Housing

HR 2679, the Cool Roof Rebate Act of 2025, creates a federal program providing rebates to low-income households for installing highly reflective roofing products that reduce home cooling costs. Eligible households must have incomes below 200% of their ZIP code’s median income and reside in areas ranked in the top 25% for heat vulnerability by the CDC. Rebates range from $0.25 to $0.75 per square foot, depending on roof type (low-sloped or steep-sloped) and the product’s ability to reflect sunlight and emit heat, as measured by standardized testing. The program runs from 2026 through 2030 with $25 million annually allocated for rebates, requiring participants to report on roof types and products used.

This bill would improve housing options for employees of federal land management agencies by expanding their authorities to develop housing near work sites. It allows agencies like the National Park Service and Forest Service to acquire land, build housing, and leverage rental income for housing programs. The bill also creates new recruitment pathways for workers who live near their job sites and requires agencies to report on housing needs and assess current housing policies. These changes aim to address workforce housing challenges that have made it difficult to recruit and retain employees at national parks and other public lands.

End Veteran Homelessness Act of 2025 This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to furnish case management to certain veterans who are eligible for the HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the VA. Specifically, the VA must furnish case management to veterans who are eligible for HUD-VASH that the VA determines require case management. The VA must prioritize vulnerable homeless veterans in assigning case managers and providing services. The VA must take certain actions if a veteran refuses case management. HUD or a public housing authority may not revoke assistance solely on the basis that a veteran has refused case management. Additionally, a veteran may not be evicted or penalized by the owner of a property solely on the basis that they have refused case management or cannot be provided case management for health and safety reasons. The Government Accountability Office must report to Congress on veterans who are served by the HUD-VASH program, case managers and case management services provided under the program, and metrics about housing stability for veterans participating in federal housing assistance programs. The bill also provides statutory authority to expand eligibility for the HUD-VASH program to any veteran who is homeless, at risk of homelessness, or receiving assistance under another housing assistance program if the VA determines a voucher under HUD-VASH is more appropriate. (Currently, assistance is statutorily limited to certain veterans who have chronic mental illness or substance use disorders.)

The RESEARCHER Act (HR 3054) requires federal research agencies to develop policies addressing financial instability for graduate students and postdoctoral researchers at federally funded universities. It mandates the Office of Science and Technology Policy to create guidelines within six months covering stipend increases (including location-based indexing), healthcare access, housing, food security, and family care support. The bill also adds new data collection requirements to track stipends and financial challenges by demographics, and directs the National Academies to study these issues with a report due within two years. Federal agencies must implement these guidelines within six months and report progress annually to Congress.

This bill creates a federal grant program to fund "low carbon corridors" connecting different transportation systems (like public transit, bike lanes, and electric vehicle infrastructure) to reduce emissions and improve connectivity. It establishes value capture financing mechanisms through tax increment districts to fund transportation infrastructure and expands tax-exempt bonds for transit-oriented development. The bill also creates a grant program to help workers transition from fossil fuel industries to sustainable jobs and establishes a National Employment Corps to guarantee employment for those displaced by the energy transition. Local governments, transit agencies, and communities near transportation hubs would directly benefit from these provisions, while requiring projects to follow prevailing wage laws.

The Brownfields Reauthorization Act of 2025 increases federal funding for cleaning up contaminated properties (brownfields) in communities. It raises the per-site remediation grant from $500,000 to $1,000,000 and boosts annual funding from $200 million to $250 million, covering fiscal years 2026 through 2030 instead of 2019-2023. The bill also updates state programs to allow them to implement new revitalization strategies beyond just enhancing existing efforts. This directly affects communities with abandoned industrial sites and state environmental agencies managing cleanup projects. The changes aim to accelerate redevelopment of underutilized properties by providing more stable, long-term funding.

This bill would redirect U.S. nuclear weapons funding to clean energy and social programs, but only after the President certifies all nuclear-armed nations have begun verifiable global elimination under the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. It requires converting nuclear weapons industry facilities and retraining workers for clean energy development. Funds would support climate initiatives, healthcare, housing, education, and environmental restoration. The bill's implementation is contingent on international progress toward nuclear disarmament, as it does not mandate immediate action.

HR 1960, the Simplifying Veterans Assistance Act of 2025, modifies how the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) assists organizations applying for grants to support homeless veterans. It requires the VA to make online guidance and best practices publicly available and hold at least two mandatory pre-application information sessions for entities seeking these grants. Each session must last at least one hour, include Q&A, explain application language, and detail other assistance resources. This directly affects veterans' service organizations applying for homeless assistance grants under existing VA programs.

This bill establishes a 10-year pilot program to help homeowners make their homes more resilient to natural disasters. It directs FEMA to use up to 10% of existing disaster relief funds to provide grants for retrofits like floodproofing, seismic upgrades, and hurricane straps - prioritizing low-income households. The program, running until 2030, requires grantees to report on participation, costs, and reduced disaster impacts. It specifically uses existing Stafford Act funding streams without creating new programs.

HR 1436, the ENABLE Act, makes permanent key tax provisions for ABLE accounts - tax-advantaged savings accounts for people with disabilities. It removes the 2026 expiration date for increased contribution limits to ABLE accounts and allows rollovers from 529 college savings plans into ABLE accounts without tax penalties. These changes directly affect individuals with disabilities who use ABLE accounts for qualified expenses like housing, education, and medical costs. The bill ensures these financial tools remain available long-term, streamlining access to savings without requiring new legislative action each year.