RELEASE: Gottheimer Co-Leads Bipartisan Bills to Make Housing More Affordable for Jersey Families and First Responders

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) helped lead the introduction of two new bipartisan bills with U.S. Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17) to boost housing affordability in New Jersey and ensure middle-class families and first responders can afford to live in the communities they serve.

With housing costs continuing to rise across North Jersey, many police officers, firefighters, teachers, nurses, and other essential workers earn too much to qualify for traditional affordable housing but still struggle to afford rent or buy a home. Gottheimer's legislation targets these gaps and strengthens existing federal housing tools to help out Jersey families.

"Bottom line: we've got to make housing more affordable for families. Hard-working Jersey families and our first responders shouldn't be priced out of their own communities," said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). "These commonsense bipartisan bills will cut red tape and help make homeownership and more affordable housing a reality for our communities and the heroes who keep them safe."

"The cost of housing is crushing middle-class families. Teachers, police officers, firefighters, nurses, and working families are being priced out of their own communities. These bipartisan bills take a practical approach to modernizing housing policy and expanding access to homeownership, especially for the people who keep our communities safe and strong," said Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17).

The bipartisan Housing for America's Middle Class Act will:

• Study housing affordability challenges facing middle-income households.
• Identify gaps in federal housing programs that exclude middle-class families.
• Recommend a clear, income-based definition of "workforce housing."
• Help modernize federal housing policy to better support teachers, nurses, first responders, and other essential workers.

The bipartisan Housing for Heroes Act will:

• Expand eligibility for HUD-owned homes at a 50% discount nationwide.
• Allow police officers, firefighters, EMTs, teachers, and members of the armed forces to participate regardless of location.
• Require buyers to live in the home for at least three years, strengthening local communities.
• Build on a proven program endorsed by national law enforcement organizations.

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