Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Robert Garcia California (42nd District)
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Robert Garcia (CA-42) reintroduced the People Over Parking Act to coincide with the first Congressional Yes In My Backyard (YIMBY) Caucus event in the 119th Congress. This legislation would eliminate mandatory parking minimums in local zoning laws and promote the construction of new and affordable residential, retail, industrial, and commercial developments. Full text of the bill is available here.
“For far too long, mandatory parking minimums have driven up the cost of housing and limited the development of vibrant and accessible communities,” said Congressman Robert Garcia. “We shouldn’t be paving parking lots where homes, stores, and restaurants should be. By removing unnecessary parking minimums, we can lower construction costs, increase the availability of housing, and make housing more affordable for everyone while making our neighborhoods more connected and sustainable.”
“We applaud Rep. Garcia and his reintroduction of the People Over Parking Act. For decades, mandatory parking minimums have been used to limit new construction of desperately needed housing, such as accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and multi-family dwellings in cities across the country. America has a shortage of roughly 3.8 million homes. Congress must help remove barriers standing in the way of sustainable, transit-oriented communities that allow access to employment, education and healthcare resources – without reliance on travel by car,” said Mike Kingsella, CEO of Up for Growth Action.
This bill aligns with the goals of the bipartisan Yes In My Backyard (YIMBY) Caucus, which officially re-launched this week. The legislation would work to remove barriers to housing development and make our communities more affordable and accessible for all. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has stated that walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods connected by a strong network of transportation and environmental corridors help protect people’s health and our environment. An increase of available housing will encourage people to utilize public transportation infrastructure like trains and buses, reducing emissions and community reliance on cars. This bill aims to replicate California’s approach to zoning reform at the federal level.
Congressman Garcia believes that housing is a human right and has long supported pro-housing policies to ensure that everyone is afforded the opportunity to live safely and securely. Since coming to Congress, Congressman Garcia has fought to reduce rent and mortgage costs to ensure that more people can afford a place to live. Congressman Garcia first introduced the People Over Parking Act in the 118th Congress. Congressman Garcia launched the Yes In My Backyard (YIMBY) Caucus last year as part of his continuing efforts to build inclusive, sustainable, and public transit-friendly communities that increase housing availability while curbing emissions. Congressman Garcia led efforts to secure funding for Los Angeles and Long Beach transit systems in preparation for the 2028 Olympics and introduced the BUILD GREEN Infrastructure and Jobs Act to electrify and modernize public transportation nationwide. Congressman Garcia will always fight for the right to secure safe and affordable housing for every American.
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