NLIHC President and CEO Renee M. Willis Joins Plenary on Lowering the Cost of Housing at House Democrats’ Issues Conference

By Kim Johnson, NLIHC Senior Director of Policy  

NLIHC President and CEO Renee M. Willis joined a plenary session on how federal lawmakers can help lower the cost of housing at the House Democrats' 2026 Issues Conference, held last week.  

In addition to Ms. Willis, speakers included Brent Booker, general president of the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA), Gave Horwitz, senior vice president of economic programs at Third Way, and Sam Valverde, nonresident fellow at the Urban Institute and former acting president of Ginnie Mae.  

Ms. Willis used the opportunity to underscore the need for federal investments in the construction, preservation, and operation of deeply affordable housing, and the important role strong consumer and renter protections play in keeping households safe from predatory practices. She also called on members to pursue visionary housing policies, like universal rental assistance, that would ensure every household receives rental assistance.