The Washington Report

On September 16, 2025, co-chairs of the bipartisan Congressional Real Estate Caucus—Reps. Mark Alford (R-Mo.), Lou Correa (D-Calif.), Tracey Mann (R-Kan.), and Brittany Pettersen (D-Colo.)—introduced the Saving the American Dream Act (H.R. 5387), legislation designed to enhance federal coordination on housing data and policy to better address our nation’s growing housing affordability crisis.

The Saving the American Dream Act would require five key federal agencies—HUD, Agriculture, Veterans Affairs, Treasury, and the Federal Housing Finance Agency—to establish formal coordination mechanisms for sharing housing data and research to inform policy decisions. This all-of-government approach recognizes that housing challenges cross multiple agency jurisdictions and require coordinated federal action. The legislation mandates these agencies jointly develop policy recommendations addressing major housing market challenges, including construction costs, local regulatory barriers, insurance availability, and homeownership assistance.

The legislation aligns with NAR’s advocacy priorities, which emphasize smart policy reforms, responsible regulation and the use of high-quality data to guide decision-making. By promoting interagency collaboration and data sharing, the bill opens the door for targeted solutions to some of the most persistent barriers in the housing market.

“We are grateful to Representatives Alford, Correa, Mann and Pettersen for introducing the Saving the American Dream Act, a vital step toward improving housing policy," says Shannon McGahn, executive vice president and chief advocacy officer for the National Association of REALTORS®. "By ensuring key federal agencies coordinate and share housing-related research and market data, this legislation promotes evidence-based policymaking. With housing affordability and accessibility as pressing concerns for millions of Americans, coordinated federal action is essential. This bill addresses critical challenges—from construction costs and regulatory barriers to homeownership and insurance availability—laying the groundwork for more effective programs and better outcomes for families and communities.” 

NAR is urging Congress to support long-term reauthorization and reform of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Last month, Sens. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) requested public input on 46 questions covering NFIP reauthorization, mapping, mitigation, and other reforms. NAR submitted comments to the senators and the Senate Banking Committee, outlining several key recommendations.

 NAR Recommendations:

• Long-term reauthorization: Multiyear extension for market stability.
• Modernized flood mapping: Accurate, property specific maps for better risk assessment.
• Risk mitigation: More federal assistance to help reduce risk and insurance costs.
• Private flood insurance: Accept private policies meeting NFIP continuous coverage requirements.
• Disclosure: Provide buyers with direct access to NFIP claims and other relevant property flood facts.

NAR emphasized the need to build on broad bipartisan efforts, such as the NFIP Reauthorization Act unanimously passed by the House Financial Services Committee in the 116th Congress. NAR believes pairing long-term reauthorization with these reforms has strong support across the aisle in both chambers.

Read NAR's letter to senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA).

For more information, see the Senate Request for Information (RFI).