Friends,

Did you know the federal government required every manufactured home in America to sit on a permanent steel chassis? Not a foundation. Not a slab. A steel undercarriage built into the house, so the home could theoretically be towed away on a moment's notice, even though more than 90% of manufactured homes are never moved after they are placed.

The rule dated back to 1974. By the mid-1980s, the industry itself was pushing to remove the chassis mandate, and even took HUD to court over it, but only Congress could eliminate it. For more than fifty years, Washington knew this rule made no sense and did nothing about it.

American homebuyers paid the price. They were forced to buy a chassis they would never use, on a home that would never move, and pay more for the home because of it.

Those days are over.

My 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act is now law, and Title III eliminates the federal chassis mandate. Here’s why that actually matters.

Because manufactured homes were required to have a chassis, most states classified them as personal property rather than real property, the same category as a car. That classification pushed buyers into chattel loans running as high as 9 to 10 percent interest, compared to a standard conventional mortgage rate for the same size home.

On a $150,000 house, that gap could mean families paying hundreds of dollars more every month, on top of the added cost of the chassis itself. Removing the chassis requirement opens the door for manufactured homes on permanent foundations to be titled as real property, eligible for FHA, conventional, and VA financing like any other house.

It will also let manufacturers like Clayton in Conway grow, innovate, and increase the supply of quality, affordable homes at a moment when the country needs them most. Now that a chassis is no longer required, builders have real freedom to design multi-story homes and townhomes, and there's no telling what other solutions they'll bring to market next.

The chassis fix is just one piece. Title III also cuts red tape on energy mandates and modernizes home loan rules, making it easier to finance and build manufactured and modular housing.

These changes matter because the fastest way to bring housing costs down is to increase supply, and manufactured housing is one of the most efficient ways to build.

Making it easier to build and offering more housing options means more affordable, accessible homes here in Arkansas and in communities across the country.

I stopped by Clayton in Conway to see their state-of-the-art facility and learn more about how the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act will help them grow and innovate.

Facility general manager Jamar Murchison gave me the tour and was a great sport as I peppered him with questions about their impressive operation. It was incredible to watch a house come together from framing to finished product in a single indoor space, protected from weather delays and built with the kind of precision you'd expect from an assembly line, not a construction site. And walking the floor and talking with some of the skilled workers, you could feel the pride they take in their work and in their company.

Companies like Clayton are why I fought to modernize this industry. They provide thousands of good-paying jobs and will be integral in restoring the American dream for families across the country.

They are also proving that American companies can build housing at scale without sacrificing quality. I look forward to seeing how the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act helps Clayton and other home builders innovate and deliver more housing at a time when America needs it most.

The benefits of the new housing law don't stop with Americans looking to buy a home or homebuilders like Clayton Conway. Every new home built needs cabinets, countertops, and finish work, which means subcontractors, suppliers, and companies that touch the housing industry will feel the impact.

Moody Cabinets in Benton is a good example. The family-owned business started in a 624-square-foot shop more than 20 years ago and has grown into a 40,000-square-foot operation, building custom cabinetry for homes, schools, medical offices, and businesses across the state. More housing being built means more opportunities for businesses like theirs to grow.

Small businesses like Moody Cabinets create good-paying jobs and support our local communities. As my new housing law unleashes the building of new homes, businesses like theirs grow. As they grow, they hire more people, and central Arkansas grows right along with them.

I joined UA Pulaski Tech at Providence Park to celebrate a new grant that will support the YouthBuild BRIDGE program.

The nearly $2 million grant will fund a construction pre-apprenticeship for young Arkansans ages 18 to 24 who do not have a high school diploma. Students will train on-site at Providence Park, a Southwest Pulaski County development building tiny homes and support services for the chronically homeless population.

The students will get paid while they work. Along the way, they can earn their GED, NCCER Certification, OSHA 10, and ACT Work Readiness Certification.

As co-chair of the Bipartisan Skilled Workforce Caucus, this is exactly the kind of initiative I fight for. This is how we change lives. Students earn a paycheck, learn a trade, and walk away with real credentials and a path to a good-paying career, all while building shelters for their neighbors.

While at Providence Park, I also had the chance to talk with my friend and the driving force behind the initiative, Errin Stanger. I first visited the 50-acre site last spring when construction had just kicked off. A year later, the vision is taking shape.

The community center is complete, several small homes are already housing "neighbors," as the residents are called, and the health center is a warm, welcoming place.

Errin made clear from the start that this mission is about much more than a place to live. The master plan brings housing together with wraparound support, including a health clinic, opportunities to volunteer and work, shared community spaces, and even a dog park. When a new resident moves in, they will also get to choose a bicycle, giving them another way to get around and be part of the community.

Errin's inspiration for Providence Park came in part from meeting a woman who had experienced chronic homelessness since Hurricane Katrina and was sitting on the doorstep of the nonprofit where Errin previously served as executive director. That encounter helped shape her belief that people need more than a home; they need community, care, purpose, and the opportunity to regain independence.

As Errin told me, when we invest in people, everyone benefits. Providence Park is putting that idea into practice, doing its part to address our homelessness crisis. To learn more, click here.

Last week’s Trivia: What statue stands outside Federal Hall on New York's Wall Street? B. George Washington

18% of respondents answered correctly. (63% answered "The Charging Bull," which is located a few blocks away from Federal Hall on Broadway at Bowling Green.)

Fraud Alert for Veterans

Veterans should remain vigilant against scams involving fraudulent postcards or mailers that falsely claim to offer additional VA benefits. Always verify benefits information directly through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and never share personal or financial information with unsolicited callers or mailings.

Treasury just finalized the investment lineup for Trump Accounts as funding begins.

Initial contributions will go into a default, low-cost fund tracking the broader U.S. stock market, chosen specifically to keep fees well below the legal cap.

In the coming months, families will also be able to choose from four additional low-cost index funds:

• iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV)
• Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI)
• State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 1500 Composite Stock Market ETF (SPTM)
• iShares Core S&P Total U.S. Stock Market ETF (ITOT)

These funds have been selected to provide diversified exposure across major segments of the financial markets while keeping investment costs low.

These accounts can be managed through the Trump Accounts app, available now on the Apple App Store and Google Play. If you haven't downloaded it yet, do so today so you're ready when funding begins Friday.

All kids born between January 2025 and December 2028 are eligible for a $1,000 federal contribution into a Trump Account. Millions of families have already signed up.

You can open an account by filing IRS Form 4547 through TrumpAccounts.gov, or when filing your taxes.

To learn more, click HERE or call my Little Rock office at (501) 324-5941.

My office can arrange tours of the Capitol and many other sights in Washington, D.C., on behalf of you and your family during your stay. Please note: White House tours require Real IDs or other accepted forms of ID, such as a valid passport or U.S. military ID.

If you and your loved ones are planning on visiting Washington, D.C. in the coming months, I recommend you reach out to my office to request tours as soon as possible HERE.

If you have any questions about your visit to Washington, D.C., please call my D.C. office at (202) 225-2506.