Washington, D.C. – Congressman Kevin Mullin (CA-15) led more than 30 Members of Congress from 16 states in requesting Appropriations language that would encourage the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to repurpose land for affordable housing and transit-oriented development. The request was sent to the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies for inclusion in the Fiscal Year 2024 funding package.
“In my district and across the country, there are acres and acres of land that were acquired – often, decades ago – with federal funds to build highways and related infrastructure that now sit underutilized, including mostly-empty parking lots next to transit lines. If this land were to be repurposed it has the potential to add housing for communities where it is desperately needed, right next to transportation options – easily connecting more people to jobs, services, and opportunities,” Mullin said. “I’m confident we can find better uses for land parcels that no longer serve their original purpose especially when our nation is facing a severe housing affordability crisis. My appropriations request would ensure that land previously acquired with FHWA funds can be retooled to help our communities address their housing shortage and build transit-oriented development.”
The request is cosponsored by Reps. Jeff Jackson (NC-14), Danny Davis (IL-07), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Jamaal Bowman (NY-16), Jesús García (IL-04), Robert Garcia (CA-42), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), Barbara Lee (CA-12), Jake Auchincloss (MA-4), André Carson (IN-07), Adam Smith (WA-9), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Dwight Evans (PA-03), Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Scott Peters (CA-50), Anna Eshoo (CA-16), Mike Levin (CA-49), Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), Lucy McBath (GA-07), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Marie Perez (WA-03), Summer Lee (PA-12), Sara Jacobs (CA-51) Troy Carter (LA-02), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Terri Sewell (AL-07), Linda Sánchez (CA-38), Suzan DelBene (WA-01), Ami Bera (CA-06), Jared Huffman (CA-02), John Garamendi (CA-08), Eric Swalwell (CA-14), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30).
A copy of the letter can be found here.
###