Bill · S. 5298· Senate(119-S-5298)
Delivering Americans Affordable Homes Act
- Introduced
- 8/6/2026
- Last activity
- 8/6/2026 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
- Sponsored by
- Chris Van Hollen
- Cosponsors
- - 0 - 1
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The "Delivering Americans Affordable Homes Act" aims to facilitate the leasing of United States Postal Service property for housing development. To accomplish this, the Postmaster will establish a Housing Liaison Office to inventory suitable parcels and manage a joint development process. The bill seeks to address the national housing supply shortage and generate new revenue for the Postal Service, which has faced annual financial losses. Development will occur through partnerships between public entities and entities capable of constructing rental housing. Lease agreements must include specific affordability requirements and terms. This legislation is intended to create new housing opportunities while improving the financial position of the Postal Service.
Yes· 3 of 22
Does this make housing cost less?+8
The bill mandates that 20% of units must be affordable for at least 50 years to address the housing shortage.
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?+7
The mandate for 20% affordable units directly benefits households earning 80% or less of the Area Median Income.
Would people in cities be better off under this?+5
Increased density and housing in communities often benefits urban resident populations.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Increased Housing Supply: The bill aims to respond to the national housing supply shortage by developing housing on approximately 8,500 parcels of land owned by the Postal Service (Section 2).
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Affordable Housing Opportunities: Lease agreements must ensure that at least 20 percent of units are affordable to households earning 80 percent or less of the Area Median Income (Section 5, subsection a, paragraph 2, subparagraph B).
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Long-term Affordability: Restrictions on affordability in the lease agreements are required to last for at least 50 years (Section 5, subsection a, paragraph 2, subparagraph A).
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Improved Postal Service Finances: By leasing property rights, the Postal Service can create new sources of revenue to improve its financial position (Section 2, paragraph 5).
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Job Protections: All laborers and mechanics employed for construction, alteration, or repair work related to these leases must be paid wages at rates not less than those prevailing in the locality (Section 5, subsection d).
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Art Preservation: The bill requires the preservation of certain art located at the Postal Service property that was completed between 1934 and 1943 (Section 5, subsection c).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
-
Potential Mail Service Disruption: The Office may refuse to lease property if the development of housing would be substantially disruptive to the delivery of mail and cannot be mitigated (Section 4, subsection c, paragraph 3, subparagraph B).
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Financial Risk to Postal Service: The Office may refuse a lease if the financial benefit to the Postal Service would be less than the cost arising from the development of the housing (Section 4, subsection c, paragraph 3, subparagraph B).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Low Income Households+7Good For Urban Residents+5Good For Middle Class Households+4Good For Union Workers+4Good For Young Adults+4Good For Business Owners+3Good For Middle Aged+3Good For Retirees+3Good For Rural Residents+3Good For Seniors+3Good For Students+3Good For Native Americans+2
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Affordable Housing+8Reduces Homelessness+4Improves Poverty Reduction+3
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Fiscal Responsibility+4Increases Job Creation+3Improves Economic Growth+2Improves Union Protections+2
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+3Increases Federal Power+2
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Public Land Management+3
- 8/6/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
John CurtisRepublican · Utah