As part of his broader effort to promote affordable housing solutions, U.S. Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-CA) wants to ensure that local housing dollars are used to serve local families.
The congressman on Jan. 16 sponsored the Housing Choice Voucher Fairness Act of 2026, H.R. 7139, which is aimed at increasing housing affordability in rural, suburban, and small urban communities.
“Housing assistance programs should work for the communities that fund them and the families who rely on them,” Rep. Kiley said. “This bill ensures local housing dollars stretch further, helping more families where they live while preserving choice and opportunity.”
Under current law, public housing authorities (PHAs) must continue paying for housing vouchers even when recipients move outside the PHA’s jurisdiction, often to significantly more expensive cities.
As a result, limited housing funds intended for local residents are diverted to cover higher rents elsewhere, reducing assistance available in communities.
If enacted, H.R. 7139 would ensure that PHAs are not required to absorb rent increases of more than 10 percent when a voucher is used outside the issuing agency’s jurisdiction, thereby preserving tenant choice while protecting local housing authorities from unsustainable cost increases, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Kiley’s staff.
The Placer County (Calif.) Housing Authority, the El Dorado (Calif.) Health and Human Services Agency, and the Regional Housing Authority in Nevada support the measure, which has been referred to the U.S. House Financial Services Committee for consideration.