{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4954", "Case Introduces Bipartisan Measure To Boost Affordable Housing Nationwide In Areas Designated For Transit Oriented Development", "2026-07-16", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=1", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) \u2013 U.S. Representative Ed Case (HI-01), joined by Delegate James Moylan (Guam), has co-introduced his bipartisan Transit Oriented Development Act to drive greater development of affordable housing in areas designated for transit oriented development such as along the Honolulu Skyline.\n\n\u201cThe affordable housing shortage remains one of the most significant drivers of the unacceptably high cost of living facing most Americans\u201d, said Case. \u201cIn my home state of Hawai\u02bbi, this crisis is particularly acute. Housing costs consume an outsized share of household income, forcing working families to make impossible choices between rent, groceries and health care.\n\n\u201cFar too many of our keiki and kama\u02bb\u0101ina find themselves priced out of the communities they call home. To truly address affordability, we must not only increase the supply of housing but do so in ways that reflect the unique economic realities of our communities and lower overall living costs for families. That means building housing that is attainable, affordable, well-located and connected to jobs and services.\u201d\n\nCase added: \u201cOne of the most important federal tools we have to do that is the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, which has long been one of our nation's most successful programs for financing affordable rental housing. Yet the current allocation structure does not always reflect the significant differences in housing costs and development challenges that exist across the country. Because allocations are based principally on population, communities facing exceptionally high housing costs\u2014including Hawai\u02bbi and other non-contiguous jurisdictions\u2014often face greater difficulty producing affordable housing despite having substantial need.\u201d\n\n\u201cFor families on Guam, the challenge isn\u2019t just finding affordable housing\u2014it\u2019s finding housing that keeps them connected to jobs, schools, healthcare, and essential services,\u201d said Delegate Moylan. \u201cAs America\u2019s westernmost territory, we face unique development constraints and higher construction costs. This bipartisan legislation recognizes those realities by strengthening incentives to build affordable housing in communities where transportation and opportunity come together. I\u2019m proud to co-lead this effort because it helps ensure federal housing policy works not only for the mainland, but for Guam and all of our island communities as well.\u201d\n\n\"Increasing the TOD basis boost would significantly improve project feasibility around our lands in East Kapolei, including next to the Ka Makana Ali\u02bbi Shopping Center, as well as in Moanalua Kai,\u201d said Kali Watson, director of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. \"The additional 25% basis boost would generate approximately $38,000 to $58,000 in additional equity per housing unit, or roughly $3.8 to $5.8 million for a 100-unit project. This would substantially reduce the financing gap and allow more housing for beneficiaries and further revenue-generating opportunities to advance the mission of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1920.\"\n\n\u201cI am pleased to support the reintroduction of the TOD legislation that I originally introduced in the 117th Congress in collaboration with Congressman Case,\u201d said Kaiali\u02bbi Kahele, Chairman of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) and former U.S. Congressman for the Second District of Hawai\u02bbi.\n\n\u201cThe enhanced basis adjustment aligns with OHA\u2019s strategic presence within the Iwilei\u2013Kap\u0101lama Transit-Oriented Development area, including the proposed K\u016bwili Skyline Station, and provides an incentive for OHA\u2019s future mixed-use development plans that integrate cultural revitalization, community services, and sustainable revenue generation.\u201d\n\n\"The City is laying the foundation for one of Hawai\u02bbi's largest transit-oriented redevelopment efforts through the master planning of the Iwilei-K\u016bwili district, where our long-term vision includes more than 2,500 affordable homes surrounding the future K\u016bwili Skyline Station,\u201d said Kevin D. Auger, Director, City and County of Honolulu Department of Housing and Land Management.\n\n\u201cDelivering projects of this scale requires strategic land assembly, strong public-private partnerships, and financing tools that reflect the realities of building affordable housing in high-cost communities like Honolulu. Legislation that strengthens the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit for transit-oriented development would provide another important tool to help communities advance these critical housing initiatives and create more affordable homes near transit.\"\n\n\"Congressman Case's Transit-Oriented Development Act recognizes that affordable housing and high-quality public transportation go hand in hand,\u201d said Roger Morton, Director, City and County of Honolulu Department of Transportation Services. \u201cFor Honolulu, this legislation complements our investment in Skyline by encouraging more affordable housing near transit, reducing transportation costs for working families, and creating more connected, sustainable communities. We appreciate Congressman Case's leadership in advancing this practical approach for Hawai\u02bbi.\"\n\n\u201cThe Transit Oriented Development Act will help create a safer, more resilient, equitable, reliable, and efficient transportation system, said Mark Garrity, Executive Director of the Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization (Oahu MPO). \u201cOahuMPO strongly supports this critical legislation.\u201d\n\n\"This is simple and smart legislation that will stimulate affordable housing development along side of the transportation infrastructure that the government has invested in,\u201d said Craig Watase, Chief Executive Officer of Mark Development, a developer of affordable housing in Hawai\u02bbi. \u201cThis will be a major factor in project feasibility of many affordable housing projects.\"\n\nCase continued: \u201cOur Transit Oriented Development Act takes a targeted approach to addressing that challenge. The bill provides an enhanced Low-Income Housing Tax Credit incentive for affordable housing developments located within designated transit oriented development areas. This includes places that are already served by rail, bus, harbor or waterway transportation and are zoned for higher-density development.\n\n\u201cBy encouraging affordable housing near existing transportation infrastructure, we can help reduce transportation costs for residents, improve access to jobs and essential services and support more efficient and sustainable community growth.\u201d\n\nText of the Transit Oriented Development Act of 2026 is here\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-17T07:15:58Z", "2026-07-17T07:17:05Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4954"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.6820990238338709, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}