A Call for Action: Slotkin Proposes Bold Measures to Tackle Housing Crisis
In a bid to address the severe housing shortage in the United States, Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin has put forth a daring proposal. Her new legislative initiative, the National Housing Emergency Act, seeks to have President Donald Trump declare a national housing emergency and leverage the Defense Production Act to boost the domestic production of construction materials.
Slotkin, a Democrat, introduced the bill last week, emphasizing its goal to rectify the housing deficit by enhancing the availability of domestically produced materials and encouraging states and local governments to reduce bureaucratic obstacles that hinder the development of middle-class housing.
According to a video she shared on social media, the nation is currently facing a shortfall of four million housing units. Slotkin pointed out that builders are hesitant to meet this demand, citing restrictive local zoning regulations as a significant barrier.
Her proposal suggests that communities failing to ease these regulations could face penalties, including the loss of eligibility for certain federal funds. “No matter how you do it, you have to be showing that you are adding units in your community in order to qualify for a bunch of federal programs on infrastructure and transportation,” Slotkin explained. The bill would also bar local authorities from introducing new rules deemed burdensome to housing development during the declared emergency.
While acknowledging potential pushback, Slotkin stated, “It’ll be controversial. Not everyone will like it. But when you’re in the middle of an emergency, you can’t make everybody happy.”
The proposed housing emergency is set to conclude either once the U.S. has added or rehabilitated four million housing units or by the end of 2031.
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