WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today joined the Center for American Progress (CAP), U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) for a policy summit where they discussed common-sense solutions to address our nation’s housing shortage and lower housing costs for middle-class families. As the cost of housing continues to consistently increase more than the rate of wages, Duckworth underscored the urgent need to address issues preventing homes from being built and ensuring the homes we do build meet the needs of Veterans, the disability community and all Americans. Video of Duckworth’s panel remarks and Q&A responses can be found on CAP’s YouTube, and photos of the summit can be found on Senator Duckworth’s website.
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“It’s past time we bring the American Dream of home ownership back within reach of middle-class Americans,” said Duckworth. “In our country, the average age of first-time homebuyers is at a record high, and half of all renters are spending nearly a third of their income on rent—that’s not sustainable. The cost of housing is at crisis levels in America, and Congress needs to treat it that way. As the Trump Administration continues to prioritize the needs of billionaires, my focus is on advancing solutions that will help speed up housing production, help build homes that everyday Americans can actually afford and ensure these homes meet their unique needs.”
In her remarks, Duckworth explained how her personal experience living off SNAP benefits and nearly becoming homeless during her childhood has influenced her work to combat homelessness and housing affordability issues throughout her career. Among other topics, Duckworth also discussed removing barriers to building more affordable homes, the potential for prefabricated housing development, her work on Veterans’ housing and homelessness issues and her ongoing efforts in Congress to address our nation’s housing crisis.
The Senator recently helped introduce legislation to protect Veterans and low-income families from housing discrimination. Last Congress, she also helped introduce legislation to address unsafe conditions in privatized military housing and legislation to address the housing affordability and accessibility crisis for people with disabilities.
As a Member of Congress, former Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and former Director of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs, Duckworth has long been a leading advocate in addressing Veteran homelessness and improving Veteran and servicemember housing options across the country.
