In a rare display of bipartisanship, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the amended 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act.
The legislation combines elements from earlier House and Senate packages to address the nationwide shortage of homes that has driven prices and rents to record highs.
House Financial Services Committee Chairman French Hill (R-Ark. ) praised the bill as a practical solution focused on results rather than bureaucracy.
This bill prioritizes American families by expanding homeownership, enhancing affordability, reducing burdensome regulations that drive up costs, and increasing housing supply nationwide,” Chairman Hill stated
“Importantly, it delivers on President Trump’s call to limit institutional investors from competing with the American people as they seek to purchase a home,” Hill added.
Ranking Member Maxine Waters (D-Calif. ) highlighted the urgency of the housing crisis.
America is in the middle of a full blown affordable housing and homelessness crisis, and working families are burdened by skyrocketing rents and a housing market that is pushing homeownership further out of reach,” Waters said
The bill streamlines federal permitting processes, exempts certain infill and redevelopment projects from lengthy environmental reviews under NEPA, and promotes innovative housing options like modular and manufactured homes.
It provides grants to local governments for planning and zoning reforms that encourage more construction, raises loan limits for multifamily housing to spur apartment development, and strengthens support for rural and veteran housing programs.
Additional measures modernize financing for small dollar mortgages and enhance community bank involvement in lending
It also includes targeted restrictions on large institutional investors acquiring single-family homes — aligning with Trump administration priorities to keep properties available for families rather than corporate portfolios.
The package also improves access to credit, updates outdated FHA and VA loan programs, and includes safeguards for renters while preserving pro-supply policies.
By removing barriers that delay construction and drive up costs, the bill aims to increase inventory, ease pressure on prices, and restore the American Dream of homeownership
Industry groups, including the Mortgage Bankers Association and National Association of Realtors, applauded the passage, noting it addresses stakeholder concerns while maintaining momentum on supply growth.
Restrictive zoning, slow permitting, and regulatory overload have exacerbated shortages, particularly in high-demand areas.
This bill empowers states and localities with tools and incentives to build more homes without massive new spending, focusing instead on smarter government processes and private sector incentives
It also bolsters community banks, which play a vital role in local lending for construction and mortgages.
With the House now having passed its amended version, the bill returns to the Senate for consideration of the changes.
Senate leaders, including Banking Committee Chairman Tim Scott (R S.C.) and Ranking Member Elizabeth Warren (D Mass.), who helped craft the original ROAD framework, are expected to review the amendments quickly
If the Senate concurs, the package heads to President Donald Trump for signature.
Both chambers have now demonstrated strong bipartisan support for housing reform.
The Senate passed an earlier version 89 10 — raising hopes for final enactment before the end of the year
House Republicans framed the vote as delivering on promises to cut red tape and put families first, contrasting it with years of inaction under prior administrations.
As housing costs remain a top concern for voters, passage of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act signals that Washington can still deliver meaningful, commonsense solutions to one of America’s most pressing domestic challenges.
