Advocacy in Action: RETTC Heads to Capitol Hill

Our advocacy is stronger when our members are in the room.

As a part of the 2026 NMHC Fall Board of Directors Meeting, RETTC members will take our message directly to Capitol Hill as part of a joint Advocacy Day with the National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC).

For housing providers and technology suppliers alike, these meetings are an opportunity to help policymakers understand the ins and outs of rental housing, the people and businesses behind it, and the real-world challenges of providing quality housing at all price points.

This is advocacy in action: bringing the expertise of housing providers to Washington and showing Congress how smart policy, along with responsible technology, can help expand housing opportunities, improve affordability, and drive innovation.

Three priorities. One clear message.

During meetings with members of Congress and their staff, RETTC members will focus on three priorities that are critical to the future of rental housing and the technology ecosystem supporting it.

1. Protect the capital that helps build housing

Institutional investment, including capital from pension funds and life insurance companies is a critical source of housing investment.

Congress should avoid proposals that limit this investment. Restricting institutional capital can harm housing production while also limiting opportunities for middle-class investors seeking a return on their hard-earned dollars.

2. Expand TIFIA to include housing

The Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) provides the Department of Transportation with $70 billion in below-market lending authority for transit-oriented development. Yet TIFIA's current underwriting requirements do not include housing.

That is an opportunity for Congress to act.

The BUILD America 250 Act (H.R. 8870) would expand TIFIA to include housing underwriting requirements. Congress should enact H.R. 8870 to help unlock additional tools for increasing housing supply and affordability.

3. Keep tech a force for good

Technology is transforming rental housing, from development and financing to property operations and the resident experience. Emerging technologies such as AI can improve efficiency, enhance service, expand housing opportunities, and help make housing more affordable and accessible.

As Congress considers how to regulate AI, policymakers should recognize the positive impact technology can have on renters and the housing industry. RETTC supports a consensus-driven federal framework that protects consumers while providing certainty for businesses and end users responsibly leveraging commercially available AI tools.

Why member voices matter

RETTC's advocacy is more than policy positions. It is about connecting policymakers with the people who understand these issues firsthand.

Our members bring the perspective of housing providers working to operate and improve communities, and technology suppliers developing the tools that are helping the industry navigate its challenges. Together, we can show policymakers how technology and real estate are working hand in hand to create smarter, more efficient operations, improve the resident experience, and address our nation's long-term housing challenges.

As RETTC's advocacy work makes clear, educating policymakers on the real estate technology marketplace and the opportunities presented by emerging technologies is central to our mission.

When RETTC members show up, we put real-world expertise behind the issues that matter most. We look forward to seeing our members in Washington as we put advocacy into action on Capitol Hill.