The US House of Representatives voted 263-147 to pass HR 5184, the Affordable Housing Over Mandating Efficiency Standards (Affordable HOMES) Act.
The bill repeals a 2022 Department of Energy rule that placed site-built housing standards on manufactured homes. The bill also restores the regulatory authority over manufactured homes to the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
The bill was authored by Reps Erin Houchin (R-IN) and Mike Flood (R-NE) and passed with 57 Democrats joining House Republicans on the vote.
“As demand for affordable homes has surged, so have unnecessary costs, making the dream of homeownership slip further out of reach for Americans,” said Houchin. “The Affordable HOMES Act takes a practical approach by cutting red tape and regulations that contribute to pricing American families out of owning a home, which will increase supply and lower costs. I’m proud to see the House take an important step toward restoring the American Dream with the passage of this bill.”
Rep. Jake Auchincloss (D-MA), who voted in support of the bill, added, “Affordable homeownership should be Congress’s top economic priority. This bill makes progress by unlocking production of manufactured housing and lowering prices by up to $10,000 per unit. Coming off a big bipartisan vote in the House, the Senate should pass this—fast—to start cutting costs in the housing market.”
The bill has been received in the US Senate, where it was referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
