucus—Reps. Tracey Mann (KS-01), Lou Correa (CA-46), Brittany Pettersen (CO-07), Celeste Maloy (UT-02), and Josh Harder (CA-09)—led a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

The lawmakers, joined by 70 of their colleagues, are calling on House leadership to strip or revise disastrous provisions to ban Build-to-Rent homebuilding from the Senate’s ROAD to Housing Act before any final, negotiated package comes to the floor for a vote because they would undermine efforts to address our nation’s housing supply and affordability crises.

Read the full letter here.

Read key excerpts from the letter below:

“Dear Speaker Johnson and Leader Jeffries:

“As Co-Chairs of the Congressional Real Estate Caucus and the Build America Caucus, along with our colleagues, we write to express serious concerns regarding provisions included in the Senate-passed 21^st Century ROAD to Housing Act that would undermine efforts to address our nation’s housing supply and affordability crisis. While we applaud the Senate’s efforts to promote homeownership, a key plank of the American Dream, Section 901 would decrease the housing supply and harm Americans. We urge you to ensure Section 901 is modified to remove provisions that are harmful to increasing the supply of affordable housing. …

“First, the Senate language would directly constrain housing supply at a time when the United States faces a significant housing supply shortage. According to the Urban Institute this provision could ‘decrease the number of rental units built each year by at least 72,000.’ Policies restricting investment in rental housing, particularly BTR communities, would reduce the production of new housing units that would not otherwise be built. Industry stakeholders have made clear that BTR housing is a critical and growing segment of the housing market, delivering tens of thousands of new units annually and helping meet demand in high-opportunity communities. Limiting this form of development would exacerbate the existing housing deficit and undermine broader efforts within the bill to increase supply.

“Second, the Senate provision would push out renters and destabilize housing for thousands of families nationwide. The bill’s requirements, including mandatory divestment timelines, would compel housing providers to sell properties, resulting in the forced displacement of renters who rely on these homes. …

“Third, these provisions would disproportionately harm middle-class and military families who rely on flexible, high-quality rental housing options. BTR communities provide access to neighborhoods with strong schools, employment opportunities, and community infrastructure, often in areas where traditional rental housing is limited. These communities are especially important for families who are not yet ready or able to purchase a home, including relocating workers and military families transitioning between duty stations. Restricting access to these housing options would reduce mobility, limit economic opportunity, and place additional strain on working families striving to achieve homeownership. …

“At a time when the nation faces a housing supply gap of millions of units, Congress should be focused on policies that increase supply, lower costs, and expand opportunity, not measures that reduce housing production and limit options for American families.

“For these reasons, we respectfully urge you to strip or substantially revise these harmful provisions as the House considers the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act. We stand ready to work with you to ensure that final legislation advances policies that meaningfully address the nation’s housing challenges and support American families. …”

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