Carter Joins Panetta, Bipartisan Lawmakers in Introducing Better Military Housing Act

Press Release

Representative John Carter (TX-31) joined Representatives Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), Richard Hudson (R-NC), Anthony Brown (D-MD), Sanford Bishop (D-GA), Denny Heck (D-WA), Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA), Vicky Hartzler (R-MO), Van Taylor (R-TX), Michael Waltz (R-FL) and Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) in introducing the Better Military Housing Act last Friday. H.R. 2811 requires the Secretary of Defense to develop a plan to address safety and quality issues in private military housing.

"Servicemembers and their families deserve safe, comfortable, high-quality housing," Congressman Carter said. "Investigations have revealed private housing conditions at several military installations across the country, including Ft. Hood, that are absolutely unacceptable. This legislation requires the Defense Secretary to develop a plan to address and improve these quality issues and empower servicemembers when addressing concerns regarding their living quarters through a Tenants' Bill of Rights. Our servicemembers deserve the highest quality housing. I look forward to Speaker Pelosi bringing this legislation to the floor for swift bipartisan passage."

The Better Military Housing Act:

Requires the Secretary of Defense to develop a plan to address safety and quality
The plan must: 1) include protections from reprisal for servicemembers reporting housing issues 2) establish a hotline or housing advocates system 3) standardize metrics used for housing evaluations 4) Improve personnel training and contract oversight
Requires the Inspector General to inspect 15 installations at random each year and publish findings to ensure consistent upkeep

Source