Senator Reverend Warnock and five of his Senate colleagues introduced the Identifying Regulatory Barriers to Housing Supply Act

The legislation would encourage local communities to cut burdensome regulations, promote the adoption of more housing options, and bring a new level of transparency to the community development process for millions of Americans

Senator Reverend Warnock: “We need to make sure communities are supporting the development of affordable housing for working-class Americans”

Washington, D.C. – Today, Senators Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) joined his colleagues in introducing the bipartisan Identifying Regulatory Barriers to Housing Supply Act. The bill would encourage local communities to cut burdensome zoning regulations, promote more housing options, and provide increased transparency the development process. The Senator introduced the legislation with Senators Todd Young (R-ID), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Tina Smith (D-MN), and Cynthia Lummis (R-WY).

The introduction of the legislation comes as many communities across the U.S. are suffering because of a myriad of housing regulations that negatively impact working-class Americans. This legislation would help ensure localities do their part to increase housing supply and make it more affordable for all Americans.

“We have a housing affordability and availability crisis in this country. We need to make sure communities are supporting the development of affordable housing for working-class Americans,” said Senator Reverend Warnock. “It is important to me that every person has access to affordable housing.” 

As a member of the Senate Banking Committee, which oversees federal housing policies, Senator Warnock has worked to increase affordable housing and illuminate a path to homeownership, a cornerstone of the American Dream. As one of twelve brothers and sisters growing up in public housing in Savannah, Senator Warnock deeply understands the importance of having a place to call home and homeownership. In March 2025, Senator Warnock introduced a comprehensive legislative package of housing bills to address the ongoing housing affordability and availability crisis in the United States. In the past few years, Senator Warnock voted for government funding legislation that increased America’s housing supply, strengthened housing affordability, and addressed the homelessness crisis, including by: increasing the supply of affordable housing nationwide with funding to build 10,000 new rental and homebuyer units; extending funding for the Yes In My Backyard (“YIMBY”) grant program to support efforts to increase our nation’s housing supply and lower housing costs through state and local zoning changes; and delivering $275 million in new funding for Homeless Assistance Grants to help address homelessness in communities across the country and providing new resources to better connect people experiencing homelessness with health care services. Senator Warnock has also secured nearly $80 million in housing investments to provide affordable housing options for Georgians at all income levels and repair hazardous housing conditions in low-income housing units. 

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