Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) has introduced legislation to abolish Biden-era environmental policies focused on the housing market.
The HOUSE Act would repeal the Final Determination on energy efficiency standards for new construction of housing financed by the Departments of Agriculture and Housing and Urban Development. The Biden administration mandated these standards in 2024, requiring that all new single-family housing construction financed through federal housing agencies must meet the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code. Under the Trump administration, the implementation of those standards was postponed twice.
Barasso’s legislation would retain the 2009 standards that are already in effect, and it would prohibit HUD and USDA from adopting new efficiency mandates unless at least 26 states have already adopted similar standards. It would also prohibit the Department of Veterans Affairs from implementing a similar mandate for VA mortgages while clarifying the Federal Housing Finance Agency has no statutory authority to impose similar mandates.
“Our nation is facing a housing affordability crisis,” said Barrasso. “Every day, American families are being priced out of the housing market. The Biden administration’s Green New Deal housing mandates make it even harder for young families to buy their first home. The HOUSE Act repeals these expensive mandates and gives Americans the tools they need to make their dream of owning a home a reality.”
Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives. Barasso’s bill is co-sponsored by 12 Republican senators.
This is short sighted legislation. It may make homes slightly less expensive to build but more expensive to own (higher utility bills).
The trade off for possibly higher utility bills is more than offset by enabling more folks to afford a home!
People still won’t be able to afford homes and the environment will continue to be an issue. This is all fluff and no substance.
Good legislation and more deregulation is drastically needed to allow homes to be less expensive to build and buy. Regulations cost 30% to nearly 50% of a homes price in California! This has to be reduced!