RELEASE: Rep. Friedman Announces Bipartisan Bill to Lower Housing Costs and Accelerate Housing Construction
Above: Friedman announcing the bipartisan Cut Red Tape for Housing Act.
LOS ANGELES, CA — Today, August 27, 2025, U.S. Congresswoman Laura Friedman (CA-30) announced the Cut Red Tape for Housing Act, bipartisan legislation that lowers affordable housing costs by removing federal barriers that slow down infill housing development in urban communities.
A recording of the announcement can be found and downloaded here.
The bill, introduced with Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-NC), creates a tailored exemption from the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for certain infill housing developments that meet strict environmental and site-based criteria.
“We all want to make housing more affordable and get it built faster. To do that, we need serious solutions — and that’s what my legislation delivers,” said Congresswoman Laura Friedman (CA-30). “The Cut Red Tape for Housing Act removes outdated federal hurdles that add time and cost, especially for smart, urban infill projects. This is a commonsense, bipartisan fix that protects the environment while helping communities move good housing plans forward.”
"It's no secret the cost of housing has risen significantly in the past few years, creating a seemingly impossible barrier for many young families across Western North Carolina striving toward the American dream of homeownership," said Congressman Chuck Edwards. "The Cut Red Tape for Housing Act seeks to break down that barrier by streamlining the housing development process while maintaining high environmental and safety standards to ensure families across the country have access to affordable housing."
What the Cut Red Tape for Housing Act Does:
The bill creates a targeted NEPA exemption for urban infill housing projects that meet strict environmental and site criteria. Specifically, it:
- Speeds up projects on already-developed land — Applies only to sites that are vacant or underutilized and no larger than 20 acres
- Limits to urban areas — At least 75% of the surrounding land must already be developed for residential, commercial, or other urban uses
- Protects historic resources — Projects cannot demolish structures listed on federal, state, or local historic registers
- Requires environmental due diligence — A Phase I Environmental Site Assessment is mandatory
- If contamination is suspected, a Phase II assessment is required
- If hazardous substances are found, the site must enter a brownfield cleanup program and be fully remediated to federal standards
- Excludes high-risk areas — Sites in census tracts with very high or relatively high wildfire or flood risk (per FEMA’s National Risk Index) are not eligible
- Ensures data stays current — FEMA must update the National Risk Index at least once every three years
The legislation is endorsed by National CORE, National Housing Trust, Housing Action Coalition, LINC Housing, Inclusive Abundance, Niskanen Center, Chamber of Progress, San Francisco Bay Area Planning and Urban Research Association (SPUR), Hollywood Community Housing, Supportive Housing Alliance, Center for Public Enterprise, and California YIMBY.
Friedman was joined today by LA LGBT Center Director of Policy and Community Building Joey Espinoza-Hernández, Hollywood Community Housing Executive Director Sarah Letts, Hollywood Community Housing Director of Housing Development Victoria Senna, EAH Housing Director of Business Development Jose Torres, National CORE Assistant VP of Acquisitions Luis Rodriguez, Supportive Housing Alliance Policy Specialist Brad West, LINC Housing Executive Vice President Ben Winter, and Chamber of Progress Director of Economic Analysis Tahra Hoops.
Below: Friedman announcing the bipartisan Cut Red Tape for Housing Act.
