I 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 4956 

To provide that the Executive order entitled ‘‘Establishing a White House 

Council on Eliminating Regulatory Barriers to Affordable Housing’’ shall 

have the force and effect of law, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

OCTOBER 31, 2019 

Ms. FOXX of North Carolina (for herself and Mrs. WAGNER) introduced the 

following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Financial Services 

A BILL 

To provide that the Executive order entitled ‘‘Establishing 

a White House Council on Eliminating Regulatory Barriers to Affordable Housing’’ shall have the force and 

effect of law, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Finding Market-Based 

5 and Local Solutions to Ensure Access to Housing Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

7 The Congress finds the following: 


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1 (1) Communities across the country are facing 

2 an affordable housing crisis. 

3 (2) Families who pay more than 30 percent of 

4 their income for housing are considered cost bur5 dened and may have difficulty affording necessities 

6 such as food, clothing, transportation, and medical 

7 care. 

8 (3) The Department of Housing and Urban De9 velopment estimates 12,000,000 renter and home10 owner households now pay more than 50 percent of 

11 their annual incomes for housing. 

12 (4) The prohibitive cost of housing slows eco13 nomic growth and means fewer jobs and lower 

14 wages. 

15 (5) Housing demand depends on local demo16 graphics, job markets, and place-based amenities. 

17 (6) Housing supply depends on local availability 

18 of land and the cost and complexity of housing de19 velopment. 

20 (7) Land-use restrictions are a significant fac21 tor in housing supply and prices. 

22 (8) There is evidence that exclusionary and re23 strictive zoning raises housing prices and restricts 

24 the supply of housing across the country. 

25 (9) Housing markets are local. 


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1 (10) Exclusionary and restrictive zoning policies 

2 that affect development are adopted by local govern3 ments. 

4 (11) The Federal Government has limited con5 trol over State and local land-use policy and zoning. 

6 (12) To understand and correct housing short7 ages, Federal, State, and local governments need to 

8 look at all options. 

9 (13) Housing is critical for health, economic 

10 stability, and academic success. 

11 SEC. 3. LEGAL EFFECT. 

12 Notwithstanding any other provision of law or Execu13 tive order, Executive Order 13878 (84 Fed. Reg. 30853), 

14 signed on June 25, 2019, and entitled ‘‘Establishing a 

15 White House Council on Eliminating Regulatory Barriers 

16 to Affordable Housing’’ shall have the force and effect of 

17 law. 

18 SEC. 4. REPORT TO CONGRESS. 

19 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the 

20 date of the enactment of this Act, the White House Coun21 cil on Eliminating Regulatory Barriers to Affordable 

22 Housing shall submit to the Congress a report on the im23 plementation, by the Council, of section 4 of Executive 

24 Order 13878 (84 Fed. Reg. 30853). 


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1 (b) SUBSEQUENT REPORTS.—The White House 

2 Council on Eliminating Regulatory Barriers to Affordable 

3 Housing shall submit any subsequent report that the Con4 gress may request or that the Council may deem appro5 priate. 

Æ 


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