Affordable Housing Expansion Act
Summary
The Affordable Housing Expansion Act aims to increase access to affordable housing by amending Title 40 of the United States Code regarding prevalent wage determinations. It mandates updates to wage rate calculations and survey methodologies used by the Secretary of Labor. The act also establishes a Davis-Bacon Modernization Working Group to recommend updates and modernization of requirements under Title 40.
Expected Effects
The act will likely lead to changes in how prevailing wages are determined for affordable housing projects. This could affect project costs and the wages paid to construction workers. The working group's recommendations could result in further legislative or administrative changes related to the Davis-Bacon Act.
Potential Benefits
- Potentially expands access to affordable housing through revised wage determinations.
- Modernizes the process of determining prevailing wages by incorporating reliable data sources.
- Ensures proportional representation of businesses in prevailing wage surveys.
- Streamlines wage rate determinations for federal housing acts.
- The Davis-Bacon Modernization Working Group could identify efficiencies and improvements in the application of prevailing wage requirements.
Potential Disadvantages
- Changes in wage determinations could increase project costs, potentially offsetting the expansion of affordable housing.
- The establishment of a working group adds administrative overhead.
- Potential for disagreements within the working group, hindering effective recommendations.
- The act's reliance on the Secretary of Labor's determinations may introduce political influence.
- The sunset clause for the working group may limit the long-term impact of its recommendations.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill's alignment with the Constitution is primarily based on Congress's power to legislate for the general welfare (Article I, Section 8). The act's focus on affordable housing and wage determinations falls under this broad mandate. There is no direct conflict with specific constitutional provisions, assuming the wage determinations are implemented fairly and without discrimination.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).