Rep. Stephen Horsford Tackles Housing, Tarrifs, and Iran in Election Bid

Rep. Stephen Horsford, running for Nevada’s 4th Congressional District, outlined his plans to address housing affordability, tariffs, and the situation with Iran.

Horsford said one of his priorities is housing affordability, including cracking down on corporate speculators that are buying homes, particularly in working-class communities. He said he secured provisions in the 21st Century Road to Housing bill, which he said the House recently passed. He also cited legislation dealing with the Apex Industrial Park in North Las Vegas.

Horsford said the purchases have driven up rent, and he said the companies evict at a higher rate and do not maintain properties at the same level. He said the legislation that advanced out of the House puts limits on the number of homes corporate investors can buy in a single neighborhood.

Horsford said buyers with offers on homes can be outbid by corporate speculators paying cash. He said interest rates also must come down. He said there’s not one thing that’s going to fix it.

Horsford said he is a member of the House Ways and Means Committee and was previously on the Financial Services Committee and its Subcommittee on Housing. He said part of the issue is accountability of regulatory agencies, including the Federal Reserve. He said oversight hearings and transparency measures, including his HOME Act, can help address the problem.

Horsford said he introduced a bill called the Relief Act. He said that more than $170 billion has to be returned to those who paid the tariffs, and that large companies have lawyers and accountants to recover the money but small businesses and consumers do not. He said his bill calls for automatic refunds within 90 days with no red tape.

Horsford said a local grocery store and a restaurant told him the cost of cartons of items such as tomatoes and avocados had gone up three, four, five fold.

Horsford said his district includes Nellis Air Force Base, Creech Air Force Base, the Nevada Test and Training Range and Hawthorne Army Depot. He said it has a large share of active-duty service members, their families and veterans.

Horsford said constituents tell him they will do what is needed to defend the country but want a clear plan, an understanding of the U.S. interest and an exit plan. He said the administration did not have one at the beginning and does not have one now. He said that has resulted in increased costs at the gas pump.

Horsford said he will be in Lincoln County for the dedication of a new affordable housing project. He said he secured water funding projects in Virgin Valley and Pahrump. He said the district covers 50,000 square miles.