Campus Housing Affordability Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 6753
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Housing and Community Development
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-12-16: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-14T14:37:40Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The Campus Housing Affordability Act (H.R. 6753) aims to expand access to federal housing assistance for certain low-income college students by removing barriers that previously excluded them. It focuses on enabling tenant-based rental help (vouchers) for students living in on-campus housing, without affecting their eligibility for other federal benefits like student aid.
Key Provisions
- Short Title: The bill is titled the "Campus Housing Affordability Act."
- Removal of Student Prohibition (Section 2): Amends a 2006 appropriations law (Public Law 109-115) to eliminate a specific rule that barred housing assistance for students enrolled in higher education. This strikes out the prohibiting paragraph and renumbers the remaining ones.
- Waiver for Eligible Students (Section 3): Adds a new provision to Section 8(o) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)), allowing the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to waive standard requirements for providing tenant-based rental assistance (vouchers) to "eligible students."
- Eligible Student Definition: A person who:
- Is enrolled at an institution of higher education (as defined in the Higher Education Act of 1965, including public and nonprofit schools).
- Lives in student housing owned or managed by that institution.
- Qualifies for tenant-based assistance under existing HUD rules.
- Income Treatment: Any housing assistance received under this waiver is not counted as income when determining eligibility or amounts for:
- Federal student financial aid or aid from federally supported colleges.
- Income from cooperative education (co-op) programs at colleges.
- Living allowances under the National and Community Service Act of 1990 (e.g., AmeriCorps).
- Child support obligations.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Elimination of Blanket Ban: Prior law (from the 2006 appropriations act) explicitly prohibited HUD housing assistance for most higher education students to prevent perceived misuse of funds. This bill removes that outright ban, opening the door for student eligibility.
- New Waiver Authority: Introduces flexibility for HUD to bypass certain eligibility hurdles (e.g., income or dependency rules) specifically for on-campus students, while ensuring the aid doesn't "count" as income elsewhere. This is a targeted addition to the 1937 Housing Act, which previously had limited exceptions for students.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: HUD gains authority to issue waivers, potentially increasing administrative workload and voucher distribution. This could raise federal spending on housing programs without new funding specified, possibly straining budgets.
- On Citizens: Low-income college students living on campus may gain access to rental vouchers, making higher education more affordable and reducing housing insecurity. It protects their other benefits, benefiting families (e.g., no impact on child support calculations).
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic U.S. housing and education policies.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Low-Income College Students: Primary beneficiaries, especially those in on-campus housing who qualify for HUD aid.
- Institutions of Higher Education: Public and nonprofit colleges may see increased student retention and affordability, indirectly supporting enrollment.
- HUD and Federal Agencies: HUD implements waivers; overlaps with Education Department (student aid) and others (e.g., child support enforcement).
- Families and Service Participants: Parents or guardians of students (via child support rules) and participants in programs like AmeriCorps (via living allowances).
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens anti-poverty efforts by aligning housing aid with education access, but requires HUD rulemaking to define waiver processes. No conflicts with existing statutes noted, though it expands discretionary authority for the Secretary.
- Constitutional: No apparent issues; it operates within Congress's spending power under Article I and promotes equal access to benefits without discrimination.
- Political: Addresses rising college housing costs and student debt, potentially appealing across party lines for affordability. Could spark debate on federal aid scope, with critics arguing it diverts resources from non-students, while supporters highlight equity for vulnerable youth.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (4)
Rep. Nunn, Zachary [R-IA-3], Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3], Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]
Recent Actions
- 2025-12-16: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
- 2025-12-16: Introduced in House
- 2025-12-16: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Campus Housing Affordability Act — issued 2025-12-16 — PDF (4 pages)