Congressman Eric Sorensen Fights to Lower Rental Costs and Expand First-Time Homeownership

WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman Eric Sorensen is fighting to lower the cost of housing by supporting the bipartisan Housing for the 21st Century Act. The legislation is a package of over 20 different provisions that will help lower housing costs by cutting through red tape to build more housing, expand access to mortgages for first-time homebuyers, improve protections for renters, and speed up construction of new housing in rural areas.

"Right now, it's too expensive for my neighbors to live in Central and Northwestern Illinois. Rent continues to rise and buying that first home has become simply out of reach for working families. I'm proud to support the Housing for the 21st Century Act to build more affordable housing, lower costs for buyers and renters, and make sure that young people, seniors, and families can afford to stay in our communities," said Congressman Eric Sorensen.

H.R. 6644, the Housing for the 21st Century Act, passed the House with overwhelming bipartisan support and makes long-overdue improvements to federal housing programs at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). This bill includes key provisions to increase access to homeownership, expedite building of manufactured housing, make available small-dollar mortgages, better protect borrowers and families living in public or assisted housing, enhance federal oversight of housing providers, and lay the groundwork for the development of new affordable homes across America.

Congressman Sorensen has been a leader in the fight to lower housing costs since first taking office. He helped introduce the Revitalize Our Neighborhoods Act, which would create a pilot program at HUD to help communities remove blighted property and revitalize economically disadvantaged areas. Sorensen is a supporter of the Neighborhood Homes Investment Act, which would provide incentives for new housing developments for low- and middle-class home buyers. He also helped champion First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit Act, which would establish an up-to $15,000 fully refundable tax credit for first-time homebuyers.

Congressman Eric Sorensen represents Illinois' 17th District in the United States House of Representatives. Prior to serving in Congress, Sorensen was a local meteorologist in Rockford and the Quad Cities for more than 20 years. His district includes Illinois' Quad Cities, Rockford, Peoria, and Bloomington-Normal.

###