Gov. Gretchen Whitmer

LANSING – On Saturday, Governor Gretchen Whitmer released the following statement on the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, which was passed by Congress and became law without President Trump’s signature.

“Housing is fundamental. It’s where we live, raise our families, and grow old. Having a home of your own is the centerpiece of the American Dream. But right now, too many Michiganders can’t find affordable housing. There isn’t enough housing, it’s too expensive, and there’s too much red tape to build more. 4 of 5 Americans say housing is important to them–and 9 in 10 say they can’t afford it.

“In Michigan, we’re working hard to build more homes and lower the cost of housing. We cut red tape and streamlined permitting, made the largest investment in housing in Michigan history multiple years in a row, launched tools like Rate Relief Mortgages to help Michiganders buy their first homes and save hundreds each month, and matched Michigan’s low-income housing tax credit with the federal one.

“The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act will build on that progress. It will help lower the cost of housing, support our local communities as they build more homes, and cut red tape. I want to thank Michigan’s congressional delegation, who voted unanimously to get this done, and I’m glad both Democrats and Republicans worked across the aisle to make a difference for Michiganders.

“While this is a step forward, there’s more to do. The Build, Baby, Build I proposed earlier this year will enact a state level affordable housing tax credit and cut red tape to make it easier to build more diverse types of homes for families. Let’s build more homes in Michigan and help every Michigan family achieve the American Dream of home ownership.”