Tucson Standard

Amid Arizona’s affordable housing shortage, U.S. Congressman Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06), a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, introduced a new bipartisan effort to fast-track construction of affordable housing by cutting red tape for developers and encouraging more public-private partnerships in the industry. Congressman Wiley Nickel (D-NC-13) joined Ciscomani in introducing the effort.

Ciscomani’s bill, the Speeding Up Production of Essential Residences (SUPER) Demonstration Act (H.R. 9195), would utilize unused COVID-19 funds to create a new pilot program through the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) focused on reducing construction time and costs of affordable housing. The pilot program aims to do so by streamlining or eliminating unnecessary regulatory requirements facing developments, which in turn would encourage more private companies’ investment into the affordable housing sector.

“There is a critical need for additional affordable housing in southern Arizona,” said Congressman Ciscomani. “The current shortage in supply is driving rental costs and home prices higher, making it more difficult to find a home. This legislation addresses the worsening affordability crisis and increases the supply of homes by streamlining the construction of affordable housing units.”

“It’s clear that the housing crisis impacting the entire country demands a quick and effective response,” said Congressman Nickel. “I’m proud to join with my colleague from Arizona, Rep. Juan Ciscomani, to co-lead this effort, which will provide grants to areas with a high need for housing and high projected growth, like the communities I represent in North Carolina. I remain committed to removing local regulatory barriers to housing construction, which will increase the supply and lower the cost of housing. This is a win-win for North Carolina and for communities across the country.”

“BPC Action applauds Reps. Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ) and Wiley Nickel (D-NC) for their leadership in introducing the SUPER Demonstration Act which would authorize a deficit-neutral demonstration program across ten geographically diverse communities designed to increase production of workforce housing and housing affordable to lower-income households," said Michele Stockwell, President, BPC Action."Over the past 15 years, the U.S. has underbuilt housing by millions of homes. This mismatch between supply and demand has driven both rents and home sale prices steadily higher, making it more difficult for vital workers throughout the country to live in communities where they are employed. More housing must be built quickly to accommodate urgent needs. BPC Action looks forward to working with Congress to enact this legislation.”

The legislation is also supported by Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) Action. In FY25, Ciscomani provisionally secured over $20 million for community development projects in the House Appropriations Committee’s package for Transportation, Housing and Urban Development. He is currently Arizona’s only Congressional delegation member on this committee.