OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

America Faces A Housing Crisis

Floor Speech

Date: July 17, 2025
Location: Washington, DC

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Mr. LICCARDO. Mr. Speaker, America faces a housing crisis. One part of the solution to that crisis, though, lies right in our backyards. The solution has many names: granny flats, backyard cottages, or accessory dwelling units, but all expand our affordable housing supply.

When I was mayor of San Jose, we made building backyard apartments easier by enabling thousands of homeowners to be able to get their permits online in a single day. The problem, though, is that many homeowners of modest means could never get a shovel in the ground because they couldn't get financing.

We talked to the banks and the banks said they would lend if homeowners could get FHA insurance, or if Fannie or Freddie would backstop the loans.

Today, along with my Republican colleague Andrew Garbarino, I have introduced a bill to do just that. The bipartisan SUPPLY Act will empower homeowners to become home providers.

Mr. Speaker, together we can make affordable housing a reality for thousands more Americans.

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