Marlin Stutzman

Rep. Marlin Stutzman, R-Ind., argued Thursday that reducing illegal immigration would help ease pressure on the nation's housing market as House lawmakers advanced a bipartisan housing package aimed at boosting supply and affordability.

The House approved the legislation in a 396-13 vote this week, sending the measure back to the Senate as lawmakers seek to finalize a broader housing reform package backed by President Donald Trump.

Appearing on Newsmax's "National Report," Stutzman said the measure represented one of the most bipartisan efforts he has seen during his time in Congress.

"This is actually in the House of Representatives, this is the most bipartisan bill that I've seen that's such a big package," Stutzman said.

"Housing is probably one of the biggest issues for almost every American family," he added. "We always talk about how buying a home is part of the dream that we have as Americans."

The legislation includes provisions intended to streamline regulations for builders, encourage housing construction, and restrict institutional investors from purchasing large numbers of single-family homes.

Stutzman said builders in his Indiana district have repeatedly told him federal regulations slow projects and increase costs.

"I hear from home builders, if you can streamline the regulatory process, that will make a huge impact for us to be able to build homes faster," he said.

The Indiana Republican also pointed to illegal immigration as a factor driving up housing demand nationwide.

"When 10 million illegals come into this country during the Biden administration, that's obviously going to drive up the demand for housing," Stutzman said. "They're going to live somewhere."

He continued: "But it does drive up the demand, you know, pushes people into, you know, the rents, higher apartment complexes, multifamily housing situations."

President Donald Trump has made immigration enforcement and housing affordability central priorities of his administration, while also backing efforts to limit institutional investors from competing against families in the housing market.

Stutzman praised Trump's handling of the issue and linked the administration's immigration crackdown to the broader housing push.

"President Trump is so popular in Indiana," Stutzman said. "It's like he's got his finger on the pulse of what the needs are and touching on these."

"It's really nice to see strong leadership out of the White House on these issues that affect more Americans," he added.

The lawmaker also defended provisions aimed at preventing large investment firms from purchasing homes intended for individual families.

"What we were seeing, especially in the hot housing markets around the country, you know, these big institutional investors would come in and they would buy up a lot of these houses that families are looking for," Stutzman said.

"American homes should be for the American people," he added.

The housing debate comes as affordability continues to worsen in parts of the country, particularly in California, where the median home price recently surpassed $900,000, according to the California Association of Realtors.

Stutzman contrasted California's housing costs with Indiana’s affordability, saying excessive regulations in Democratic-led states continue to drive up prices and slow rebuilding projects.

"People are starting to leave California in droves because of the taxes, the regulations," he said.

The Senate is expected to take up the revised housing package in the coming weeks as lawmakers work to reconcile differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill.

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