Several housing reform provisions spearheaded by U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) were secured in the final passage of the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, marking a pivotal win for housing affordability.
“This is a major bipartisan victory for our affordability agenda, a win for serious problem-solving, and a meaningful step toward keeping the promise of home within reach for working families,” Rep. Fitzpatrick said on Tuesday.
The sweeping housing reform package, H.R. 6644, is now at the president’s desk after the U.S. Senate on June 22 substantially amended and then voted to approve the bill. It received final approval in the U.S. House of Representatives on the following day.
Earlier this year, Rep. Fitzpatrick helped advance the original House housing package, which included several of his housing priorities. The final package includes additional measures he led.
According to the congressman’s office, H.R. 6644 includes his provisions from:
- The Accelerating Home Building Act, H.R. 5907, which authorizes the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to award competitive grants to local governments and tribal entities to adopt pre-reviewed, ready-to-use housing designs for mixed-income developments of up to 25 units.
- The Choice in Affordable Housing Act, H.R. 1981, which modernizes the Housing Choice Voucher program by eliminating duplicative inspections and allowing remote reviews in rural and small jurisdictions.
- The VA Home Loan Awareness Act, H.R. 2362, which requires mortgage applications to include disclaimers to increase awareness that eligible applicants may qualify for a VA Home Loan.
- The RESIDE Act, H.R. 5591, which would create a pilot program to convert blighted buildings into affordable housing.
- The Veterans Affairs Loan Informed Disclosure (VALID) Act, H.R. 3694, to ensure veterans are able to clearly compare VA Home Loan options alongside conventional and FHA mortgage products during the homebuying process.
- The Increasing Housing in Opportunity Zones Act, H.R. 7791, which directs federal housing resources toward communities that need investment by allowing HUD to give additional consideration to eligible housing projects in Opportunity Zones.
“Housing affordability is one of the defining economic challenges of our time because it shapes something deeply American: whether families who work hard, save responsibly, and play by the rules can still build a stable life in the communities they call home,” said Rep. Fitzpatrick. “We listened to the people closest to the problem, identified the barriers driving costs and limiting supply, and worked together to develop practical solutions that can actually move the needle.”
H.R. 6644, he added, “expands supply, cuts red tape, modernizes outdated federal programs, supports veterans, and gives communities the tools to turn vacant and underused properties into affordable homes.”