{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=6b04fde3-0c0a-4518-9e39-7a7d4dc2ce01", "Heitkamp Hosts Housing Summit with Bismarck & Mandan Community Leaders", "2013-08-15", "2013", "2013-08", "Democrat", "House", "ND", "Heidi Heitkamp", "H001069", "www.heitkamp.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "MANDAN, N.D. \u2013 U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today hosted a housing summit with Bismarck and Mandan community leaders to talk about the housing issues in North Dakota and seek solutions to address it.\u00a0 Heitkamp also discussed bipartisan legislation she helped introduce in the Senate to help reform the nation\u2019s housing finance system, which would support affordable homeownership in North Dakota while protecting American taxpayers.\r\nThe housing summit follows a series of discussions Heitkamp held throughout North Dakota in March to address the state\u2019s housing crisis -- one of her top priorities.\u00a0 As a member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Development, Heitkamp is in a unique position to fight for more quality, affordable housing options.\r\n\u201cThe lack of reasonably priced housing in North Dakota is forcing too many families to pay more than they can afford to keep a roof over their heads or face going without.\u00a0 This isn\u2019t a choice anyone should have to make,\u201d said Heitkamp.\u00a0 \u201cToday\u2019s housing summit brought together area leaders to talk about how we can tackle this challenge.\u00a0 Just as I did after I held housing discussions across the state in March, I will take today\u2019s ideas back to Washington and continue to fight for a solution.\r\n\u201cI\u2019m also pushing to move forward comprehensive housing finance reform legislation that I helped write.\u00a0 A strong housing finance system nationally is crucial for helping North Dakota weather the housing crisis it faces.\u00a0 And it\u2019s long past time that we build a housing finance system that works for everyone \u2013 including those in rural communities \u2013 and that\u2019s what this bipartisan bill would do.\u201d\r\nThe housing summit brought together representatives from local housing authorities, North Dakota banks, city offices, real estate agencies, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development, among others.\u00a0 They joined for a variety of panel discussions, including overviews of the housing issues North Dakota faces; issue updates on affordability, infrastructure, and financing; and a comprehensive look at what actions need to be taken moving forward.\u00a0 Heitkamp will host another housing summit in Fargo on August 16.\r\nNorth Dakota faces a housing crisis because of the state\u2019s economic boom.\u00a0 It\u2019s estimated that by 2025, North Dakota will need 30 percent more housing units.\r\nBackground:\r\n\u00a0Heitkamp\u2019s Efforts to Improve North Dakota\u2019s Housing\r\n \r\nReforming the Country\u2019s Housing Finance System. \u00a0In June, Heitkamp helped introduce strong, comprehensive legislation to reform America\u2019s broken housing finance system. With a bipartisan group of Senators, Heitkamp crafted a bill to protect taxpayers from future economic downturns while responsibly preserving the availability of the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage for homebuyers.\u00a0 She specifically drafted provisions in the bill to make sure rural communities, like many in North Dakota, receive the resources they deserve, and guarantee that community banks and credit unions have access to the secondary housing market so they can compete and provide long-term mortgages to homebuyers.\r\n \r\n \r\nFighting for More Affordable, Quality Housing Throughout North Dakota.\u00a0 Heitkamp worked with HUD to see that new Fair Market Rents \u2013 to help reduce housing costs for low-income households \u2013 were increased to appropriate levels for oil-impacted areas of North Dakota where rents have quickly soared and families need assistance to afford housing. Heitkamp is continuing to have HUD look into this issue so that more North Dakota families could benefit from increased assistance in high-cost areas. \r\n \r\n \r\nRaising Awareness About North Dakota\u2019s Unique Housing Needs.\u00a0 In March, Heitkamp held meetings in Bismarck, Minot, Williston, Valley City, Dickinson, and Fargo with state, local, and federal officials to hear about their housing situations and discuss ideas to address the unique housing issues across the state.\r\n \r\n\u00a0###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "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://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=6b04fde3-0c0a-4518-9e39-7a7d4dc2ce01"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.9587099775671959, "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"}