Rep. Jimmy Gomez launches Congressional Renters Caucus
On Wednesday, June 7, Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-CA) launched the Congressional Renters Caucus, which highlights issues that affect millions of rent-burdened households across the country: high demand for housing affordability, homelessness, and the low supply of affordable housing. There are many caucuses in Congress, which are groups of lawmakers in the House of Representatives who come together to pursue shared legislative goals and objectives. These caucuses are equivalent to what others may call coalitions, task forces, or working groups. This caucus calls for the need for Congress to prioritize renters.
Reps. Ritchie Torres (D-NY) and Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) will be vice chairs of the caucus. Democratic Representatives Dan Goldman (NY), Rob Menendez (NJ), Maxwell Alejandro Frost (FL), Dwight Evans (PA), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA), Lloyd Doggett (TX), Grace Meng (NY), and Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC) are among the founding members. Caucuses are typically bipartisan, but no Republicans have joined the Congressional Renters Caucus just yet.
The formation of the Congressional Renters Caucus is a step in the right direction – it is time for Congress to prioritize and pay attention to the plight of millions of rent-burdened households. If your lawmaker is already a member of this caucus, use interaction with tax staff and lobby meetings during the August recess to educate them about how a Renter Tax Credit will prioritize renters in the tax code. If your House members have yet to join the Renters Caucus, encourage them to join. Here’s what you could say: “RESULTS supports the creation of the Congressional Renters Caucus because it is time that Congress prioritize and pay attention to the needs of rent-burdened households across the country. I urge [INSERT NAME OF LAWMAKER] to join the Renters Caucus and find ways for Congress to meet the needs of struggling renters and help address the affordable housing and homelessness crisis that affect them. If you have questions, please contact Michael Santos at [email protected].”