[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 7]
[House]
[Pages 8963-8964]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF MANUFACTURED AND MODULAR HOUSING

  Mr. DONNELLY of Indiana. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 584) recognizing the importance of 
manufactured and modular housing in the United States.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 584

       Whereas manufactured and modular housing play a vital role 
     in meeting the housing needs of the people of the United 
     States and are an important source of quality, affordable 
     housing, including both homeownership and rental housing;
       Whereas the manufactured and modular housing industries in 
     the United States have approximately $6,000,000,000 annually 
     in sales and employ approximately 70,000 people in factories 
     and retail centers alone;
       Whereas 18,000,000 people in the United States, 
     representing all segments of the population, including 
     emerging demographics, live in manufactured or modular homes;
       Whereas because they are important sources of affordable 
     housing, manufactured and modular housing are a critical part 
     of the solution to the ongoing crisis in the housing market 
     in this Nation;
       Whereas the factory production process provides 
     manufactured and modular housing with technological 
     advantages, value, and customization options for consumers 
     seeking quality housing and sustainable homeownership;
       Whereas manufactured homes are built to a national standard 
     under the National Manufactured Housing Construction and 
     Safety Standards Act of 1974, which governs construction, 
     engineering, quality, safety, and systems performance;
       Whereas that Act supports innovation, consumer safety, 
     efficiency, and quality while preserving the affordability 
     and customization of manufactured housing;
       Whereas creating affordable homeownership opportunities 
     helps build communities and requires the cooperation of the 
     private and public sectors, including the Federal Government 
     and State and local governments;
       Whereas the laws of the United States, such as the 
     Manufactured Housing Improvement Act of 2000, encourage 
     manufactured housing homeownership and should continue to do 
     so in the future;
       Whereas June is designated as National Homeownership Month; 
     and
       Whereas the third week of June is recognized as 
     Manufactured and Modular Housing Week: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) recognizes the importance of manufactured and modular 
     housing in providing decent, sustainable, and affordable 
     housing;
       (2) recognizes the importance of manufactured and modular 
     housing in contributing to homeownership in the United 
     States;
       (3) recognizes the importance of homeownership, including 
     homeownership of manufactured and modular homes, in building 
     strong communities and families; and
       (4) recognizes and fully supports the goals and ideals of 
     Manufactured and Modular Housing Week and National 
     Homeownership Month.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Indiana (Mr. Donnelly) and the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. 
Wilson) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Indiana.


                             General Leave

  Mr. DONNELLY of Indiana. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and 
extend their remarks on this legislation and to insert extraneous 
material thereon.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Indiana?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. DONNELLY of Indiana. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, today I rise in strong support of House Resolution 
584, a resolution honoring the importance of manufactured housing to 
our country. As we celebrate home ownership during the month of June, 
we also honor the third week of June as ``Manufactured Housing Week.'' 
This recognizes that manufactured homes offer hardworking American 
families the option to purchase quality homes at an affordable price. 
This $8 billion-a-year industry provides jobs for people not only in 
the Second district of Indiana, which I am proud to represent, but 
throughout.
  More than 18 million people live in over 10\1/2\ million manufactured 
homes. I have seen firsthand how these homes have continued a tradition 
of quality and safe construction over the years. They present the high 
quality, affordable housing option for all families.
  Madam Speaker, manufactured housing has come a long way over the 
years, and people can often not tell the difference between a modular 
home and a site-built home. Manufactured homes have a factory 
production process which provides technological advantages, value, and 
customization options for consumers seeking quality housing and 
sustainable home ownership.

[[Page 8964]]

  Additionally, manufactured homes are built to a national standard 
under the HUD Code, which governs the construction, engineering, 
quality, safety, and systems performance. The HUD Code supports 
innovation, consumer safety, efficiency, and quality while preserving 
manufactured housing's affordability and customization.
  We have all witnessed the ongoing turmoil in the housing market. I 
believe it is essential that we look to affordable manufactured housing 
as a viable solution to this problem. Creating affordable home 
ownership is one of the building blocks of our society and it plays a 
fundamental role in achieving the American Dream. It helps to provide 
families with economic security and build strong communities.
  I urge my colleagues to support House Resolution 584.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, today I rise in support 
of House Resolution 584, recognizing the importance of manufactured and 
modular housing in the United States.
  Manufactured housing is a good source of affordable housing in this 
country not only for home ownership but for rental housing as well. 
Currently, the manufactured housing and modular housing industries 
generate over $6 billion in annual revenues and employ over 70,000 
people. As a result of this extensive industry, approximately 18 
million people in the United States, representing all segments of the 
population, live in manufactured or modular homes.
  I was educated on the importance of manufactured housing in South 
Carolina by Tom Lloyd of the Manufactured Housing Association. I know 
firsthand of the housing opportunities made possible by Leonard Sanford 
in Orangeburg, South Carolina.
  Manufactured and modular housing provides a critical solution to our 
country's supply of affordable housing. And due to the factory 
production process involved, manufactured and modular housing brings 
technological advances, value, and customization options for consumers 
seeking quality housing and sustainable home ownership.
  The legislation before us recognizes and fully supports the goals and 
ideals of Manufactured Housing Week, and I urge my colleagues to 
support the resolution.
  Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. ADERHOLT. Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the Gentleman from 
Indiana for introducing H. Res. 584, ``Recognizing the importance of 
manufactured and modular housing in the United States.''
  Manufactured and modular housing play an important role in meeting 
the housing needs of the people of my home state of Alabama and the 
United States of America.
  Over the past two decades, the quality of manufactured housing has 
become essentially equivalent to that of conventional housing and 
manufactured housing has grown in popularity as an affordable 
alternative to conventional site-built housing.
  A Harvard University Joint Center for Housing Studies reported that 
manufactured housing has no impact on the appreciation rates of 
surrounding properties, putting an end to the myth of negative property 
value impacts.
  It is also good to know that the manufactured and modular housing 
industry continues to be an important part of our nation's economy. 
Manufactured and modular housing has produced approximately $6 billion 
annually in sales and employs approximately 70,000 people in factories 
and retail centers alone.
  These factories are an important contributor to the economy in the 
district I represent, as there are more than ten manufacturers in the 
4th Congressional District of Alabama.
  During a recession, I would encourage any Americans to consider a 
manufactured or modular house as an option. According to the 
Manufactured Housing Institute, construction costs per square foot for 
a new manufactured home average anywhere from 10 to 35 percent less 
than a comparable site-built home, excluding the cost of land, 
depending on the region of the country.
  Home ownership is part of the American Dream and I am pleased to 
encourage affordable home ownership opportunities through manufactured 
and modular housing for so many Americans who can benefit from this 
type of home ownership.
  Mr. DONNELLY of Indiana. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests 
for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Donnelly) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 584.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. DONNELLY of Indiana. Madam Speaker, I object to the vote on the 
ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a 
quorum is not present.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

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