[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 475 Introduced in House (IH)]

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115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 475

 Expressing support for the designation of the month of September 2017 
                   as ``National Month for Renters''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 25, 2017

    Mr. Poliquin (for himself and Mr. Heck) submitted the following 
 resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Financial Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing support for the designation of the month of September 2017 
                   as ``National Month for Renters''.

Whereas rental housing is a vital component of the United States housing market, 
        providing a place to live for nearly 44 million households and more than 
        111 million Americans;
Whereas the number of households renting their homes increased by 9 million over 
        the past decade, the largest 10-year gain on record;
Whereas the demand for rental housing is expected to intensify over the coming 
        decade as members of the 78-million-millennial generation form 
        households for the first time, and many of the 75-million-baby-boomer 
        generation transition from home ownership to rental housing;
Whereas the annual median income of renters is less than half that of 
        homeowners;
Whereas over the past 15 years, rents have grown faster than household incomes;
Whereas more than 11 million households in communities across the country pay in 
        excess of 50 percent of their income on rent and utilities, making them 
        severely cost-burdened under Federal standards;
Whereas these 11 million severely cost-burdened households include 14 million 
        women, 8 million children, 9 million millennials, 2 million senior 
        citizens, and nearly 800,000 veterans;
Whereas severely cost-burdened renters are more likely to experience poor health 
        outcomes, educational setbacks, loss of jobs and productivity, and 
        greater food instability;
Whereas nearly 13 million renters work jobs that are the engine of the Nation's 
        economy (e.g., office and administrative, food service, transportation, 
        building and grounds maintenance, construction, production, personal 
        care, managers, education, and cashiers), and yet devote more than 30 
        percent of their income just to rent; and
Whereas the Nation's lowest income renters face a shortage of affordable and 
        available rental homes: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the designation of ``National Month for 
        Renters'' to draw attention to the rental affordability crisis 
        in the United States;
            (2) urges a truly national effort involving all levels of 
        government, the private sector, and the philanthropic community 
        to expand the supply of affordable rental homes to meet current 
        and expected demand;
            (3) recognizes the considerable adverse economic and social 
        impact that unaffordable rents have on families and 
        communities; and
            (4) recognizes that expanding access to affordable rental 
        homes will help stabilize families and communities, promote 
        equality of opportunity, and support greater economic growth 
        and prosperity.
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