OAPA Supports Unlocking Possibilities in Build Back Better Act

December 17, 2021

The Oregon Chapter of the American Planning Association has joined with other APA Chapters across the country to advocate in support of retaining the Unlocking Possibilities Program in the Build Back Better Act. With just over one week until the Senate’s self-imposed December 25 deadline,  negotiations are in a critical phase on Build Back Better.  There is a window now to remind our representatives that there is a constituency who strongly supports including Unlocking Possibilities in any final package.

In support of this effort, OAPA has sent letters to Oregon Senators Wyden (read here) and Merkley (read here).

Unlocking Possibilities would be the biggest single investment in housing planning in decades, providing communities with funding, support, and technical assistance to advance local zoning reforms that make sense in the context of their community. While it is unlikely Unlocking Possibilities would be stripped from the legislation, we want to take this opportunity to shore up as much support for the provision as possible ahead of final congressional negotiations. This provision is based on the Housing Supply and Affordability Act, which APA had a hand in crafting and many members advocated for at this year’s virtual Planners’ Day on Capitol Hill event.