Andy Barr: “As many of you know, manufactured homes are the only form of nonsubsidized housing that is directly regulated by HUD.…”

“As many of you know, manufactured homes are the only form of nonsubsidized housing that is directly regulated by HUD. Statute dictates that HUD is required to facilitate the availability of affordable manufactured homes to increase homeownership for all Americans. Recently, the Department has imposed excessive and contradictory regulations on manufactured housing. HUD is impeding on some State functions, reinterpreting regulations to the detriment of longstanding and accepted building practices, and implementing rules that unnecessarily limit consumer choice and increase costs. As the primary regulator of manufactured housing, HUD should work with the industry, not against it, to ensure regulations are streamlined, cost-effective, and applied fairly and transparently, while also working to keep manufactured housing as an affordable housing alternative for all American families. In central and eastern Kentucky and many other parts of rural America, manufactured housing offers a very affordable option and a good option for housing for many folks. For the life of me, I do not understand why the Federal agency charged with the responsibility of providing affordable housing would be limiting choices and access to this very affordable and very good option for housing for many rural Americans. My limitation amendment would fix three problems where HUD's regulation of manufactured housing exceeds and, at times, even contradicts statutes.…”