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By Giulia Carbonaro
Senior Reporter
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A new bipartisan bill tackling the housing affordability crisis has advanced out of committee on Wednesday, as House Republicans push forward their alternative to a similar bipartisan bill passed by the Senate earlier this year.
Why It Matters
Homeownership has been slipping out of reach for many Americans over the past five years, as costs—including prices and monthly payments—skyrocketed during the pandemic and are yet to come down significantly. In the second quarter of the year, homeownership rates fell to their lowest level since 2019, according to Census data, to 65 percent.
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At the root of the problem is a shortage of inventory across the country.
During his 2024 presidential campaign, Donald Trump promised to lower the cost of housing if elected, boosting inventory and cutting red tape to new construction. But nearly one year into his second mandate, his administration’s policies have failed to make a dent in the ongoing housing affordability crisis.
What To Know
Republicans in the House of Representatives removed the Senate’s ROAD to Housing Act from a piece of "must-pass" legislation last week, throwing the future of the biggest federal housing reform in a decade into uncertainty.
The bipartisan bill, approved by the Senate Banking Committee in a unanimous 24-0 vote in July and passed by the Senate in October, contained directions to increase the country’s housing inventory, encourage construction, boost affordability, and increase oversight and efficiency of federal regulators and housing programs.
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While it was hailed by industry experts and advocates as a necessary step to fix the U.S. housing affordability crisis, House Republicans took it out of their version of the $924.7 billion defense spending bill for fiscal year 2026, with Arkansas Rep. French Hill saying they would rather pursue a standalone bill.
That bill now seems to be HR 6644, also known as Housing for the 21st Century Act, which was advanced by the House Financial Services Committee into the House with a 50-1 vote.
The bill, sponsored by Hill, the House Financial Services Chair, and supported by the committee’s ranking member Maxine Waters, a California Democrat, is very similar to the one passed by the Senate.
It focuses on establishing a federal "best practices" framework for local zoning and land use policies while also creating "pattern books" of pre-reviewed home designs which would speed up the construction of new homes.
But there are also some crucial differences with the Senate’s bill: the House’s bill removes many of the Senate provisions related to homelessness, VA loans, and opportunity zones.
What People Are Saying
Hill said in his prepared remarks on Tuesday: "The issue is clear: we need more housing units across the spectrum, from single-family homes, multi-family units, to apartment buildings and manufactured and factory-built housing.
"This long brewing housing shortage is not just an economic risk. It threatens the stability and quality of life of millions of Americans who are struggling to find reasonably priced homes.
"Our housing package will tackle these challenges head-on with a comprehensive package of bipartisan housing policies, representing the Committee’s commitment to ensuring that every hardworking American has access to housing and the capital they need to support their families."
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Realtor.com senior economist Joel Berner said in a report: "The best way to expand the housing supply in the U.S. is to get government out of builders’ way. Modernizing and streamlining zoning restrictions is a major step in that direction."
Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) President Bob Broeksmit said in a statement praising the bill: "Passing bipartisan housing legislation is a must. We urge House and Senate leaders on both sides of the aisle to work together to reconcile differences, maintain this momentum, and deliver meaningful housing legislation for President Donald Trump to sign into law as soon as possible."
Kevin Brown, 2026 president of the National Association of Realtors (NAR), said in a letter of support to the House Financial Services Committee: "This legislation represents a thoughtful response to the barriers constraining housing production across the country. The Housing for the 21st Century Act addresses housing supply and affordability by updating outdated programs, removing unnecessary federal requirements, and increasing local flexibility.
"By focusing on expanding supply, modernizing standards, strengthening local capacity, and improving program effectiveness, this legislation will help ensure more families can access affordable housing."
What Happens Next
The bill would need to receive the approval of the full House and the Senate before being passed on to the president. Trump’s signature would then be required to make it law.
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