Today, the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act (AHCIA) was reintroduced in the Senate with 30 bipartisan original cosponsors, representing 25 states and nearly one-third of the Senate. Led by Senate Finance Committee members Sens. Todd Young (R-IN), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), and Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR), the legislation would finance 1.6 million more urgently needed affordable rental homes in the next decade than otherwise possible.
“The Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act will leverage private sector investment to increase the stock of affordable housing in both urban and rural communities,” said Sen. Young (R-IN) in a press release announcing the bill’s reintroduction. “As a result, this will help to tackle the housing affordability crisis head on to help Hoosier families, expand our workforce, and strengthen our communities.”
“We need to do more to lower housing costs for everyone. Expanding and improving the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit will do just that by making it more affordable to build homes and lower rents,” added Sen. Cantwell (D-WA), citing sharp increases in housing costs nationally and in the Pacific Northwest.
In the 118th Congress, over half of Congress, including over one-third of the Senate (35 Members), cosponsored the AHCIA. Earlier this month, the legislation was reintroduced in the House with strong bipartisan support, including over 100 original cosponsors. As of today, 65 Republicans and 65 Democrats have cosponsored the House bill, in addition to lead sponsor Rep. Darin LaHood (R-IL), for a total of 131 cosponsors.
More information on the AHCIA’s provisions to expand and strengthen the Housing Credit can be found using the resources below:
- AHCIA of 2025 Bill Text
- AHCIA of 2025 One-Page Overview
- AHCIA of 2025 Detailed Bill Summary
- AHCIA Differences between the 119th and 118th Congress
We encourage AHTCC members to continue outreach to both Senate and House offices to build cosponsorship for the AHCIA.
Reminder: AHTCC Webinar to Cover AHCIA Reintroduction
The AHTCC will host a webinar this Thursday, May 1, from 1 – 2 PM ET to discuss our advocacy efforts to advance the critically needed Housing Credit provisions contained in AHCIA of 2025 amid the rapidly evolving federal policy landscape. The webinar will feature guest speakers, Greg Warren of Sen. Todd Young’s (R-IN) office and John Draxler of Sen. Maria Cantwell’s office (D-WA).
Housing Credit Priorities in Reconciliation
With the Senate considering tax legislation as part of reconciliation this year, there is a window of opportunity to advance key Housing Credit priorities contained in the AHCIA, potentially including:
- Restoring the 12.5 percent Housing Credit allocation increase enacted in 2018, and
- Lowering the 50 percent private activity bond threshold test for accessing four percent Housing Credits.
The AHTCC is also urging the inclusion of other proposals from the AHCIA, including an additional allocation increase, and basis boosts to help make more types of Housing Credit developments financially feasible, such as in rural areas.
The AHTCC is closely monitoring developments on reconciliation and continuing to build support for the inclusion of Housing Credit provisions, particularly those in the AHCIA, as the process advances. We encourage all AHTCC members to continue reaching out to both House and Senate offices regarding cosponsoring the AHCIA.
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