Contact: Louisa Tavlas
Mobile: 571-527-6403
Email: ltavlas@niskanencenter.org

WASHINGTON, D.C., May 16, 2024 – The Niskanen Center applauds the House Financial Services Committee’s passing the bipartisan Yes in My Back Yard (YIMBY) Act (H.R. 3507). Led by Representatives Derek Kilmer (D-WA) and Mike Flood (R-NE), The YIMBY Act would institute new reporting and planning requirements relating to key enumerated land use policies by state and local government recipients of the Community Development Block Grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Various organizations support H.R. 3507, including National Apartment Association, Americans for Prosperity, the Niskanen Center, Up for Growth, and National Low-Income Housing Coalition.

“Many communities just do not know how to increase their housing supply, or believe that the identification of housing supply barriers still needs more study,” says Alex Armlovich, Niskanen’s senior housing policy analyst. “The YIMBY Act lists key simple state and local actions proven to ease regulatory barriers to housing supply. Reporting on these reforms will help policymakers and other stakeholders identify and evaluate opportunities to remove government red tape for homebuilding.” 

“Lawmakers and the American public deserve clearer daylight into the extensive red tape that holds back more housing options for families,” says David Jimenez, Niskanen’s government affairs manager for social policy. “We are grateful to Rep. Flood, Rep. Kilmer, and House Financial Services Committee members’ leadership in advancing the YIMBY Act. We urge the House of Representatives to quickly pass this legislation and pursue this valuable step to promote homebuilding.”  

Niskanen’s policy research aims to equip federal policymakers to understand how removing government barriers to housing growth can improve access to opportunity, increase economic growth, and support families.

The Niskanen Center is a 501(c)(3) advocacy organization established in 2014 to change public policy through direct engagement in the policymaking process.

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