Congress Takes Up MHI's Top Priorities in Housing Supply Hearing

Congratulation to the Manufactured Housing  Institute whose engagement with policy makers in Congress has ensured the growth of our industry through  bipartisan support “to expand safe, decent, and affordable housing options that protect residents.”

Manufactured housing took the spotlight in housing policy conversations on Capitol Hill last week as Congress held a hearing focused on expanding the nation's housing options through innovation-and MHI's top priorities were front and center.

The House Financial Services Committee's Housing Subcommittee convened to focus on two bills: one to reaffirm HUD's role as the sole federal regulator of manufactured housing and the other to remove the statutory requirement that manufactured homes be built on a permanent chassis, a decades-old mandate that limits innovation and industry's ability to meet modern housing needs.

MHI's Chairman and Cavco Industries, Inc.'s CEO Bill Boor testified at the hearing on behalf of MHI. He called on Congress to take action to pass both proposed bills and eliminate outdated regulatory barriers that are holding back the full potential of manufactured housing.

MHI's engagement with policymakers in Congress has ensured that manufactured housing is not just part of the housing conversation—it is helping to lead it. This hearing marks an important step in the legislative process and signals that Congress is seriously considering MHI's proposals to support industry growth. The bipartisan support expressed during the hearing-even amid broader disagreements over the President's housing agenda— highlights a unique opportunity for manufactured housing to achieve its top legislative objectives.

The Housing Subcommittee's Ranking Member, Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (MO-5), opened the hearing on behalf of Congressional Democrats by recognizing MHI's contributions and engagement that led to the hearing. He stated: "One example of housing innovation under consideration today is manufactured housing. I have spoken with the Manufactured Housing Institute, and I am very, very interested in how we can work together to expand safe, decent and affordable housing options that protect residents."

The two bills considered at the hearing were "discussion drafts" of legislation sponsored by Subcommittee Chairman Flood (NE-01) and Representative John Rose (TN-6). Full Committee Chairman French Hill (AR-02) attended the hearing, a sign of support for the industry and the legislative effort to grow manufactured housing.

"These proposals could go a long way toward removing some of the federal barriers that prevent greater utilization of manufactured homes," said Subcommittee Chairman Rep.

Mike Flood (NE-1). He also highlighted the need to address zoning and land use challenges at the local level in his opening remarks.

Several members of the subcommittee highlighted the potential of manufactured housing as a key solution to improving housing affordability nationwide. Representative Monica De

La Cruz (TX-15) realized "how important manufactured homes are to solving affordability in housing in our nation, especially given all the advancements in construction."

Representative Nikema Williams (GA-5) indicated that "manufactured housing can be an important tool in our toolkit to help ensure that everyone - no matter [their] zip code -- has a roof over [their] head(s]."