WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) introduced her National Housing Emergency Act of 2026. This bill requires the President to declare a national housing emergency and invoke the Defense Production Act to incentivizing housing production and build 4 million homes. To achieve this, the legislation will boost domestically produced materials to support the construction and rehabilitation of housing push states and localities to cut red tape currently standing in the way of building middle class housing.
In June 2025, Senator Slotkin called for a national housing emergency in her Economic War Plan speech. This legislation is a concrete follow up to that call.
“There is nothing more fundamental to the American Dream than owning your own home, and it has become increasingly difficult for middle class Americans to do this,” said Senator Slotkin. “The United States is in a housing crisis, and we need to act now. That’s why my bill declares a national housing emergency, cuts regulations that get in the way and uses the full weight of the U.S. government to increase our housing supply by 4 million homes.”
The National Housing Emergency Act of 2026 declares a housing emergency that will continue until 4 million homes are built. The bill does the following:
- Uses the full strength of the U.S government through the Defense Production Act to direct domestic industries to produce essential materials (lumber, steel, manufactured housing) and services to speed up housing development and rehabilitation.
- Creates a new housing standard by choosing how the federal government gives out money. No one gets a blank check: It rewards pro-growth communities with federal dollars and holds accountable communities that refuse to grow.
- Pushes states and localities to cut red tape and make way for more housing. It compels state and local governments to change local laws like allowing commercial properties to get turned into housing, eliminating single-family zoning or allowing for accessory dwelling units (“in-law suites” or “granny flats”).
- During the emergency, the bill institutes a freeze for states or localities from passing laws, rules or regulations that imposes a burden on the construction or rehabilitation of housing
The National Housing Emergency Act of 2026 is endorsed by the National Housing Conference, the National Leased Housing Association and the National Housing & Rehabilitation Association.
Summary of the bill is available here. Full text of the bill is available here.
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