Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, U.S. Representative Becca Balint (VT-AL), a consistent and outspoken advocate for building affordable housing, voted in favor of H. Res. 1299, amended legislation to strengthen and advance the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act (H.R. 6644), a comprehensive package to expand housing supply, improve affordability, and strengthen protections for renters and homeowners. 

“For so many Vermonters, renting or owning a home is simply unaffordable right now. That’s why expanding access to affordable housing for Vermonters is one of my top priorities in Congress and I’m committed to leading on solutions that meet the scale of this crisis,” said Rep. Balint. “This bill strengthens housing supply and affordability, but our work cannot stop here—I will keep pushing for bold change for working families in our state and across the country.” 

The United States is currently facing a severe housing shortage, with an estimated 4.7 million home gap nationwide. Rising housing costs have placed increasing pressure on families, with millions of renters and homeowners spending a significant portion of their income on housing and a growing number at risk of foreclosure or displacement. 

H. Res. 1299 takes a comprehensive approach to addressing these challenges by: 

• Expanding financing and support for new housing development, including multifamily, manufactured, and rural housing; 

• Removing barriers that slow down housing construction and limit supply; 

• Strengthening protections for renters, including the creation of a renter resource center and dispute hotline; 

• Supporting community financial institutions that play a key role in financing housing and local development; 

• Encouraging innovative housing solutions, including modular construction; and, 

• Improving federal programs aimed at reducing homelessness. 

The legislation also includes provisions to limit excessive corporate ownership of single-family homes while ensuring continued housing construction and avoiding policies that could lead to widespread evictions. 

Rep. Balint has consistently emphasized the need for bold, practical solutions to bring down housing costs and ensure that more Americans have access to safe, stable, and affordable homes. As a part of that work, Rep. Balint introduced the Community Housing Act, a comprehensive plan to invest in housing supply, support renters, and ensure that affordable homes remain accessible for generations to come. In addition to supporting investments in housing supply, she also introduced the End Rent Fixing Act to stop corporations from using price-fixing algorithms to raise rents on working families.  

###