The U.S. House of Representatives on Monday voted 390-9 to approve the bipartisan Housing for the 21st Century Act, sponsored by U.S. House Financial Services Committee Chairman French Hill (R-AR). The bill now heads to the U.S. Senate for action.
The 199-page H.R. 6644 would address the nation’s housing shortage, reduce bureaucratic red tape, modernize the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and unlock financing to boost housing supply.
“Our committee has been laser-focused on creating solutions and today, we delivered for the American people,” Rep. Hill said on Feb. 9. “The passage of the Housing for the 21st Century Act includes real, bipartisan solutions to expanding supply, lowering costs, and providing families with more options. I look forward to ultimately bringing a bicameral product to the president’s desk.”
Among the bill’s numerous provisions, it would remove regulatory barriers to streamline housing development and affordability by allowing the use of ready-to-use, pre-approved home designs so builders can get permits faster and build homes more quickly, and update and streamline federal and local housing processes.
If enacted, H.R. 6644 also would expand financing opportunities by updating rules for manufactured homes and making HUD the lead authority on standards; modernizing the HOME Program, which is the largest federal block grant program for states to increase the supply of affordable housing; and exempting small-scale housing developments from federal environmental reviews and giving jurisdictions more flexibility and time to commit funds, and fewer rigid federal constraints, according to a bill summary provided by the lawmakers.
The bill has three original cosponsors, including Committee Ranking Member Maxine Waters (D-CA).
“While more must be done, including real federal investments to meet the scale of this housing crisis, H.R. 6644 provides a strong foundation to build on,” said Rep. Waters. “I will continue to work with urgency to deliver a strong bicameral bill to the president’s desk as we owe it to the millions of renters and homeowners who need us to act now.”
U.S. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) and U.S. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN) praised Rep. Hill’s efforts and their chamber’s passage of H.R. 6644.
“As part of our mission to lower costs across the board for the American people, House Republicans passed legislation today to make housing more affordable for hardworking Americans, increase housing supply, and expand local lending,” said Rep. Scalise. “I’m grateful to Chairman French Hill and the Financial Services Committee for their work to restore the American Dream, and am glad to see the Housing for the 21st Century Act head to the Senate.”
According to Rep. Emmer, House Republicans are working with the president on his promise to make life affordable again for Americans.
“The Housing for the 21st Century Act is an important step in the right direction,” he said. “Thank you to my friend and colleague, Chairman Hill, for his leadership in getting this across the finish line.”