Numerous Republicans on May 20 joined the U.S. House of Representatives in voting 396-13 to approve the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, a comprehensive package that aims to address the nation’s housing affordability crisis.
Because the House amended the version previously passed by the U.S. Senate, H.R. 6644 now heads back to the U.S. Senate for final approval.
“Today, we proved Washington still works,” said U.S. Rep. French Hill (R-AR), who sponsored H.R. 6644 in December 2025 alongside lead original cosponsor U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA).
“After months of bipartisan, bicameral negotiations — and with the partnership of the Trump administration — the House delivered to make housing more accessible and affordable for American families,” added Rep. Hill, chairman of the U.S. House Financial Services Committee. “I urge the Senate to move expeditiously to get our amended bill to President Trump’s desk and deliver the relief Americans have been waiting for.”
U.S. Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY), a senior member on the House Financial Services Committee, helped draft the legislation, which aims to cut red tape to speed up home building and expand access to credit for community banks that power Main Street and rural communities.
“We need more homes to lower the cost of housing and make the American Dream more affordable for Kentuckians all across the commonwealth,” Rep. Barr said on Wednesday. “I’m proud to help lead the bipartisan 21st Century Housing Act to President Trump’s desk because it slashes big government regulations to accelerate homebuilding and gives our community banks the flexibility they need to make the goal of homeownership more attainable for the next generation of Kentuckians.”
The House-passed resolution amends the Senate-passed version of the legislation, addressing concerns from House members and market participants with a more balanced and workable approach, according to the lawmakers.
For instance, it focuses on limiting institutional investors’ from competing against the American people looking to buy a home; removing regulatory barriers by streamlining housing development and affordability; and modernizing federal housing programs by updating rules for manufactured homes and exempting small-scale housing developments from burdensome federal reviews.
Among other provisions, the amendment also enhances community banking operations through cutting red tape, expanding access to community and rural banks, and supporting new banks. It also would prohibit the creation of a Central Bank Digital Currency to protect Americans’ personal privacy, according to a summary provided by the members.
U.S. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) voted to pass H.R. 6644, noting that House Republicans are focused on making the American Dream more attainable again for hard-working families.
“After years of rising costs and burdensome regulations driving homeownership further out of reach, the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act takes meaningful steps to increase the supply of homes and cut the red tape standing in the way,” he said. “I’m grateful to Chairman French Hill, Subcommittee Chair Mike Flood, and the Financial Services Committee for their leadership in drafting real solutions that will help more Americans buy a home and build a better future for their families.”
U.S. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN) added that homeownership is central to the American Dream and people are tired of this milestone getting further and further away from them.
“By passing the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, we’re continuing to deliver wins for hard-working Americans,” Rep. Emmer said. “This could not have been accomplished without the tireless work of Chairman Hill.”