Republican Sen. Mike Braun of Indiana and a coalition of eight other Republican U.S. senators are targeting energy efficiency standards for new home construction, citing the additional costs of buying a new home.
April, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (heads-up display) and U.S. Department of Agriculture The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has established new standards for new single- and multi-family homes designed to meet requirements set forth in a 2007 law that directed departments to adopt newly released energy efficiency standards after review U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the HUD itself.
But Braun — along with senators and co-sponsor Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, John Barrasso and Cynthia Loomis of Wyoming, Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, Roger Marshall of Kansas, Pete Ricketts of Nebraska, Eric Schmidt of Missouri and Todd Young of Indiana have sponsored a new bill that would eliminate those standards.
“Buying a home is more expensive than ever for Americans,” Braun said in a statement. house line. “Under government regulations, we shouldn’t be making them more expensive, which could add as much as $31,000 to the price of a new home. My bill would repeal this new mandate from the Biden administration so we can lower the cost of living for American families.” Housing costs.
According to information shared by Braun’s office, the bill has four core provisions.
It would rescind the HUD/USDA final decision and require agencies to revert to the 2009 standards that were in effect; and would prohibit Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Implements similar authority for VA mortgage loans.
It will also “clarify” federal housing finance agency (FHFA) “has no statutory authority to impose similar orders;” and “reforms the underlying law to prohibit HUD and USDA from adopting new efficiency mandates unless 26 states have already adopted similar standards.”
“For every $1,000 increase in home prices, 140,000 Americans are priced out of the market,” Braun’s office said. “Americans’ ability to afford a home is lower than at almost any time in our country’s recent history, and “These regulations make it more difficult for millions of Americans to own a home.”
A bill with the same wording was previously introduced House of Representatives In June, Arizona Rep. Andy Biggs spoke. That version, which has 14 Republican co-sponsors, was referred to the House Financial Services Committee but has not been moved since June 5.
Braun’s office said the bill has support from the House of Representatives National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). A representative for NAHB confirmed to HousingWire that its previous support for Rep. Biggs’ House bill has been transferred to the Senate version.
