Over 1,100 Housing Advocates Call on Congress to Address Affordability

More than 1,100 builders, remodelers and other housing industry professionals went to Capitol Hill today to call for congressional action to improve affordability and help builders to increase the production of affordable, attainable homes.

"Members of the housing community from across the country are in Washington for the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) 2026 Legislative Conference to call on lawmakers to advance major housing legislation and enact policies that will let builders build," said NAHB Chairman Bill Owens, a home builder and remodeler from Worthington, Ohio.

In more than 300 meetings with lawmakers, housing advocates focused on four priorities aimed at improving affordability and increasing supply:

Landmark Housing Legislation. House and Senate leaders are considering a major housing package designed to increase production through zoning and land-use reforms, streamlined environmental reviews and broader regulatory changes.

NAHB is urging the Senate to adopt two House-approved changes to the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act: eliminate the single-family rental sale mandate and raise and index multifamily loan limits. The sale mandate could reduce single-family rental production by 40,000 to 70,000 units annually, according to estimates by NAHB and the Urban Institute. Updating multifamily loan limits would better reflect construction costs and support new apartment development.

Workforce Development and Immigration. There is a shortage of more than 200,000 construction workers, and more than 25% of the existing workforce is foreign-born. Home builders will need to add an estimated 2.2 million additional workers over the next three years to keep up with demand and an aging workforce.

NAHB is calling on Congress to pass the CONSTRUCTS Act (H.R. 1055/S. 189), bipartisan legislation pending in the House and Senate that would help prepare young adults for rewarding careers in the skilled trades. NAHB is also urging lawmakers to pass the DIGNITY Act (H.R. 4393), which would strengthen border security while creating a pathway to permanent work authorization for undocumented workers who meet strict requirements.

Permitting Obstacles. Permitting delays at all levels of government put housing projects on hold and raise construction costs. Obtaining a federal Clean Water Act Section 404 permit-essential for many housing projects to move forward-can take more than a year. NAHB is urging the Senate to reform the Clean Water Act to expedite the permitting process by providing clarity and predictability while respecting environmental safeguards.

Natural Gas Bans. Some local governments are banning builders from installing gas appliances in new homes, which limits consumer choice and raises housing costs. The U.S. Energy Information Administration recently forecast that American households using natural gas spent about 42% less on heating this winter compared to those using electricity.

NAHB is calling on Congress to pass the Energy Choice Act (H.R. 3699/S. 1945), which would prevent state and local governments from banning the use of natural gas in new homes.

Before heading to Capitol Hill, NAHB members heard from five leading members of Congress who underscored the importance of housing to both the economy and the nation's social fabric:

• House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.)
• House Financial Services Committee Chairman French Hill (R-Ark.)
• Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso (R-Wyo.)
• Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-Texas)
• Rep. Nick Langworthy (R-N.Y.)