Over the last few weeks, Shannon McGahn, executive vice president and chief advocacy officer for the National Association of REALTORS®, and senior members of the NAR advocacy team participated in several meetings with senior lawmakers, administration officials and housing industry leaders to discuss the urgent challenges facing housing affordability, supply and economic opportunity across America.
On Sept. 19, McGahn and NAR Director of Government Advocacy Ryan Rusbuldt attended an event hosted by Vice President JD Vance to bring together industry leaders and housing advocates to explore actionable policies and solutions to the nation’s housing crisis.
The meeting with the vice president comes on the heels of previous meetings with U.S. Treasury Department staff and the Federal Housing Finance Agency to discuss the prospect of a national housing emergency and the future of government-sponsored enterprises. With steadfast dedication, NAR continues to work with the administration to advance the best interests of its members and ensure the real estate industry is represented in every key policy discussion.
McGahn emphasized the importance of federal policies that support homeownership, boost housing inventory, and protect property rights.
“In every corner of the country, families are struggling to find affordable homes. We’re facing a generational housing shortage that’s pricing first-time and first-generation home buyers out of the market,” said McGahn following the meetings. “This is not just a housing issue—it’s an economic one. [NAR members] are on the front lines living and working in every zip code in America, and we’re calling for smart, bipartisan solutions that help build communities and support sustainable growth. We are grateful for the vice president bringing us together to discuss possible avenues to remedy this.”
Topics covered in the discussion included regulatory reform to streamline new construction, the role of interest rates and inflation in housing affordability, and the expanding impact of institutional investors in the residential market.
Independent Contractor Classification, Housing Shortages
Additionally, Rusbuldt also met with Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer to discuss the importance of independent contractor classification for agents and real estate professionals. Sec. Chavez-DeRemer understands that maintaining this status ensures agents who are REALTORS® can operate with the flexibility, autonomy and entrepreneurial freedom that drives their success and supports a thriving housing market.
Meanwhile, NAR Vice President of Policy Advocacy Bryan Greene moderated a bipartisan panel with Reps. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.) and Mike Flood (R-Neb.) at the Up For Growth Annual Summit for Housing Changemakers. The summit brings together bipartisan policymakers, economists and stakeholders to confront the roots of the housing shortage.
Greene also joined a panel discussion hosted by the bipartisan Congressional Build America Caucus to spotlight the challenges and opportunities surrounding housing development and affordability in America. The event, hosted by Caucus Chair Josh Harder (D-Calif.) and Rep. Laura Friedman (D-Calif.) brought together a diverse group of bipartisan lawmakers and stakeholders, including Mike Kingsella, CEO of Up for Growth; Lake Coulson, senior vice president of government affairs for the National Association of Home Builders; and Alex Armlovich, senior housing policy analyst at the Niskanen Center.
Greene emphasized the urgent need for bipartisan action to address the housing affordability and supply crisis. Other members of Congress in attendance included Reps. Mike Quigley (D-Ill.), Jeff Hurd (R-Colo.), Chuck Edwards (R-N.C.), Celeste Maloy (R-Utah), Jim Himes (D-Conn.), George Whitesides (D-Calif.), Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.) and Scott Peters (D-Calif.).
The event also provided an opportunity for Greene to highlight NAR’s 2025 advocacy priorities, including tax incentives for first-time home buyers, zoning flexibility, and support for rural and underserved communities. “We’re encouraged to see the administration, lawmakers and industry leaders engaging directly with those most affected by the housing crisis, and we’ll keep working to ensure homeownership remains part of the American dream,” he said.
Influence on Housing and Insurance Policymaking
NAR Vice President of Government Advocacy Joe Harris met with Rep. Cleaver at the Phoenix Awards Dinner during the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Annual Legislative Conference.
Additionally, Harris, NAR Director of Government Advocacy Nicole Lindler and NAR Senior Political Representative Elayne Weiss met with House Financial Services Democratic staff to discuss their support for the reforms to the HOME Investment Partnerships program being pursued by Reps. Flood and Cleaver, the chair and ranking member of the Housing and Insurance Subcommittee.
Rusbuldt and NAR Federal Legislative Representative Raley Wright also held meetings with the House Financial Services Committee and Appropriations Committee to ensure that vital housing programs get the proper funding and to discuss a standalone NFIP reauthorization bill to mitigate or minimize any lapse in NFIP.
To communicate the urgency of keeping NFIP running, NAR issued a targeted call for action on Monday, asking federal political coordinators to reach out to their members of Congress and highlight the importance of NFIP to homeowners. In addition to the outreach to FPCs, NAR sent a letterpdf to congressional leadership urging them to find a path forward, whether that be in a continuing resolution or as a standalone extension.
“This shutdown puts vital housing programs on hold, creating uncertainty for families, businesses, and markets across the country,” McGahn says. “From federal mortgage and rental assistance to disaster relief and flood insurance, each day of delay compounds real-life impacts in America’s housing market, which accounts for nearly 20% of the U.S. economy.
‘Stability to Plan and Move Forward With Confidence’
“Already, the NFIP’s authority to issue new policies has lapsed, complicating an estimated 1,400 property transactions a day and leaving many buyers in high-risk areas without coverage,” McGahn says. “We strongly urge swift passage of the clean bipartisan C.R. or long-term funding package to reopen the government. America’s housing sector, and the millions of people who depend on it, deserve the stability to plan and move forward with confidence.”
NAR will continue the ongoing efforts to engage the administration and lawmakers and advance legislative solutions to end this shutdown and reflect the realities facing both its members and the clients they serve.