Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Jimmy Gomez, founder and chair of the Congressional Renters Caucus, released the following statement after voting to pass the ROAD to Housing Act: 

“Congress is finally treating housing affordability with the urgency it deserves, but this cannot be where the work ends. For too many families, buying a home feels further out of reach every year, and renters are spending more and more of their paycheck just to keep a roof over their heads. The ROAD to Housing Act takes important steps to increase housing supply and bring down costs, so I voted for it. 

“But the reality is America is still millions of homes short of what working families need. Experts across the housing industry estimate the country faces a severe housing shortage, and no single bill will close that gap overnight. We need to build far more housing at every level if we are serious about lowering costs and restoring affordability for working people. 

“That is why I have introduced legislation to create a monthly renter tax credit, provide at least $50,000 in down-payment assistance for first-generation homebuyers, convert vacant office space into housing, and expand the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit for extremely low-income households. 

“As chair of the Congressional Renters Caucus, I will keep fighting to make sure renters are not an afterthought in the housing debate. Housing costs are still squeezing families every day, and this bill is an important step forward. Now we need to keep building more homes, lower costs for renters, expand pathways to homeownership, and make sure working people can afford to live in the communities they call home.”