Owning a home has never been more expensive – the median age of a first-time homebuyer in the U.S. has reached a record high of 40 years old. Families making the median state income can afford fewer than ten percent of the houses on the market, and the average cost of a home in California is 2.5 times the national average.

This problem demands urgency and action. Today, I want to share that Congress has begun to make real progress on the issue.

To solve the housing crisis, we need to make housing easier to build, while also lowering the average cost of rent and home ownership.

And that’s what our newly-passed “Housing for the 21st Century Act” seeks to accomplish.

This bill, which we passed through the House earlier this month, is the largest federal housing investment in over a decade.

Let me walk you through some of what this bill does to help more Americans reach home ownership.

The bill cuts through unnecessary red tape that slows down construction, helping new homes get built faster while keeping safety and quality standards strong. It exempts certain housing developments to avoid additional lengthy review processes, making sure federal time and money is better prioritized. It creates a pilot program that would provide funds for local agencies to modernize and update their zoning codes, streamlining the process of building new, localized units.

This legislation also makes pre-approved designs more easily available for builders, and provides support for our veterans. Veterans should not be penalized for the benefits they have earned, and should be made aware of federal housing programs available to them.

The bill also expands eligibility for HUD’s HOME Investment Partnerships Program, so more Americans can qualify for assistance and get a real head start on homeownership. The bill raises qualifying income for the HOME program, ensuring more Americans can take advantage of the largest federal grant program for affordable housing. Not only are more families able to access the program, but the minimum grant amount is increased by hundreds of thousands of dollars.

This is exactly why I came to Congress: to tackle problems people are facing right now. You’ve made it clear that affordable, accessible housing is a top priority, and I hear you. I will work with members of both parties to make sure that federal solutions are efficient and adaptable to local needs. We need to tackle complex issues like the housing crisis with modern, innovative solutions, not slow, bureaucratic red tape.

I’m going to keep fighting to make sure owning a home and finding an affordable place to live is achievable for more Americans.

Rep. George Whitesides represents California’s 27th Congressional District. “Democratic Voices” appears Tuesdays and rotates among several local Democrats.

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