House approves 21st Century Road to Housing Act after lengthy bipartisan debate

The House of Representatives on June 23, 2026, voted to concur in the Senate amendment to H.R.6644, the 21st Century Road to Housing Act, advancing a sweeping bipartisan package aimed at increasing the nation’s housing supply, tightening accountability at the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and easing certain regulatory and financing barriers for community lenders.

Chairman French Hill (R‑AR) described the bill as a collection of ‘‘common‑sense reforms’’ to cut unnecessary barriers to new home construction, modernize federal housing programs and unlock capital for community lenders. Ranking Member Maxine Waters (D‑CA) said the bill ‘‘represents the most significant housing reform package in decades’’ and cited provisions to protect tenants, expand smaller‑dollar mortgages and codify programs to speed disaster recovery for housing. ‘‘This package will finally get America back on track to building affordable housing,’’ Waters said on the House floor.

Key provisions in the final measure include efforts to: streamline federal housing program administration; create or reauthorize grant and financing tools to support construction of new homes (including modular and other innovative housing); establish accountability measures and a national tenants’ complaint hotline at HUD; strengthen the position of community lenders and minority depository institutions to finance affordable housing; and limit certain acquisitions of single‑family homes by large institutional investors in specified circumstances.

Sponsors repeatedly emphasized that the package combines bipartisan and bicameral priorities. Supporters pointed to rising housing costs and a persistent supply gap as the bill’s central justification: lawmakers cited millions of cost‑burdened households and estimates that the country remains several million housing units short. During debate members also highlighted provisions intended to preserve supply for owner‑occupants and to exempt nonprofit community land trusts, veteran housing programs, and student or specialized residential care properties from investor limits.

The House agreed to the Senate changes and recorded the concurrence vote after debate; the final recorded vote on the floor for concurrence was 358 yeas to 32 nays. Following passage, members said the measure moves to the White House for signature and urged prompt implementation by HUD and Treasury, with multiple lawmakers noting that agency rulemaking will be required to implement exemptions and definitions in the investor‑purchase provisions.

The debate featured extensive floor colloquy among the bill’s sponsors and multiple members who described local housing shortages and program needs. Representatives emphasized next steps: Treasury and HUD guidance to clarify exemptions (for community land trusts, federally supported affordable projects, military housing and other categories) and continued congressional oversight of implementation.

What’s next: House leaders said they expect the bill to be sent to the President; committees will continue oversight of rulemakings and funding lines that support the act’s programs.