Press Releases

Washington, D.C. – 2/19/26… Today, Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17) introduced three bills aimed at improving housing access, increasing transparency around federal regulations, and better understanding the impact of environmental contamination on residential communities.

The legislative package reflects Rep. Lawler’s continued focus on expanding housing opportunities in the Hudson Valley and ensuring families have safe places to live.

The Superfund Area Facts and Exposure Act and the Improving Housing Access Act were included in the Housing for the 21st Century Act, which passed the House of Representatives on February 9th, 2026. 

“Most families just want a safe neighborhood, a home they can afford, and strong schools where their kids can thrive. But here in the Hudson Valley, that dream is getting harder to reach when homeowners are burdened with some of the highest property taxes in the country. If we’re serious about bringing costs down, we need real transparency about what’s driving housing prices and clear, practical solutions that expand supply and opportunity. Let’s make it easier for families to put down roots and build a future right here in New York,” said Congressman Lawler, a member of the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance.

The Superfund Area Facts and Exposure Act directs the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a nationwide study identifying how many residential dwelling units, including public housing units as defined under the United States Housing Act of 1937, are located within one mile of a site listed on the National Priorities List under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) would be required to submit a report to Congress within six months of enactment detailing the number of affected units for each site.

The Improving Housing Access Act directs the Comptroller General to conduct, within one year of enactment, a study identifying options to remove barriers and improve housing for elderly individuals and persons with disabilities. The study would include an analysis of the potential impacts of providing capital advances under Section 202, supportive housing for the elderly, and Section 811 supportive housing for persons with disabilities.

The Affordable Housing Barriers Transparency Act amends Section 8 of the Department of Housing and Urban Development Act to require that the annual report submitted by the Department of Housing and Urban Development include an identification of significant regulatory barriers to affordable housing, as defined in federal statute, along with a discussion and analysis of how to reduce or remove those barriers.

Full text of the Superfund Area Facts and Exposure Act can be found HERE.

Full text of the Improving Housing Access Act can be found HERE.

Full text of the Affordable Housing Barriers Transparency Act can be found HERE. 

Congressman Lawler is one of the most bipartisan members of Congress and represents New York's 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties. He was rated the most effective freshman lawmaker in the 118th Congress, 8th overall, surpassing dozens of committee chairs.

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