House Passes Major New Package
The U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a major bipartisan housing reform bill Monday, aiming to confront skyrocketing home prices and restore access to homeownership for millions of Americans squeezed by inflation and high interest rates.
The legislation, known as the Housing for the 21st Century Act, cleared the House by a decisive 390–9 vote, reflecting rare agreement in Washington as housing affordability continues to worsen nationwide.
The bill was introduced by House Financial Services Committee Chairman French Hill and ranking Democrat Maxine Waters, and previously passed committee review with broad bipartisan support late last year.
Housing Costs Soar as Supply Falls Behind Demand
Supporters of the legislation say the housing crisis is being driven by a simple economic reality: there are not enough homes, and excessive federal red tape has made the problem worse.
The bill includes more than 20 provisions designed to modernize federal housing programs, streamline outdated rules, and examine inefficiencies that drive up costs for builders, lenders, and ultimately homebuyers. Several sections require the Government Accountability Office to review gaps in existing federal housing initiatives, while others update the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s HOME Investment Partnerships Program.
By reducing regulatory barriers and encouraging private investment, backers argue the legislation would allow communities to build more housing faster—helping stabilize prices and expand supply.
“When supply is restricted, prices rise,” Hill wrote recently in a joint opinion piece with Rep. Mike Flood. “This bill cuts unnecessary red tape and gives local communities and banks the flexibility to do what they do best—finance growth and expand housing options.”
Senate Action Still Ahead
The bill now moves to the U.S. Senate, where lawmakers are expected to propose changes before final passage.
Senators Tim Scott and Elizabeth Warren previously introduced a separate bipartisan housing proposal, the ROAD to Housing Act. Portions of that legislation were considered for inclusion in last year’s National Defense Authorization Act but were ultimately left out.
Hill has stated he is prepared to work with senators from both parties to send a final housing package to the president’s desk.
Broad Industry Support, Minimal Opposition
The Housing for the 21st Century Act has earned endorsements from more than 50 organizations, including housing advocates, financial institutions, and free-market policy groups such as Americans for Prosperity and the American Hotel and Lodging Association.
Only nine lawmakers voted against the bill, while the vast majority of House members supported moving it forward.
House Speaker Mike Johnson praised the bill’s passage, blaming inflation and government overreach for driving housing costs beyond reach for middle-class families.
“Housing prices have exploded under Biden-era inflation, while excessive regulations have strangled supply,” Johnson said. “This legislation takes meaningful steps to remove unnecessary barriers, modernize HUD programs, and allow capital to flow where it’s needed—into building more homes.”
A Test of Washington’s Will on Affordability
With mortgage rates still elevated and homeownership increasingly out of reach for younger families and retirees alike, supporters say the bill represents a pragmatic attempt to address the housing shortage without expanding federal control.
Whether the Senate acts quickly—or waters down key reforms—will determine whether this rare bipartisan effort delivers real relief to Americans facing the harsh realities of today’s housing market.
