To direct the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and the Director of the Bureau of the Census to conduct a study and submit a report about how Federal agencies identify and record cases of housing loss in the United States, and for other purposes.

Bill Number: H.R. 3988
Origin Chamber: House
Congress: 119th Congress, Session 1
Policy Area: Housing and Community Development
Status: Introduced
Latest Action: 2025-06-12: Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Last Updated: 2026-04-30T08:06:58Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

This bill (H.R. 3988) aims to improve the federal government's understanding of housing loss in the United States by requiring a joint study on how agencies track and record such cases. The goal is to identify gaps in data collection and recommend ways to enhance it, ultimately supporting better policies to address housing instability.

Key Provisions

Study Mandate: The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Director of the Bureau of the Census must conduct a joint study examining how federal agencies identify and record cases of housing loss.
Consultation Requirements: The study must involve input from:
The Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), which protects consumers in financial markets.
The Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), which oversees housing finance entities like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
The Under Secretary for Economic Affairs in the Department of Commerce, who handles economic data and policy.
Report Submission: Within 6 months of the bill's enactment, HUD and the Census Bureau must submit a detailed report to:
House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
House Committee on Financial Services.
Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
Report Contents:
Define all types of housing loss experienced by U.S. residents since January 1, 2022.
Identify the most common types of housing loss.
List federal datasets used to track housing loss cases, including their sources and annual coverage.
For each dataset, describe:
How often it is updated.
Policies for sharing data with other agencies or the public.
Level of detail (e.g., individual vs. household level).
Geographic coverage across U.S. regions.
Assessment of data accuracy and reliability.
Recommend improvements, such as collecting new data, creating new datasets, or merging existing ones.
Identify any additional funding or legal changes needed to implement recommendations.
Definition of Housing Loss: The bill defines "housing loss" as any forced displacement from a home, including:
Formal eviction (court-ordered removal).
Informal eviction (leaving due to landlord pressure without a court order).
Foreclosure due to missed mortgage or property tax payments.
Displacement from natural disasters.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This bill introduces a new requirement for a specific study and report on housing loss data, which does not exist in current law. It does not amend or repeal prior statutes but mandates coordination among agencies to evaluate and potentially standardize data practices, which could influence future housing-related laws.

Potential Impacts

On Government Agencies: Requires HUD, the Census Bureau, and consulting agencies to allocate resources for the study and report, fostering inter-agency collaboration. Recommendations could lead to expanded data collection efforts, improving federal tracking of housing issues but potentially increasing administrative workloads.
On Citizens: Enhances visibility into housing loss trends, which may inform policies to prevent evictions, foreclosures, or disaster displacements. Vulnerable groups, such as low-income renters and homeowners, could benefit indirectly from better-targeted federal support programs.
On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses solely on domestic U.S. housing data.

Main Stakeholders Affected

Federal Agencies: Primarily HUD, Census Bureau, CFPB, FHFA, and Department of Commerce, which must conduct the study and share data.
Congressional Committees: The specified House and Senate committees, which will receive the report and may act on its findings.
Citizens Experiencing Housing Loss: Renters facing evictions, homeowners in foreclosure, and disaster victims, whose situations could be better addressed through improved data.
Housing Advocates and Policymakers: Non-profits, researchers, and lawmakers focused on affordable housing, who may use the report to advocate for reforms.
Landlords and Financial Institutions: Indirectly affected if recommendations lead to stricter reporting or policy changes on evictions and foreclosures.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

Legal: The bill imposes clear deadlines and consultation duties without granting new enforcement powers, relying on existing agency authorities. It promotes data transparency but does not mandate public disclosure beyond the congressional report.
Constitutional: No apparent conflicts; it aligns with Congress's authority to direct executive agencies on policy studies under Article I.
Political: Sponsored by a bipartisan group of representatives, it highlights growing concern over housing affordability amid economic pressures. The report could influence future legislation, such as expansions to housing assistance programs, but its non-binding recommendations limit immediate political controversy.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Olszewski, Johnny [D-MD-2]

Cosponsors (23)

Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2], Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large], Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10], Rep. Fields, Cleo [D-LA-6], Rep. Mullin, Kevin [D-CA-15], Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8], Rep. Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8], Rep. Pettersen, Brittany [D-CO-7], Rep. Elfreth, Sarah [D-MD-3], Rep. Soto, Darren [D-FL-9], Rep. McClain Delaney, April [D-MD-6], Rep. Friedman, Laura [D-CA-30], Rep. Garcia, Robert [D-CA-42], Rep. Johnson, Julie [D-TX-32], Rescom. Hernández, Pablo Jose [D-PR-At Large], Rep. Schneider, Bradley Scott [D-IL-10], Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5], Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3], Rep. Bell, Wesley [D-MO-1], Rep. Min, Dave [D-CA-47], Rep. Mfume, Kweisi [D-MD-7]

Recent Actions

2025-06-12: Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
2025-06-12: Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
2025-06-12: Introduced in House
2025-06-12: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

To direct the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and the Director of the Bureau of the Census to conduct a study and submit a report about how Federal agencies identify and record cases of housing loss in the United States, and for other purposes. — issued 2025-06-12 — PDF (4 pages)