Press Releases

Congressman Mark Alford (MO-04) joined (KS-01), alongside Real Estate Caucus Co-Chairs Reps. Tracey Mann (KS-01) and Lou Correa (CA-46), as well as Reps. Brad Finstad (MN-01) and Johnny Olszewski (MD-02), to introduce the Build American Efficiency Act, legislation to help home builders and manufacturers more easily comply with Build America, Buy America requirements and build American homes faster.

“I’m proud to join our Real Estate Caucus Co-Chairs in introducing the Build American Efficiency Act,” said Rep. Alford. "This commonsense bill will reduce regulatory burdens by making Buy America, Build America compliance easier for our home builders and manufacturers. This bill clarifies that HUD can recognize auditable, verifiable databases — like the Make It American Process Standard — to help document compliant American-made products. It does not mandate any database, but simply gives builders better tools so we can build more American homes faster with American products.”

“America needs more homes, not Washington red tape,” said Rep. Mann. “The Build American Efficiency Act is a commonsense bill that will help builders, manufacturers, and housing providers navigate complicated federal compliance requirements without sacrificing our commitment to American-made products. By allowing HUD to recognize auditable and verifiable systems that identify BABA-compliant materials, this bill will reduce unnecessary delays, cut down on waiver requests, and help get more homes built across the country."

“I am pleased to join my colleagues in introducing this bipartisan bill to speed up the building of new homes,” said Rep. Correa. “By cutting red tape, this bill helps builders comply with federal requirements to use American-made construction materials. It will increase our housing supply and make it easier for Southern Californians and others across the nation to afford the American Dream.”

“Determining compliance in the Build America, Buy America (BABA) program often wastes valuable time submitting waivers and trying to determine approvals," said Rep. Finstad. "The Build American Efficiency Act streamlines this process for our nation’s home builders and manufacturers, reducing costly delays, boosting efficiency, and helping build American homes faster. I’m proud to join Congressman Tracey Mannas an original cosponsor on this important legislation for our housing industry and those who build the spaces we call home."

“We need commonsense solutions to tackle our nation’s housing shortage and bring costs down for working families,” said Rep. Johnny Olszewski. “The bipartisan Build American Efficiency Act will make it easier for builders and manufacturers to comply with federal requirements, reducing unnecessary delays and helping to build more homes, faster. This is a practical solution that uplifts American-made products and American workers.”

The Build American Efficiency Act would:

• Clarify that the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development has the authority to recognize auditable and verifiable systems that document products that comply with Build America, Buy America domestic content requirements
• Allow HUD to treat documentation generated under the Make It American Process Standard, or similar standards that provide an auditable and verifiable certification process, as sufficient evidence for domestic content certification
• Help manufacturers, builders, and funding recipients more easily determine which products comply with BABA requirements
• Reduce time spent navigating waiver requests, duplicative paperwork, and uncertainty over which products have or have not been approved
• Preserve flexibility by ensuring the bill does not mandate the use of any one database or prohibit recipients from using other lawful methods to certify compliance.

The Build American Efficiency Act is supported by ABB, Associated General Contractors, Eaton, National Association of Electrical Distributors, National Association of Realtors, National Electrical Contractors Association, National Electrical Manufacturers Association, Prysmian, Schneider, Siemens, and Southwire.

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