After a back-and-forth amendment process, the House of Representatives passed a landmark housing bill 396-13 last week to lower costs, expand affordable housing and support working families facing the nation’s housing crisis.
The House originally passed the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act in February and was later overwhelmingly passed by the Senate in March. But members of the House Financial Services Committee negotiated to add several amendments to the legislation, with Representative Sylvia Garcia (D-TX) helping to author three major amendments.
Among Rep. Garcia’s provisions are three bills that aim to accelerate affordable housing construction, strengthen local responses to homelessness, and promote financial independence for families in subsidized housing.
“Too many people in my district and across the country are being priced out by rising housing costs, high rents and economic uncertainty,” Rep. Garcia said. “People need practical solutions that lower costs, expand affordable housing and help them achieve the dream of homeownership.”
Speaker and Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) said the amended ROAD to Housing Act is a “transformational legislation” that will immediately address the affordable housing problem sweeping the nation.
“This bill delivers on our promise to reduce restrictive regulations, increase the housing supply, limit institutional investing in the housing market and drive down the price of homes nationwide,” Speaker Johnson said.
Among the amendments, the House removed a controversial provision that would’ve required large institutional investors in build-to-rent single-family homes to sell those properties within seven years.
Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) was among the members who disapproved of this amendment. Sen. Warren told The Hill that she thought changing the language from what President Donald Trump had previously endorsed would “kill the housing bill overall.”
But after the bill passed the House, the administration said it supports the amended version and encourages the Senate to pass it once again.
“The Administration strongly supports passage of this bill and urges the Senate to take up and pass this legislation,” the White House said in a public statement. “The Administration requests both chambers resolve any remaining differences expeditiously.”
Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) said the House version maintains up to 90% of the Senate’s version, with the recent provisions better addressing the harsh reality American families face today.
“As a result, we will be providing more relief and support to millions of families and communities all across the nation,” Rep. Waters said on the House floor last week.
Rep. Waters also emphasized the need for the Senate to pass the amended legislation.
“The House has proven that bipartisan action is possible,” Rep. Waters said. “Now it is time for the Senate to meet the urgency of this moment, work with us in good faith, and finally deliver the bold, bicameral action the American people have long demanded and deserve.”
