Quigley, Ciscomani Introduce Bill to Accelerate Housing Supply
Today, U.S. Representatives Mike Quigley (IL-05) and Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06) introduced the Facilitating Accelerated Supply of Targeted (FAST) Housing Act. The bipartisan legislation, co-led by two members of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, would launch a demonstration program for up to 15 communities in need of workforce and affordable housing to compete for federal funding.
“Experts believe the United States needs more than 5 million homes to address our housing crisis. And Chicago is facing a shortage of more than 100,000 affordable homes. The FAST Housing Act will make Chicago, Illinois, and other regions across the country that are experiencing housing shortages and increases in their workforce competitive for millions in federal funds to produce new homes,” said Quigley. “To receive federal funding, communities must ease regulatory requirements and build more housing faster. I’m proud to be partnering with Congressman Ciscomani on this transformative legislation, and I look forward to working together to see it signed into law.”
“For years, the U.S. has failed to build enough housing to keep up with today's demand,” said Rep. Juan Ciscomani. “This shortage has created a significant need for additional affordable housing in southern Arizona and communities across the country. We see a common theme: costs are higher, making it more difficult for families to enter the marketplace. I’m proud to partner with Congressman Mike Quigley on the bipartisan FAST Housing Act, which cuts red tape, removes barriers to construction, and increases supply for all.”
The U.S. housing shortage has made it increasingly difficult for families to live where they work, even as the federal government has created new manufacturing and technology jobs across the country through investment from the bipartisan CHIPS Act and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. This workforce needs new housing built quickly to accommodate it. The FAST Housing Act would reward communities that remove regulatory barriers to fast-track housing production. The results will help identify effective approaches and regulatory changes to speed housing production.
The FAST Housing Act is supported by the Chicago Housing Authority, Center for Housing Policy at the Bipartisan Policy Center, Up for Growth Action, National Housing Conference, Bipartisan Policy Center Action, Inclusive Abundance Action, Council of Large Public Housing Authorities, and the National Association of REALTORS®.
“In Chicago, we’re short nearly 128,000 homes for families at the lowest income levels. That means tens of thousands of people living on that thin line between stability and uncertainty, where one setback can push a family out of housing altogether. Housing authorities step in where the market falls short, but we can’t do it alone—and we can’t do it with outdated tools. The FAST Housing Act is about giving families a real chance to move forward and strengthening the foundation of our communities,” said Matthew Brewer, Operating Chairman of the Chicago Housing Authority.
"It’s been said that ‘homes are where jobs go to sleep at night.’ I commend Reps. Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ) and Mike Quigley (D-IL) for introducing the FAST Housing Act which recognizes the critical link between affordable housing, employment, and economic growth. By rewarding communities that knock down unnecessary regulatory barriers, the act would accelerate construction of workforce housing, especially in communities growing because of recent federal investments. BPC’s Terwilliger Center is honored to have worked with both members in crafting this important legislation,” said Dennis Shea, chair of the J. Ronald Terwilliger Center for Housing Policy at the Bipartisan Policy Center.
“The housing supply crisis is hitting working Americans the hardest, especially in communities where job growth is outpacing housing,” said Mike Kingsella, CEO of Up for Growth Action. “The FAST Housing Act addresses the core issue by tying federal funding to local action and rewarding communities that remove barriers and build housing. That is the alignment we need to close the gap. I commend Congressman Ciscomani and Congressman Quigley for their leadership.”
“Access to affordable housing is essential to economic opportunity and strong communities,” said David Dworkin, President and CEO of the National Housing Conference. “As housing costs rise, we must build millions of new homes—especially in communities where federal investments are creating jobs. The FAST Act helps meet that need by encouraging local reforms and targeting resources to expand workforce and affordable housing, ensuring Americans can live near where they work and that growing communities have the housing they need to succeed.”
“The housing supply shortage and resulting high housing costs make it difficult for many Americans to find affordable homes in the communities where they work. BPC Action applauds Reps. Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ) and Mike Quigley (D-IL) for introducing the FAST Housing Act, which will make it easier to build affordable and workforce housing in communities facing population growth due to new jobs created by bipartisan investments through the IIJA or the CHIPS and Science Act. This bill will fast-track construction by rewarding the elimination of unnecessary regulatory requirements and leveraging public resources to encourage private investment,” says Michele Stockwell, president, Bipartisan Policy Center Action.
“Federal investments through the CHIPS and Science Act and IIJA are creating jobs across the country, but that growth means little if workers can’t find homes they can afford nearby. The FAST Housing Act addresses this directly, rewarding communities that cut red tape and making it easier to build,” said Inclusive Abundance Action President Derek Kaufman. “We applaud Representatives Ciscomani and Quigley for their smart, bipartisan approach to incentivizing the local reforms needed to turn job growth into broad prosperity.”
“The Council of Large Public Housing Authorities (CLPHA) is pleased to support the Facilitating Accelerated Supply of Targeted (FAST) Housing Act. The legislation would establish a demonstration program to increase housing supply in lower-income areas with an increase in new workers due to recent federal investments from the Jobs Act and CHIPS and Science Act. If enacted, the FAST Housing Act would provide public housing authorities with another tool to increase affordable housing access for the communities CLPHA members serve,” said La Shelle Dozier, Chief Executive Officer of the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities.
“The National Association of REALTORS® thanks Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ) and Rep. Mike Quigley (D-IL) for introducing the bipartisan FAST Housing Act and appreciates efforts to ensure that communities experiencing new economic growth have the housing supply needed to support it. By encouraging communities to remove unnecessary regulatory barriers and expand the supply of affordable and workforce housing, this bill helps ensure that workers can live near the jobs being created. NAR welcomes this innovative approach to pairing federal investment with local housing reform to strengthen communities and improve affordability.”
A copy of the bill text is available HERE, and a one-page summary is available HERE.
The FAST Housing Act will:
Provide competitive grants to fifteen geographically diverse communities that demonstrate a significant housing shortage, and anticipate job growth as a result of federal investment from the CHIPS Act and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act;
Encourage local governments to remove regulatory barriers to housing construction, while maintaining safety and accountability regulations;
Allow local governments and public housing authorities to use federal funds to produce or preserve workforce and affordable housing, including through conversion of commercial properties and public-private partnerships; and
Utilize results from the pilot program to identify effective approaches to speeding housing production.