WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last week, 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 incentivize 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.
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.
Watch and read a description of the bill
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING:
MS NOW: Sen. Elissa Slotkin calls on Trump to declare a national housing emergency
- Slotkin is calling on Trump to address the housing affordability crisis in America by declaring a national housing emergency, according to legislation exclusively shared with MS NOW that she plans to introduce on Thursday.
- In an effort to incentivize and accelerate residential housing production, the National Housing Emergency Act of 2026 would require Trump to invoke and amend the Defense Production Act of 1950 to direct domestic industries to produce essential materials and services.
- The bill also would freeze all local, state and federal regulations, which account for roughly 25% of the cost to build a new single-family home, and create a “Pro-Growth Requirement” for communities that ties receiving federal funds to building more housing.
- U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Holly) put forth a plan on Thursday to utilize the full force of the federal government to address the nation’s housing crisis, following up on a previous call to declare a national emergency on housing.
- To meet that goal, Slotkin’s National Housing Emergency Act would instruct domestic industries to boost production of lumber, steel, and manufactured housing to speed up construction and rehabilitation.
Smart Cities Dive: Senate ‘housing emergency’ bill seeks to spur construction of 4 million US homes
- The National Housing Emergency Act, announced Thursday by Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., calls on President Donald Trump to declare a national emergency concerning the state of the nation’s housing supply and use the Defense Production Act to boost domestic production of materials used for building and refurbishing housing.
- The bill seeks to spur the construction of 4 million additional housing units in the U.S. It also asks the federal government to prohibit state and local governments from imposing regulations that place “a substantial burden” on housing production during the “period of the emergency” that lasts until 2031 or until the 4 million goal is met.
The Detroit News: Slotkin wants to build 4M homes
- U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Holly, introduced legislation last week requiring the president to declare a national housing emergency and invoke the Defense Production Act to “incentivize” housing production with the goal of building 4 million homes.
- Slotkin last summer had called for a national housing emergency in her Economic War Plan speech.
- “The United States is in a housing crisis, and we need to act now,” Slotkin said in a statement.
- U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Holly) put forth a plan on Thursday to utilize the full force of the federal government to address the nation’s housing crisis, following up on a previous call to declare a national emergency on housing.
- To meet that goal, Slotkin’s National Housing Emergency Act would instruct domestic industries to boost production of lumber, steel, and manufactured housing to speed up construction and rehabilitation.
ABC12WJRT: Sen. Slotkin wants to provide new help and incentives to build 4 million homes in the US
- Slotkin called for a national housing emergency last June and her new legislation is tangible action toward her request. She said the housing market in America urgently needs a boost.
Bloomberg Government: U.S. Senate ‘housing emergency’ bill seeks to spur 4 million U.S. homes
Third Way: “We’re glad to see @SenatorSlotkin taking action on the US’ dire housing crisis. Her proposal addresses many of the key issues driving home prices head-on.”
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